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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-City Attorney CITY OF SAN BER.NARDINO - REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION DIalKIAI From: JAMES F. PENMAN Subject: Professional Services Agreement between the City CITY ATTORNEY of San Bernardino and the law firm of Mundell, Odlum&Haws to represent the City of San Bernardino for the purpose of rendering legal services in the Civil Service Hearing of Steve Lowes. Dept: CITY ATTORNEY Date: May 8, 2007 MCC Meeting: May 21, 2007 Synopsis of Previous Council Action: 05/07/07- Mayor and Council approved the retention of the Law Firm of Mundell, Odlum & Haws to represent the City in the Civil Service Hearing of Steve Lowes. Recommended motion: That the Mayor and Common Council adopt the resolution. Signature Contact person: Stephanie D. Easland Phone: 5355 Supporting data attached: Staff Report Ward: All FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: Amount: None Source: Finance: Committee Notes: c.2-00-7 — Agenda Item No. SDE/ed/Lowes[Civil Svc.rca.wpd] STAFF REPORT Council Meeting Date: May 21, 2007 TO: Mayor and Common Council FROM: James F. Penman, City Attorney DATE: May 16, 2007 AGENDA ITEM: Professional Services Agreement between the City of San Bernardino and the law firm of Mundell, Odlum & Haws to represent the City of San Bernardino for the purpose of rendering legal services in the Civil Service Hearing of Steve Lowes. The Mayor and Common Council approved the law firm of Mundell, Odlum & Haws to represent the City in the above-referenced Civil Service matter. Attached hereto is the Professional Services Agreement which reflects such approval, including a ceiling of$20,000 on attorney fees and the requirement of regular status reports. It is requested by the City Attorney that the floor motion be adopted so that the City Manager is authorized to execute said Professional Services Agreement on behalf of the City of San Bernardino. That the City Manager for the City of San Bernardino is hereby authorized and directed to execute on behalf of the City of San Bernardino the Professional Services Agreement with the law firm of Mundell,Odlum&Haws to represent the City in the Civil Service Hearing of Steve Lowes. Attachment i I i SDE/ed/Lowes[CivilSvc.staffreport.wpd] opy I RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A PROFESSIONAL 3 SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN MUNDELL,ODLUM&HAWS AND THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO IN THE CIVIL SERVICE HEARING OF STEVE LOWES. 4 5 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY 6 OF SAN BERNARDINO AS FOLLOWS: 7 SECTION 1. The City Manager for the City of San Bernardino is hereby authorized and 8 directed to execute on behalf of said City a Professional Services Agreement between Mundell, 9 Odlum & Haws and the City of San Bernardino for legal services, a copy of which is attached 10 hereto marked Exhibit "A" and incorporated herein by reference as fully as though set forth at 1.1 length. 12 SECTION 2. The authorization granted hereunder shall expire and be void and of no i 13 further effect if the agreement is not executed by both parties and returned to the Office of the City 14 Clerk within sixty (60) days following the effective date of the resolution. 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 SDE/ed/Lowes[CivilSvc.Res.wpd] 1 RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF 2 SAN BERNARDINO AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN MUNDELL, ODLUM & HAWS AND THE CITY 3 OF SAN BERNARDINO IN THE CIVIL SERVICE HEARING OFSTEVE LOWES. 4 5 I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the Mayor and 6 Common Council of the City of San Bernardino at a meeting 7 thereof, held on the day of , 2007, by the following vote, to wit: 8 COUNCIL MEMBERS: AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT 9 ESTRADA 10 BAXTER 11 BRINKER 12 DERRY 13 KELLEY 14 JOHNSON 15 MCCAMMACK 16 17 18 CITY CLERK 19 20 The foregoing Resolution is hereby approved this day of , 2007. 21 22 PATRICK J. MORRIS, Mayor 23 City of San Bernardino Approved as to form: 24 JAMES F. PENMAN, 25 City Attorney 26 By: 27 28 S DE/ed/Lowes[CivilSvc.Res.wpd] 2 EXHIBIT "A" 1 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT 2 In the Civil Service Hearing of Steve Lowes 3 1. The CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO (hereinafter "CITY") and the law firm of 4 MUNDELL, ODLL`M & HAWS (hereinafter "MO&H") are the parties to this Agreem4t. 5 2. MO&H will be representing the CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO, for the purpose 6 of rendering legal services in the Civil Service Hearing of Steve Lowes. MO&H shall not represent 7 any client in any type of claim against the CITY without prior written approval to do so from the 8 CITY through the City Attorney's Office. 