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CONSENT CALENDAR
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: May 6, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Andrea Russell, Director of Human Resources
Department: Human Resources
Subject: Amendments to Professional Services Agreements for Legal Services (All Wards)
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, authorize the City Manager or designee to execute:
1. Third Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo for representation in the Christina Nedrebo v.
City of San Bernardino, et al., Superior Court Case No. CIVSB2402094 increasing the not-to-exceed amount from $400,000 to $750,000.
2. Second Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Carpenter, Rothans and Dumont for representation in the Manuel Zamudio, Jr. v. City of San Bernardino, et al., United States District Court Case No. 5:24-cv-01747- MWF-SHK increasing the not-to-exceed amount from $100,000 to $160,000.
3. Second Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Carpenter, Rothans and Dumont for representation in the Manual Ortiz v. City of San Bernardino, et al., United States District Court Case No. 5:24-cv-00118-SB-SP increasing the not-to-exceed amount from $100,000 to $250,000.
City Manager's Comments
No recommendation.
Executive Summary
Amending the legal services agreements by increasing the not-to-exceed limit for all ongoing cases herein allows the City to pay outstanding invoices and retain current legal counsel.
Background
Christina Nedrebo v. City of San Bernardino
On October 5, 2023, the City entered into an agreement with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, 3 3
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Ruud and Romo in the amount of $100,000 pursuant to 3.04.085 (A) of the Municipal Code to represent the City in the Nedrebo v. City of San Bernardino, San Bernardino Superior Court Case CIVSB2402094. This case remains active.
On July 16, 2025, the City entered into a first amendment to the agreement with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo in the amount of $250,000 pursuant to
3.04.085 (A) of the Municipal Code to represent the City in the Nedrebo v. City of San Bernardino, San Bernardino Superior Court Case CIVSB2402094.
On October 15, 2025, the City entered into a second amendment to the agreement with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo in the amount of $400,000 pursuant to 3.04.085 (A) of the Municipal Code to represent the City in the Nedrebo v. City of San Bernardino, San Bernardino Superior Court Case CIVSB2402094.
Manuel Zamudio, Jr. v. City of San Bernardino
On September 20, 2024, the City entered into an agreement with Carpenter, Rothans and Dumont in the amount of $50,000 pursuant to 3.04.085 (A) of the Municipal Code to represent the City in the Manuel Zamudio, Jr. v. City of San Bernardino, United States District Court Case No. 5:24-cv-01747-MWF-SHK.
On September 24, 2025 the City entered into a first amendment to the agreement with Carpenter, Rothans and Dumont in the amount of $100,000 pursuant to 3.04.085 (A) of the Municipal Code to represent the City in the Manuel Zamudio, Jr. v. City of San Bernardino, United States District Court Case No. 5:24-cv-01747-MWF-SHK.
Manual Ortiz v. City of San Bernardino
On March 28, 2025, the City entered into an agreement with Carpenter, Rothans and Dumont in the amount of $50,000 pursuant to 3.04.085 (A) of the Municipal Code to represent the City in the Manual Ortiz v. City of San Bernardino, United States District Court Case No. 5:24-cv-00118-SB-SP.
On February 11, 2026, the City entered into a first amendment to the agreement with Carpenter, Rothans and Dumont in the amount of $100,000 pursuant to 3.04.085 (A) of the Municipal Code to represent the City in the Manual Ortiz v. City of San Bernardino, United States District Court Case No. 5:24-cv-00118-SB-SP.
Discussion
Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo and Carpenter, Rothans and Dumont have provided effective and timely legal services on these matters.
Increasing the not-to-exceed limits will allow for the continued engagement of these firms as legal counsel for the City. Maintaining these relationships is recommended to protect the City’s interests and minimize potential liability. 3 3
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The matters involving Christina Nedrebo and Manuel Ortiz remain active, while the case involving Manuel Zamudio has been closed. The requested increase for Zamudio will cover the remaining outstanding legal invoices received by the City.
Case Firm Current Not-to-
Exceed Amount
Proposed Not-to-
Exceed Amount
Christina Nedrebo Atkinson,
Andelson,
Loya, Ruud and
Romo
$400,000 $750,000
Manuel Zamudio Carpenter,
Rothans and
Dumont
$100,000 $160,000
Manual Ortiz Carpenter,
Rothans and
Dumont
$100,000 $250,000
2021-2025 Strategic Targets and Goals
Authorization of these amendments aligns with Key Target No. 1e: Improved Operational & Financial Capacity – Minimize Risk and Litigation Exposure. Continued legal representation protects the City’s interest and avoids unnecessary liability.
Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact is $560,000. The Fiscal Year 2025-26 Operating Budget has sufficient funds to accommodate this increase to the Professional Legal Services Agreements.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, authorize the City Manager or designee to execute:
1. Third Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo for representation in the Christina Nedrebo v.
City of San Bernardino, et al., Superior Court Case No. CIVSB2402094 increasing the not-to-exceed amount from $400,000 to $750,000.
2. Second Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Carpenter, Rothans and Dumont for representation in the Manuel Zamudio, Jr. v. City of San Bernardino, et al., United States District Court Case No. 5:24-cv-01747- MWF-SHK increasing the not-to-exceed amount from $100,000 to $160,000.
3. Second Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Carpenter, Rothans and Dumont for representation in the Manual Ortiz v. City of San Bernardino, et al., United States District Court Case No. 5:24-cv-00118-SB-SP increasing the not-to-exceed amount from $100,000 to $250,000.
Attachments
Attachment 1 – Third Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo for representation in the 3 3
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Christina Nedrebo case
Attachment 2 – Second Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Carpenter, Rothans and Dumont for representation in the Manuel Zamudio case.
Attachment 3 - Second Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Carpenter, Rothans and Dumont for representation in the Manual Ortiz case.
Attachment 4 - Professional Services Agreement with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo for representation in the Christina Nedrebo case.
Attachment 5 - First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo for representation in the Christina Nedrebo case.
Attachment 6 - Second Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo for representation in the Christina Nedrebo case.
Attachment 7 - Professional Services Agreement with Carpenter, Rothans and Dumont for representation in the Manuel Zamudio case.
Attachment 8 - First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Carpenter, Rothans and Dumont for representation in the Manuel Zamudio case.
Attachment 9 - Professional Services Agreement with Carpenter, Rothans and Dumont for representation in the Manual Ortiz case.
Attachment 10 - First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Carpenter, Rothans and Dumont for representation in the Manual Ortiz case.
Ward:
All Wards
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
October 15, 2025 Mayor and City Council authorized the City Manager to execute a Second Amendment to the Professional Services
Agreement with Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo for
representation in the Christina Nedrebo v. City of San
Bernardino, Superior Court Case No. CIVSB2402094.
July 16, 2025 Mayor and City Council authorized the City Manager to execute 3 3
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a First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo for representation in the Christina Nedrebo v. City of San Bernardino, Superior Court Case No. CIVSB2402094.
CC: Eric Levitt