Agenda Item #13.8
For Council Meeting of: March 24, 2026
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: DOMINIQUE BLANQUIE, HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: SECOND AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT NUMBER F003103 WITH VAN DERMYDEN MAKUS LAW CORPORATION FOR CONTINUED LEGAL SERVICES AND APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
The Human Resources Department recommends that the Council, by resolution: 1) approve the Second Amendment to Professional Services Agreement Number F003103 with Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation increasing compensation by $250,000, for a total contract amount not to exceed $350,000, for continued legal services for independent investigator services for workplace investigations; 2) delegate authority to the City Attorney to execute the agreement; and 3) appropriate $250,000 from unassigned General Funds to the Human Resource’s professional services budget to fund the continued legal services. This item is requesting appropriations for one-time funding.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City entered into Professional Services Agreement Number F003103 (Agreement) with an effective date of July 24, 2025, with Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation (Van Dermyden) and executed a First Amendment for workplace investigations in an amount not to exceed $100,000. The City is requesting additional compensation for continued services to be performed by Van Dermyden for various departments.
GOAL
This item relates to City core services.
BACKGROUND/PRIOR COUNCIL REVIEW
The Agreement was established with Van Dermyden to provide independent investigator services for workplace investigations within the City in an amount of $100,0000 and executed on August 5, 2025 under the City Attorney’s award authority. A First Amendment was executed in September 2025 to correct the effective date to July 24, 2025 when services were agreed to commence by all parties to the Agreement. Further amendments to add compensation to the Agreement must be approved by Council.
ANALYSIS
The Human Resources Department has been satisfied with the investigations conducted by Van Dermyden and recommends that the Council approve a Second Amendment to the Agreement with the Van Dermyden to increase compensation by $250,000, for a total compensation amount not to exceed $350,000 under the Agreement as amended for both legal services provided to date and additional services required by the City.
The Human Resources Department recommends that the Council appropriate $250,000 from unassigned General Fund reserves to fund the proposed Second Amendment to the Agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for the $250,000 in compensation added by the Second Amendment to the Agreement is requested to be appropriated from unassigned General Fund reserves.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The proposed action has been reviewed in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4), the recommended action is not a “project” subject to CEQA because it involves fiscal and administrative activities related to approval of a professional services agreement amendment and appropriation of funds, which will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Accordingly, no further environmental review is required.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution / Exhibit A (Second Amendment to PSA F003103)
PRESENTER
Dominique Blanquie, Human Resources Director
SECOND AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT NUMBER F003103 WITH VAN DERMYDEN MAKUS LAW CORPORATION FOR CONTINUED LEGAL SERVICES AND APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS PAGE 3 OF 3