City Council

23. Approve Agreement for Legal Counsel Services and Approve a Separate Agreement for Special Services: Training and Consulting Services with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore (LCW); Approve Amendment to Agreement with Richards Bender for Legal Services; and Approve Agreement with Goldfarb & Lipman LLP for Legal Services (General Fund) Department(s): City Attorney Office, Human Resources Recommended Action: 1. Authorize the City Manager to execute an Agreement with LCW to provide special legal counsel services for an amount not to exceed $300,000 for a term beginning November 21, 2023 and ending December 31, 2026 with one optional one-year extension, subject to non-substantive changes approved by the City Manager and City Attorney (Agreement No. 2023- XXX). 2. Authorize the City Manager to execute a separate Agreement for Special Services with LCW to provide training and consulting services as a member of the Orange County Employment Relations Committee, renewable annually, in an amount not to exceed $5,000 plus a 5% annual increase, per year, subject to non-substantive changes approved by the City Manager and City Attorney (Agreement No. 2023-XXX). 3. Authorize the City Manager to execute a first amendment to an agreement with the law firm of Richards Watson & Gershon APC (RWG) for legal services for municipal advisory and litigation services including, but not limited to, elections work and employment matters, for the period of June 1, 2020 until May 31, 2024, in an amount not to exceed $300,000 for a total amount not to exceed $550,000, subject to non-substantive changes approved by the City Manager and the City Attorney (Agreement No. 2023-XXX). 4. Authorize the City Manager to execute a legal services agreement with the law firm of Ring Bender LLP for municipal litigation services, including but not limited to litigation regarding AC 2525 Main v. City of Santa Ana, for the period of November 21, 2023 to June 30, 2026, with an option to extend for up to one year, in an amount not to exceed $500,000, subject to non- substantive changes approved by the City Manager and City Attorney (Agreement No. 2023-XXX). 5. Authorize the City Manager to execute a legal services agreement with the law firm of Goldfarb & Lipman LLP for municipal advisory and litigation services, including but not limited to, defending the City in litigation challenging the Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance, housing, affordable housing, fair housing, rent stabilization, land use, and real property issues for the period of November 21, 2023 to November 30, 2026, with an option to extend for up to one year, in an amount not to exceed $500,000, subject to non-substantive changes approved by the City Manager and City Attorney (Agreement No. 2023-XXX).