City Council

23.\nApprove Agreement for Legal Counsel Services and Approve a Separate\nAgreement for Special Services: Training and Consulting Services with Liebert\nCassidy Whitmore (LCW); Approve Amendment to Agreement with Richards\nBender for Legal Services; and Approve Agreement with Goldfarb & Lipman\nLLP for Legal Services (General Fund)\nDepartment(s): City Attorney Office, Human Resources\nRecommended Action:\n1. Authorize the City Manager to execute an Agreement with LCW to provide\nspecial legal counsel services for an amount not to exceed $300,000 for a\nterm beginning November 21, 2023 and ending December 31, 2026 with\none optional one-year extension, subject to non-substantive changes\napproved by the City Manager and City Attorney (Agreement No. 2023-\nXXX).\n2. Authorize the City Manager to execute a separate Agreement for Special\nServices with LCW to provide training and consulting services as a\nmember of the Orange County Employment Relations Committee,\nrenewable annually, in an amount not to exceed $5,000 plus a 5% annual\nincrease, per year, subject to non-substantive changes approved by the\nCity Manager and City Attorney (Agreement No. 2023-XXX).\n3. Authorize the City Manager to execute a first amendment to an agreement\nwith the law firm of Richards Watson & Gershon APC (RWG) for legal\nservices for municipal advisory and litigation services including, but not\nlimited to, elections work and employment matters, for the period of June\n1, 2020 until May 31, 2024, in an amount not to exceed $300,000 for a\ntotal amount not to exceed $550,000, subject to non-substantive changes\napproved by the City Manager and the City Attorney (Agreement No.\n2023-XXX).\n4. Authorize the City Manager to execute a legal services agreement with the\nlaw firm of Ring Bender LLP for municipal litigation services, including but\nnot limited to litigation regarding AC 2525 Main v. City of Santa Ana, for the\nperiod of November 21, 2023 to June 30, 2026, with an option to extend\nfor up to one year, in an amount not to exceed $500,000, subject to non-\nsubstantive changes approved by the City Manager and City Attorney\n(Agreement No. 2023-XXX).\n5. Authorize the City Manager to execute a legal services agreement with the\nlaw firm of Goldfarb & Lipman LLP for municipal advisory and litigation\nservices, including but not limited to, defending the City in litigation\nchallenging the Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance,\nhousing, affordable housing, fair housing, rent stabilization, land use, and\nreal property issues for the period of November 21, 2023 to November 30,\n2026, with an option to extend for up to one year, in an amount not to\nexceed $500,000, subject to non-substantive changes approved by the\nCity Manager and City Attorney (Agreement No. 2023-XXX).