9 3. MO&H shall be paid at the hourly rates set forth below: 10 Attorneys - 8200.00 per hour; and, 11 Paralegals - S 65.00 per hour. 12 The amounts expended under this agreement for attorneys fees shall not exceed 13 S20,000 without further approval of the Mayor and Common Council. 14 4. Bills shall be submitted at least on a monthly basis and no later than the 5`h day of 15 each succeeding month. 16 5. The actual cost for filing fees,telephone charges,photocopying,postage,lodging, 17 mileage and related travel costs shall be itemized when submitted to the CITY for reimbursement. 18 MO&H may include a single charge in an amount not to exceed four percent (4940) of fees in lieu 19 of reimbursement for photocopying, telephone charges, and postage. 20 6. If attorney's fees are charged "portal to portal" (e.g., from office to court and 21 return), then MO&H shall not be entitled to reimbursement for mileage and parking fees. 22 7. MO&H shall obtain approval from the CITY to retain expert consultants and other 23 professionals(not including court reporters)for purposes of defending the litigation. MO&H may, 24 if it chooses,pay the fees and charges of such consultants and seek reimbursement from CITY on 25 its periodic statement,or it may forward the consultant's bill to CITY with a request that the CITY 226 pay it directly. Consultants shall not bill the CITY directly without prior approval of the CITY'S 27 Finance Department. 28 8. Status reports will be submitted to CITY through the City Attorney's Office SDF./ed/Lowes(Civi)Svc.ProtSvcsAgrl 1 IM/I�1-11A1I111I�F711�11�11!` EXHIBIT "A" 1 whenever any significant event occurs, and in any event at least quarterly. Information sufficient 2 to set reserves, including, without limitation, potential liability exposure and ercenta e of fault P g 3 shall be included. 4 9. James Odlum shall perform the legal work set forth in this agreement. 5 10. Copies of any correspondence and other documents sent to any other party in this 6 matter shall also be provided to the CITY through the City Attorney's Office. 7 11. Any and all settlements shall require CITY approval. Request for settlement 8 authority shall be made through the City Attorney's Office which shall obtain the necessary CITY 9 approvals. 10 12. In the event the settlement value of the matter appears to exceed$50,000, the City 11 Attorney's Office shall be notified immediately. 12 13. Copies of all opinions shall be provided to the City Attorney's Office. 13 14. No client development-costs are to be included in billings. 14 15. No continuing education expenses are to be included in billings. 15 16. Final billing shall be accompanied by copies of Settlement and Release and any 16 other final documents. 17 17. Either CITY or MO&H may terminate this contract at will. MO&H will continue 18 to represent the CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO on the terms and conditions in this Agreement 19 until the matter is resolved or transferred to another attorney. 20 18. MO&H is an independent contractor as to the CITY. 21 19. MO&H shall maintain the following types of insurance with limits as shown: 22 a) Workers Compensation as required by the laws of the State of 23 California, including Employment Liability with $250,000 limits covering all 24 persons providing service on behalf of MO&H and all risks to such persons 25 under this Agreement. MO&H shall require its Workers Compensation carrier 26 to waive all rights of subrogation against the CITY and its officers and 27 employees and any others for whom services are being provided under this 28 Agreement. SDE,ed/Lo wes[CivIISvc.Profs vcsAgrj 2 EXHIBIT "A" 1 b) Comprehensive General and Automobile Liability Insurance 2 coverage to include contractual coverage and automobile coverage for owned, 3 hired and non-owned vehicles. The policy shall have at least a combined single 4 limit of 51,000,000 for bodily injury and propertyd'amage. 