SR-042396-6I
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KB kb f \person mlsc\councll\councl18 APR 2 3 1996
Council Meetmg Apn123,1996 Santa MOnica, California
TO Mayor and City Council
FROM City Staff
SUBJECT Recommendation to Authonze City Manager to Execute an Agreement
with Liebert, Cassidy & Frierson to Provide Legal Services Relatmg to
Employer-Employee Relations Matters
INTRODUCTION
ThIs report recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to obtam legal
services from Liebert. Cassidy & Frierson with regard to employer-employee relations
matters for an amount not to exceed $94,000 for Fiscal Year 1995-96
BACKGROUND
Smce approximately January, 1987, the City has used the firm of Liebert, Cassidy &
Fnerson to provide legal services with regard to various employer-employee relations
matters The firm represents the City In disciplinary appeals hearings before the
Personnel Board and provides employee tramlng with regard to employment law Issues
Liebert, Cassidy & Frierson was selected through a competitIve process Liebert,
Cassidy & Frierson provides similar legal services to a number of Cities In California
The firm was selected based on Its competitive hourly rate and the extensive expenence
and expertise the firm has In the area of public sector employer-employee relations and
employment law
APR 2 3 1996
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Various City departments use the services of liebert, Cassidy & Frierson for
representatIon In employee dlsclphnary actions and appeals In order to facilitate the
monitoring of the services provided by Liebert, Cassidy & Fnerson, the billings for such
services have been consolidated under a single city-wide purchase order For pnor
years, the servIces provided by Liebert, Cassidy & Frierson have not exceeded the
$50,000 limit placed on profeSSional service agreements which do not require City
Council approval For the current fiscal year, however, there have been an unanticipated
number of disciplinary appeals heanngs, some of which have been lengthy As a result,
the total charges for the services of Liebert. CassIdy & Fnerson WIll exceed $50,000 for
FY95-96 The anginal purchase order Issued for Liebert, Cassidy & Frierson was In the
amount of $45,000 The amount needed to pay for service already provided, current
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work In progress and prOjected service needs for the remainder of fiscal year should not
exceed $49,000, which would bring to the City-wide purchase order up to a total of
$94,000 for FY95-96
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funds are Included In the FY95-96 budget to cover the cost of the legal services
provided by LIebert, Cassidy & Fnerson
RECOMMENDA TION
It IS recommended that the City Council authorize the City Manager to obtain legal
services from Liebert, Cassidy & Fnerson with regard to employer-employee relations
matters In an amount not to exceed $94,000 for FY95-96
Prepared by Karen Bancroft, Director of Personnel
Marsha Moutne, City Attorney
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