City Council

(5) 24­0743 PERSONNEL, AUDITS, AND HIRING COMMITTEE REPORT relative to the Second Amendment to a Professional Services Agreement C­135736 with the Law Office of Sima Salek to provide independent investigations of allegations of discrimination and harassment against City employees and volunteers. Recommendation for Council action: APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the General Manager, Personnel Department, to execute the Second Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement C­135736 with the Law Office of Sima Salek to extend the term by six months for a revised term of four years and four months effective March 2, 2020 through June 30, 2024, and increase the compensation threshold by $117,500 for revised expenditures of up to $300,000, subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney. Fiscal Impact Statement: The City Administrative Officer (CAO) reports that partial funding is available in the 2023­24 Adopted Budget within the Personnel Department’s Office of Workplace Equity account ($28,500) within the line item titled “independent discrimination complaint investigator”. The Personnel Department anticipates using savings in other Contractual Services Account line items to fund expenditures that may exceed the available budget. Financial Policies Statement: The CAO reports that the proposed Agreement includes an expenditure authority that exceeds the Adopted Budget and may require the Personnel Department to identify cost savings in other accounts, or request additional appropriations, if additional services are requested. As the Agreement is subject to the Friday - August 2,funds, availability of budgeted 2024 approval - of the Agreement PAGEcomplies 7 with the City’s Financial Policies. within the line item titled “independent discrimination complaint investigator”. The Personnel Department anticipates using savings in other Contractual Services Account line items to fund expenditures that may exceed the available budget. Financial Policies Statement: The CAO reports that the proposed Agreement includes an expenditure authority that exceeds the Adopted Budget and may require the Personnel Department to identify cost savings in other accounts, or request additional appropriations, if additional services are requested. As the Agreement is subject to the availability of budgeted funds, approval of the Agreement complies with the City’s Financial Policies.