5 c) Professional Liability Insurance with limits of at least S 1,000,000 6 per claim. In lieu of naming the CITY as an additional insured, the policy may 7 be endorsed as follows: 8 "Insurance coverage afforded by this policy shall also apply to the 9 liability assumed by the Insured under the Agreement with the CITY OF SAN 10 BERNARDINO for legal defense services, provided such liability results from 1 an error,omission or negligent act of the insured,its officers,employees, agents 12 or subcontractors. All other provisions of this policy are to remain unchanged." 13 MO&H shall furnish certificates of insurance and certified copies of all policies 14 and endorsements to the City Attorney's Office evidencing the insurance coverage above required 15 prior to the commencement of performance of services hereunder, which certificates shall provide 16 that such insurance shall not be terminated or expire without thirty(30) days written notice to the 17 City Attorney's Office, and shall maintain such insurance from the time MO&H commences 18 performance of services hereunder until the completion of such services. 19 All policies,with respect to the insurance coverage above required,except for the 220 Workers Compensation insurance coverage and professional liability coverage,if applicable,shall 21 obtain additional endorsements naming the CITY and all parties represented under this Agreement, 22 their employees, agents, volunteers and officers as additional named insured with respect to 23 liabilities arising out of the performance of services hereunder. 24 All policies required above are to be primary and non-contributing with any 25 insurance or self-insurance programs carried or administered by the CITY or other parties 2 6 represented under this Agreement. 27 28 SDE/ed/Low'es[CivilSvc.ProfSvcsAgr] 3 EXHIBIT "A" 1 20. All communications and billings to the CITY are to be 2 directed as follows: 3 City Attorney's Office CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO 4 300 North "D" Street, Room 668 San Bernardino, CA 92418 5 6 DATED: May , 2007 MUNDELL, ODLUM & HAWS 7 8 By: James Odlum 9 10 DATED: May , 2007 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO 11 12 13 By: Fred Wilson, City Manager 14 15 16 Approved as to form: 17 JAMES F. PENMAN, City Attorney 18 19 By: 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 SDE/ed'Lowes[CivilSvc.ProfSvcsAgrl 4 : 1 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT 2 In the Civil Service Hearing of Steve Lowes 3 1. The CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO (hereinafter "CITY") and the law fine of 4 MUNDELL, ODLUM & HAWS (hereinafter "MO&H") are the parties to4tis Agreement. 5 2. MO&H will be representing the CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO,for the purpose 6 of rendering legal services in the Civil Service Hearing of Steve Lowes. MO&H shall not represent 7 any client in any type of claim against the CITY without prior written approval to do so from the 8 CITY through the City Attorney's Office. 9 3. MO&H shall be paid at the hourly rates set forth below: 10 Attorneys - $200.00 per hour; and, 1:1 Paralegals - $ 65.00 per hour. 12 The amounts expended under this agreement for attorneys fees shall not exceed 13 $20,000 without further approval of the Mayor and Common Council. 14 4. Bills shall be submitted at least on a monthly basis and no later than the 5`h day of 15 each succeeding month. 16 5. The actual cost for filing fees,telephone charges,photocopying,postage,lodging, 17 mileage and related travel costs shall be itemized when submitted to the CITY for reimbursement. 18 MO&H may include a single charge in an amount not to exceed four percent (4%) of fees in lieu 19 of reimbursement for photocopying, telephone charges, and postage. 20 6. If attorney's fees are charged "portal to portal" (e.g., from office to court and 21 return), then MO&H shall not be entitled to reimbursement for mileage and parking fees. 22 7. MO&H shall obtain approval from the CITY to retain expert consultants and other 23 professionals(not including court reporters)for purposes of defending the litigation. MO&H may, 24 if it chooses,pay the fees and charges of such consultants and seek reimbursement from CITY on 25 its periodic statement,or it may forward the consultant's bill to CITY with a request that the CITY 26 pay it directly. Consultants shall not bill the CITY directly without prior approval of the CITY'S 27 Finance Department. 28 8. Status reports will be submitted to CITY through the City Attorney's Office SDE/ed/Lowes[CivilSvc.ProfSvcsAgr] 1 1 whenever any significant event occurs, and in any event at least quarterly. Information sufficient 2 to set reserves, including, without limitation, potential liability exposure and percentage of fault ° 3 shall be included. 