1998 AGN APR 21 I31 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Legal Services — Page Two Legal Imalications to Maintain Our Current Provider: The City is under no obligation to send out requests for proposals for legal services or any other services that the City might require. State statutes obligate the City to seek public bids before entering into certain contracts like a contract to construct a public facility or engage a company to provide certain City services related to the repair or maintenance of public facilities. However, these laws do not apply in any way to the City's engagement of individuals or firms to provide professional services. Government Code Section 4526 provides that certain professional should not be obtained on a cost basis alone. In other words, competitive bidding is not required for personal service contracts such as legal services contracts. For these reasons, we are under no obligation to send out requests for proposals ("RFP"). In addition, the process of preparing RFP's, receiving information from interested law firms and evaluating the RFP's is a time consuming endeavor. There is also some disruption in the administrative process when RFP's go out as interested parties who want to learn more about the City will contact various departments and request information to do their homework in order to respond to the RFP. I have evaluated the potential impacts of sending an RFP and do not believe that doing so is in the best interest of the City at this time. Level of Service/Trach Record Best Best & Krieger has made a successful transition into the City as the Interim City Attorney. The individuals from Best Best & Krieger who have been assigned to work on City matters have become familiar with the City's procedures and are building working relationships with department heads and staff. In addition, Best Best & Krieger has become familiar with the City's litigation matters and has developed working relationships with Special Counsel handling these matters. It has taken Best Best & Krieger approximately six months to accomplish these tasks which is not an unusual amount of time given the City's complex issues and litigation matters. Best Best & Krieger has also developed a positive working relationship with Sabo & Green. A major factor in my recommendation to continue using the services of Best Best & Krieger is their current work on several significant City issues: • Solid waste contract compliance issues • Agua Mansa road construction project • Tow truck franchise program • Rancho Mediterranean Property Management • Centerpointe Development Project (TMI property) • Term limits • Personnel matters and related litigation • Liability management program and reduction of claims Arrowhead Medical Center issues, including heliport project • Hillside Management matters