HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 4350
CITY OF PALO ALTO OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
December 16, 2013
The Honorable City Council
Palo Alto, California
Request for Authorization to Increase Compensation of Existing Legal
Services Agreements with (1) the Law Firm of Burke, Williams &
Sorensen, LLP by $65,000 for a Total Not to Exceed Amount of
$185,000 for Litigation Matters and (2) the Law Offices of Scott Pinsky
by $40,000 for a Total Not to Exceed Amount of $80,000 for Litigation
Matters
The City Attorney’s Office requests the City Council’s authorization to increase the
existing legal services agreements with (1) the law firm of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP, for
litigation matters, by an additional $65,000 for a total not to exceed amount of $185,000 and
(2) the Law Offices of Scott Pinsky, for litigation matters, by an additional $40,000 for a total not
to exceed amount of $80,000.
In January 2013, the Office of the City Attorney retained Burke, Williams & Sorensen,
LLP to represent the City in litigation related to the City’s Below Market Rate Housing program.
On August 19, 2013, the City Council authorized a contract amendment increasing the contract
to $120,000. Additional funding is needed to represent the City on appeal in that matter, as
well as for consulting work on other development-related litigation being staffed primarily by
in-house attorneys. The total budget for these services is anticipated to be less than $65,000.
Therefore, the Office of the City Attorney requests authorization to amend the existing
litigation contract with the Burke law firm by adding an additional $65,000 for a total not to
exceed amount of $185,000.
The Law Offices of Scott Pinsky has represented the City in various litigation matters
since 2005. Currently, the Law Offices of Scott Pinsky is representing the City in two litigation
matters, and the initial amount of the contract for these services was $40,000. In order to
provide services through the conclusion of these matters, the Office of the City Attorney
estimates that an additional $40,000 is necessary for a total contract not to exceed amount of
$80,000.
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Funding for these contract amendments does not require additional budgetary
authority as they can be accommodated within the Housing Fund FY 2014 budget and the
Office of the City Attorney’s existing outside counsel budget, as appropriate to the project.
Department Head: Molly Stump, City Attorney
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