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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08. Authorize Mayor to Execute Amendment w-Liebert Cassidy WhitmoreiteM . APP P Y CITY MANAGER TO HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM- OFFICE OF BY: i DIRECTOR OF DATE: AMENDMENT i SPECIAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH LIEBERT CASSIDY WHITMORE i r i It is recommended that the City Council authorize the Mayor to execute the attached amendment to the Special Services Agreement between the City and the law firm of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore (LCW). For the past several years, the law firm of LCW has provided special services to the City on matters related to public sector employment, mainly in the area of personnel investigation, management and supervisory training on a variety of employment law topics, legal consultation, and representation on labor matters as needed for sworn public safety. LCW is one of two public sector law firms used by the City and is regarded for its expertise in labor matters as well as the Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Public Employees' Medical & Hospital Care Act (PEMHCA). Current LCW hourly professional rates range from $190 to $325. Effective upon the approval of the attached amendment, this range will increase to $195 to $350 per hour; Specifically, the new hourly ranges are: $195-$230 for Labor Relations/Human Resources Consultants, $200 to $285 for Associates, $305 for Senior Counsel, and $350 for Partners. The paraprofessional and litigation support range will be $75 to $160. The last rate increase from LCW was in 2014. Late last year, staff surveyed the City's geographical market of public sector employment law firms. The proposed rates for LCW are found to be reasonable and well within current industry standards. Staff has conferred with the City Attorney on this matter and recommends approval of the attached Agreement with LCW. This rate increase requires an amendment to the Special Services Agreement between the City and LCW. The LCW agreement can be canceled by either party at any time. The Human Resources Division budget has a line item appropriated in Fiscal Year 2017-18 budget to cover the cost of these services. AMENDMENT TO SPECIAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH LIEBERT CASSIDY WHITMORE JANUARY 23,2018 PAGE 2 ATTACHMENT Attachment A 0 Attachment A 6111:1461 F-11 W14 :0 14q*:V_11 THIS AMENDMENT No. 2 ("Amendment No. 2") is entered into this 23`d day of January, 2018, by and between the CITY OF DOWNEY, a California municipal corporation and charter city ("City")with its principal place of business at 11111 Brookshire Avenue,, Downey, CA 90241 and LIEBERT CASSIDY WHITMORE, a California Corporation ("Consultant") with its principal place of business at 6033 West Century Boulevard, Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90045. City and Consultant are sometimes individually referred to as the "Party" and collectively as the "Parties". WHEREAS, City and Consultant entered into a Professional Services Agreement ("Agreement") on March 27, 2012, for legal services as more specifically described in the Agreement; WHEREAS, the Parties entered into Amendment No. 1 of the Agreement on July 8, 2014; and WHEREAS, the parties desire to make certain amendments to the Agreement as set forth in this Amendment No. 2; and WHEREAS, the Parties intend to be bound by the terms and provisions of the Agreement as it is amended herein. NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants and conditions herein contained, the Parties agree as follows: Section 1. AMENDMENTS. A. City and Consultant hereby amend the second and third paragraphs in Section 3 of the Agreement to read as follows: "The current range of hourly rates for attorney time is from One Hundred Ninety Five to Three Hundred Fifty Dollars ($195.00 - $350.00), and from Seventy -Five to One Hundred Sixty Dollars ($75.00 - $160.00) for time of paraprofessional and litigation support staff. Attorney reviews its hourly rates on an annual basis and, if appropriate, adjusts rates. Attorney will provide the City with written notification of any adjustment in the range of rates. These rates reflect Attorney's standard rates effective September 1, 2017. Attorney will apply these rates on new matters originating after January 23, 2018. All matters originating prior to the effective date of this Agreement will be billed at Attorney's 2014 rates until completion. B. City and Consultant hereby amend the Agreement by replacing Exhibit 1 ("Public Agency Fee Schedule") with a new "Exhibit A" which is attached hereto as Attachment 1 and incorporated by reference herein. Section 2. The rights, obligations and fees of the Parties under the Agreement shall not otherwise be amended, altered or revised except as expressly provided for herein and all other terms of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Section 3. This Amendment may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which, together, shall constitute one and the same instrument. TO EFFECTUATE THIS AMENDMENT, the Parties have caused their duly authorized representatives to execute this Amendment to the Agreement on the dates set forth below. , . �. wmlnwrj-. Name: Sean Ashton Na Title: Mayor Title: Date: Date u"W*16111 By Maria Alicia Duarte, City Clerk, CMC APPROVED ATTR;�_ By: e to M. Abich Garcia, City Attorney oft Tiedemann trdihd Pat.rier m a.9 MGM I LIEBERT CASSIDY WHIIHORE FEE SMED ULE 0.'Ff'ECT1V1-.'SEPTEMftEff 1, 2017 FOR ALL NEW MA 77ERS) HOURLY RATES Partners $350M Senior Counsel $305.00 Associates $200,00 - $285.00 Labor Mations/Hru-nan Resources Consultant $195.00 - MOM Paraprofessionals & Litigation Support $75,00 - $160,00