Human Resources Department
www.santa-ana.org/hr
Item # 23
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
December 2, 2025
TOPIC: Legal Advisory Services for the City’s Personnel Board
AGENDA TITLE
Agreement with Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP for Legal Advisory Services for the City’s Personnel Board (General Fund)
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Burke, Williams & Sorensen LLP to provide legal advisory services for the City’s Personnel Board in an amount not to exceed $250,000, for a term beginning December 2, 2025 and expiring November 30, 2027, with provisions for three (3), one (1) year extensions (Agreement No. A-2025-XXX).
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: Yes
DISCUSSION
Created by the City Charter, the Personnel Board is comprised of board members appointed by the City Council. The Personnel Board’s duties are set forth in the City’s Municipal Code. The Human Resources Department recommends contracting with an attorney or attorneys with specific personnel experience to act as the legal advisor to the Board. This advisor would also conduct training for board members, appear at all board hearings, advise the board on legal issues, and would assist the board chairperson in drafting findings at the conclusion of each administrative hearing.
Informal Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued on June 10, 2025 by the Human Resources Department. A summary of vendor participation and results is as follows:
4 Vendors notified
0 Santa Ana vendors notified
3 Proposals received
0 Proposals received from Santa Ana vendors
Proposals were solicited and evaluated. The proposals received met the City’s requirements. An evaluation committee reviewed and rated the proposals according to the criteria listed in the informal RFP.
Legal Advisory Services for the City’s Personnel Board
December 2, 2025
5 4
5 9
Staff recommends awarding an agreement to the highest-ranked firm, Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP (BWS) (Exhibit 1). BWS is a well-regarded, municipal law firm with over 90 years of experience representing over 200 local government entities. BWS was previously selected in 2021 to provide Special and Limited Legal Counsel Services for the Human Resources Department and is currently contracted to advise the Personnel Board. Due to their knowledgeable legal advisements and demonstrated dependability, staff recommends approving an agreement with BWS to continue providing the Personnel Board with legal services.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with this action.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds are budgeted and available in the following accounts for Fiscal Year 2025-26.
Subsequent funding for the extension option, if exercised, will be included in future proposed budgets for City Council consideration.
Fiscal
Year
Account Unit -
Account #
Fund
Description
Accounting Unit,
Account Description
Amount
FY 25-26 01109050-
62300
General Fund Human Resources-
Contract Services-
Professional
$29,167
FY 26-27 01109050-
62300
General Fund Human Resources
Services-Contract
Services-Professional
$50,000
FY 27-28 01109050-
62300
General Fund Human Resources
Services-Contract
Services-Professional
$50,000
FY 28-29 01109050-
62300
General Fund Human Resources
Services-Contract
Services-Professional
$50,000
FY 29-30 01109050-
62300
General Fund Human Resources
Services-Contract
Services-Professional
$50,000
FY 30-31 01109050-
62300
General Fund Human Resources
Services-Contract
Services-Professional
$20,833
Total $250,000
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Agreement with Burke, Williams, & Sorensen, LLP
Submitted By: Lori Schnaider, Executive Director - Human Resources Department Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager