HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2305-140117.Authorization to Execute Amendment to Legal Services Contract S22184420 with Rankin
Stock Heaberlin Oneal to Increase Amount by $150,000 for Total Not-to-Exceed Amount
of $225,000 and to Extend the Term to January 2025; CEQA Status – Not a Project
City Council
Staff Report
From: City Attorney
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: City Attorney
Meeting Date: June 19, 2023
Report #:2305-1401
TITLE
Authorization to Execute Amendment to Legal Services Contract S22184420 with Rankin Stock
Heaberlin Oneal to Increase Amount by $150,000 for Total Not-to-Exceed Amount of $225,000
and to Extend the Term to January 2025; CEQA Status – Not a Project
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Attorney or designee to amend the agreement for litigation defense services
with the law firm of Rankin Stock Heaberlin Oneal (Contract S22184420) to increase the
contract amount by $150,000 for a total not-to-exceed amount of $225,000 and to extend the
term to January 2025.
BACKGROUND
Rankin Stock Heaberlin Oneal is a law firm representing cities in a variety of areas, including
police civil rights claims and personal injury litigation.
In January 2022, the City entered into a two-year agreement (S22184420) in the amount of
$50,000 with Rankin Stock Heaberlin Oneal for continuing litigation defense services in civil suit
Scrivner v. City of Palo Alto, et al., Santa Clara Co. Sup. Ct. Case No. 18-CV-333834. In December
2022, staff amended the contract to increase the not to exceed amount to $75,000. Staff now
seeks authority to increase the contract amount by $150,000 which will bring the new not to
exceed amount to $225,000, and to extend the term to January 2025. Litigation defense is
continuing in this matter.
Prior to agreement S22184420, the City entered into agreement S19175172 with Rankin Stock
Heaberlin Oneal for initial Government Claim and litigation defense services in this matter. The
city expended $80,000 under the prior contract.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
Funding for this amendment does not require additional budgetary authority as it can be
accommodated within existing budgets.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Amendment of a legal services contract is not a project requiring environmental review under
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (See CEQA Guidelines 15378(b)(5),
administrative activities that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the
environment).
APPROVED BY:
Molly Stump, City Attorney