Agenda Item #13.1
For Council Meeting of: February 24, 2026
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: TERESA STRICKER, CITY ATTORNEY
DOMINIQUE BLANQUIE, HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: SECOND AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT NUMBER F003096 WITH ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD & ROMO FOR CONTINUED LEGAL SERVICES AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
The City Attorney and the Human Resources Director recommend that the Council, by resolution: 1) approve the Second Amendment to Professional Services Agreement Number F003096 with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo increasing compensation by $175,000, for a total contract amount not to exceed $375,000, for continued legal services; 2) authorize the City Attorney to execute the agreement; and 3) appropriate $375,000 from the unassigned general fund reserves to the City Council professional services budget to address available a funding shortfall within that budget. This item is requesting appropriations for one-time funding.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City entered into Professional Services Agreement Number F003096 with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo effective July 9, 2025, for specialized legal services to the City in connection with personnel matters and is bringing an amendment forward to Council to add 175,000 in compensation to the agreement and to request appropriations of $375,000 to fund the full amount of the agreement.
GOAL
This item relates to City core services.
BACKGROUND/PRIOR COUNCIL REVIEW
The City entered into Professional Services Agreement Number F003096 with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo effective July 9, 2025, for specialized legal services to the City in connection with personnel matters in an amount not to exceed $100,000.
On December 2, 2025, the Council approved a First Amendment adding additional compensation of $100,000 for a total contract amount not to exceed $200,000.
ANALYSIS
The City Attorney and Human Resources Director recommend that Council approve a Second Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement Number F003096 in an amount of $175,000 to allow for continued specialized legal services in connection with personnel matters, for a total contract amount not to exceed $375,000.
FISCAL IMPACT
One time funding for this $375,000 professional services agreement is requested to be appropriated from the unassigned General Fund reserves. Appropriation of the full amount of the contract is requested at this time due to a shortfall of funding available to absorb these costs. The updated budgeted Fiscal Year 2025-26 deficit of the General Fund is $8,903,323 including this amount.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, the recommended action is not a “project” subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it does not have a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. In the alternative, the recommended action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the recommended action may have a significant effect on the environment.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution / Exhibit A– Second Amendment to Professional Services Agreement F003096
PRESENTER(S)
Teresa Stricker, City Attorney
SECOND AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT NUMBER F003096 WITH ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD & ROMO FOR LEGAL REPRESENTATION PAGE 3 OF 3