HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-09-28 City Council Agendas (9)
CITY OF PALO ALTO OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
September 28, 2020
The Honorable City Council
Palo Alto, California
Authorization to Amend the Existing Agreement for Litigation Defense
Services With the Law Firm of Jarvis Fay & Gibson (Contract
S17168652) to Increase the Contract Amount by an Additional $15,000
for a Total Not-to-Exceed Amount of $130,000
Recommendation
The City Attorney recommends that the City Council approve and authorize an increase to the
legal services agreement with the law firm of Jarvis Fay & Gibson for litigation defense in the
case of John Tze and Edgewood SC v. City of Palo Alto, Santa Clara Co. Sup. Ct. Case No.
17CV309030 (Contract S17168652) by an additional $15,000 for a total not to exceed amount
of $130,000, and to extend the term to April 26, 2021.
Discussion
In April 2017, the City entered into an $85,000 legal services agreement with Jarvis Fay &
Gibson LLP for pre-litigation and initial litigation defense services in a Government Claims Act
claim and subsequently- filed civil suit John Tze and Edgewood SC v. City of Palo Alto, Santa
Clara Co. Sup. Ct. Case No. 17CV309030. In October 2019, the agreement was amended to add
$30,000 for a total of $115,000. The contract term was also extended to April 26, 2020. Staff
now recommends that the Council authorize an additional $15,000 for a total not to exceed
$130,000 and to extend the contract term to April 26, 2021 for continuing litigation defense.
Resource Impact
Funding for this amendment does not require additional budgetary authority as it can be
accommodated within the Office of the City Attorney’s budget for FY2021.
Environmental Review
Amendment of a legal services contract is not a project requiring environmental review under
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Department Head: Molly Stump, City Attorney