Agenda Item #13.1
For Council Meeting of: August 4, 2026
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JILL SCOTT, REAL ESTATE MANAGER
AUTUMN LUNA, CHIEF ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY
SUBJECT: FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT NUMBER F003242 WITH BEST BEST & KRIEGER LLP FOR CONTINUED LEGAL REPRESENTATION AGENDA ACTION: MOTION
RECOMMENDATION
The City Attorney’s Office and Real Estate Services recommend that the Council, by motion: 1) approve the First Amendment to Professional Services Agreement No. F003242 with Best Best & Krieger LLP, increasing compensation by $400,000, for a total amount not to exceed $500,000, for continued legal services related to complex real estate transactions, including property acquisition, exchange, disposition, development, and associated governmental actions; and 2) authorize the City Attorney to execute the First Amendment. Sufficient appropriations are available in the current fiscal year budget.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On February 18, 2026, the City entered into Professional Services Agreement No. F003242 with Best Best & Krieger LLP (BB&K) for specialized legal services related to complex real estate transactions, including property acquisition, exchange, disposition, development, and associated governmental actions, in an amount not to exceed $100,000. Due to the anticipated volume and complexity of ongoing real estate matters, the City requires continued specialized legal assistance. The proposed First Amendment would increase compensation by $400,000, for a total agreement amount not to exceed $500,000. The scope of services and all other terms of the Agreement would remain unchanged.
GOAL
This item relates to Council Goal #2 - Invest in the Development and Maintenance of the City's Infrastructure.
BACKGROUND/PRIOR COUNCIL REVIEW
On June 16, 2026, the Council received a study session regarding the Downtown Economic Development Strategy, which included strategies for strengthening the City’s economic base through the potential activation of underutilized City-owned property in the downtown core.
BB&K has assisted the City in navigating complex legal issues related to property acquisition, exchange, disposition, development, and associated governmental actions. Continued specialized legal services are anticipated as the City evaluates and implements real estate strategies, including matters associated with the Downtown Economic Development Strategy.
ANALYSIS
BB&K provides specialized legal expertise for complex real estate transactions and related governmental actions. Since the Agreement became effective, the City’s need for these services has increased due to the number, complexity, and anticipated duration of ongoing real estate matters. The original $100,000 compensation limit is insufficient to support the anticipated work.
The proposed First Amendment would add $400,000, increasing the total agreement amount to $500,000. The amendment would not change the scope of services, hourly rates, or other terms of the Agreement. BB&K will provide services only as requested and authorized by the City Attorney.
Specialized outside counsel is recommended because the matters require additional capacity beyond that currently available within the City Attorney’s Office.
FISCAL IMPACT
Sufficient appropriations are available in the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget within the Office of Real Estate Services to fund services under the proposed First Amendment. Approval of the First Amendment does not require an additional appropriation and will have no impact on the General Fund beyond amounts already included in the adopted budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5), the recommended action is not a “project” subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because approval of an amendment for continued legal services is an organizational and administrative activity that will not result in a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. The First Amendment does not approve any property transaction, development project, or physical activity. Any future discretionary action associated with the legal services will be evaluated separately for compliance with CEQA. 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 approval of the First Amendment may have a significant effect on the environment.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – First Amendment to Professional Services Agreement F003242
PRESENTER
Jill Scott, Real Estate Manager
Autumn Luna, Chief Assistant City Attorney
FIRST AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT NUMBER F003242 WITH BEST BEST & KRIEGER LLC FOR LEGAL REPRESENTATION PAGE 3 OF 3