City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: February 3, 2026
From: Zaynah Moussa-Milward, City Attorney
Department: City Attorney
Submitted by: Eva Muro, Legal Analyst
Subject
Amendment No. 1 to the Attorney Services Agreement with Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP Recommendation
Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute Amendment No. 1 to the Attorney Services Agreement with Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP (Burke Williams) for outside legal services, in substantially the same form as submitted, to increase the total not-to-exceed amount by an additional $125,000.
Background
The City Attorney’s Office functions as the legal advisor and counsel of record for the City Council, City boards and commissions, City staff, and represents the City in litigation, whether directly or with special counsel. The City Attorney’s Office is currently staffed with one in-house attorney and is supported by outside counsel for specialized legal matters and litigation or other matters requiring additional resources. Accordingly, the City Attorney’s Office engages special counsel to assist as needed for specific matters (i.e., not via a monthly retainer).
On May 20, 2025, the City Council approved an Attorney Services Agreement for outside legal services with Burke Williams for a total not-to-exceed $125,000 (Agreement). The term of the Agreement between the City and Burke Williams is May 1, 2025 through April 30, 2028. Burke Williams was selected after a September 2024 comprehensive competitive selection (Request for Proposals) process, in accordance with City purchasing procedures and good governance contracting principles.
The City Attorney’s Office estimates costs for outside legal services each fiscal year and seeks contract approval or amendment consistent with budget allocations approved by City Council. Based on pending legal matters assigned to Burke Williams and projected costs for Fiscal Year 2026-27, staff is requesting authority to enter into Amendment No. 1, which maintains all existing terms under the current Agreement and increases the not-to-exceed amount by $125,000, bringing the total contract amount to $250,000. Pursuant to Section 3.32.030(A) of the Vernon Municipal Code, City Council approval is required for the proposed amendment as the total value of the contract exceeds $100,000. Amendment No. 1 has been reviewed and approved as to form by the City Attorney.
Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact is not-to-exceed $250,000, for the three-year contract term. Sufficient funds are available in General Fund, City Attorney Department Professional Services – Legal Account No. 011-010-115-529200 for the current fiscal year and will be budgeted for subsequent years.
Attachments
1. Burke Williams – Amendment No. 1