____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting:
Disposition:
Agenda Item No: 4.c
Meeting Date: August 21, 2023
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: City Attorney
Prepared by: Genevieve Coyle, Assistant City
Attorney
City Manager Approval: ______________
TOPIC: LEGAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
SUBJECT: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH BURKE, WILLIAMS & SORENSEN,
LLP FOR GENERAL MUNICIPAL LEGAL SERVICES, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $170,000
RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and enter into a professional services agreement with Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP for general municipal legal services, in an amount not to exceed $170,000.
BACKGROUND:
The City Attorney’s office is currently staffed with a part-time elected City Attorney and a full-time Assistant City Attorney and Legal Assistant. In order to provide necessary legal services to the City, the office engages attorneys with the law firm of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP for as-needed services in general municipal law, including subject-matter expertise in areas such as land use, zoning, housing, code enforcement, labor and employment, finance, real estate, Public Records Act, and telecommunications.
ANALYSIS:
Staff recommends entering into an agreement with Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP for as-needed general municipal legal services covering FY 2023-24. Payment would be made at the firm’s standard public entity hourly rates, in a total not-to-exceed $170,000. This would provide an average of over forty hours of legal services per month.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funds to cover the recommended contract amount of $170,000 are available in the FY 2023-2024 general fund budget.
OPTIONS:
The City Council has the following options to consider on this matter:
1. 2.
3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and enter into the professional services agreement.
Direct staff to return with more information.
Take no action.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and enter into a professional services agreement with Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP for general municipal legal services, in an amount not to exceed $170,000.
ATTACHMENTS:
None