4 9. James Odlum shall perforrn the legal work set forth in this agreement. 5 10. Copies of any correspondence and other documents sent to any other party in this 6 matter shall also be provided to the CITY through the City Attorney's Office. 7 11. Any and all settlements shall require CITY approval. Request for settlement 8 authority shall be made through the City Attorney's Office which shall obtain the necessary CITY 9 approvals. 10 12. In the event the settlement value of the matter appears to exceed$50,000,the City 11 Attorney's Office shall be notified immediately. 12 13. Copies of all opinions shall be provided to the City Attorney's Office. 13 14. No client development costs are to be included in billings. 14 15. No continuing education expenses are to be included in billings. 15 16. Final billing shall be accompanied by copies of Settlement and Release and any 16 other final documents. 17 17. Either CITY or MO&H may terminate this contract at will. MO&H will continue 18 to represent the CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO on'the terms and conditions in this Agreement 19 until the matter is resolved or transferred to another attorney. 20 18. MO&H is an independent contractor as to the CITY. 21 19. MO&H shall maintain the following types of insurance with limits as shown: 22 a) Workers Compensation as required by the laws of the State of 23 California, including Employment Liability with $250,000 limits covering all 2 4 persons providing service on behalf of MO&H and all risks to such persons 25 under this Agreement. MO&H shall require its Workers Compensation carrier 26 to waive all rights of subrogation against the CITY and its officers and 27 employees and any others for whom services are being provided under this 28 Agreement. SDE/ed/Lowes[CivilSvc.PTO fSvcsAgrj 2 1 b) Comprehensive General and Automobile Liability Insurance 2 coverage to include contractual coverage and automobile coverage for owned, 3 hired and non-owned vehicles. The policy shall have at least a combined single 4 limit of$1,000,000 for bodily injury%nd property damage. 5 c) Professional Liability Insurance with limits of at least$1,000,000 6 per claim. In lieu of naming the CITY as an additional insured, the policy may 7 be endorsed as follows: 8 "Insurance coverage afforded by this policy shall also apply to the 9 liability assumed by the Insured under the Agreement with the CITY OF SAN 10 BERNARDINO for legal defense services,provided such liability results from 11 an error,omission or negligent act of the insured,its officers,employees,agents 12 or subcontractors. All other provisions of this policy are to remain unchanged." 13 MO&H shall furnish certificates of insurance and certified copies of all policies 14 and endorsements to the City Attorney's Office evidencing the insurance coverage above required 15 prior to the commencement of performance of services hereunder,which certificates shall provide 16 that such insurance shall not be terminated or expire without thirty(30) days written notice to the 17 City Attorney's Office, and shall maintain such insurance from the time MO&H commences 18 performance of services hereunder until the completion of such services. 19 All policies,with respect to the insurance coverage above required,except for the 20 Workers Compensation insurance coverage and professional liability coverage,if applicable,shall 21 obtain additional endorsements naming the CITY and all parties represented under this Agreement, 22 their employees, agents, volunteers and officers as additional named insured with respect to 23 liabilities arising out of the performance of services hereunder. 24 All policies required above are to be primary and non-contributing with any 25 insurance or self-insurance programs carried or administered by the CITY or other parties 26 represented under this Agreement. 27 28 SDE/el,Lowes[CivilSvc.ProfSvcsAgrl 3 1 20. All communications and billings to the CITY are to be 2 directed as follows: 3 City Attorney's Office CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO 4 300 North "D" Street, Room 668 San Bernardino, CA 92418 5 6 DATED: May_, 2007 MUNDELL, ODLUM & HAWS 7 8 By: James Odlum 9 10 DATED: May_, 2007 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO 11 12 13 By: Fred Wilson, City Manager 14 15 16 Approved as to form: 17 JAMES F. PENMAN, City Attorney 18 19 By: 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 SDE Jeddowes[CiviI Svc.ProfSvcsAgr] 4