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CC - CONSENT ITEM: Approval of Amendment to the Existing Professional Services Agreement with Colantuono Highsmith Whatley, PC for Legal Services on an As-Needed Basis.
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Meeting Date: June 27, 2022
Contact Person/Dept.: Heather Baker/City Attorney
Phone Number: (310) 253-5660
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Attachments: Yes [] No [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X]
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (06/22/2022);
Department Approval: Heather Baker, City Attorney (06/21/2022)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve an amendment to the existing professional services agreement with Colantuono Highsmith Whatley, PC for legal services on an as-needed basis within the available legal services budget approved by City Council for the applicable fiscal year.
BACKGROUND
The City Attorney's Office ("Office") is an in-house department that provides a significant variety of legal services. The Office is comprised of four staff attorneys (including the City Attorney), a legal operations manager, and two administrative/clerical staff members. Although the Office provides the majority of legal services to the City Council and City Departments related to issues facing the City, there are certain legal functions which the Office does not handle on a regular basis, such as representation in specialized litigation matters; including, but not limited to, tort (trip and fall, etc.), employment, and police defense cases, for which the Office retains and works with outside counsel. In addition to litigation matters, outside counsel is also utilized for issues that require consultation with attorneys who have specific expertise in certain areas; including, but not limited to First Amendment, employment, environmental, elections, telecommunications, and tax law.
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