HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes2015-116 Sponsored by: Hunt
CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2015-116
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD,
ALASKA,APPROVING A LEGAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH BIRCH
HORTON BITTNER& CHEROT
WHEREAS, the city has need of professional legal services in a wide variety of settings
including employment relations,contracting,real property transactions,ordinance and resolution
drafting,environmental and financial matters,as well as more generalized services to the city;and
WHEREAS, it is in the public interest to engage the services of a law firm with the
required areas of expertise and experience in municipal law issues; and
WHEREAS,the city's current firm Wohlforth,Brecht&Cartledge is dissolving by year
end; and
WHEREAS,at their October 26,2015 meeting,the City Council directed staff to issue a
Request For Proposals to provide legal services; and
WHEREAS, in November, 2015, the city advertised for such Request For Proposals,
advertising in the Alaska Dispatch News; and
WHEREAS, five proposals were received from legal firms; and
WHEREAS,at a special meeting on December 3,2015,the scoring committee comprised
of members of the City Council, City Administration, and the City Clerk scored the proposals,
selecting three applicants to interview on December 7, 2015; and
WHEREAS, at a special meeting on December 7,2015,the City Council voted to enter
into contract negotiations and conduct reference checks with the legal firm Birch Horton Bittner
& Cherot.
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SEWARD,ALASKA that:
Section 1. The legal services agreement, as substantially presented at this meeting is
hereby approved.
Section 2. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Seward, Alaska, this 14t1 day of
December, 2015.
CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2015-116
THE CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA
4 !
can Bardarson,Mayor
AYES: Keil, Squires, Butts, McClure, Altermatt, Bardarson
NOES: Casagranda
ABSENT: No
ABSTAIN: No
ATTEST:
p
Johanna K' CMC
•ity Clerk
(City Seal)
of Be �``®�
SEAL o
t
/L,• 0 0
•
Agenda Statement
OF SF
Meeting Date: December 14,2015 c+
•
To City Council S��
Through: Jim Hunt, City Manager
Johanna Kinney, City .
From: Joh y, ty Clerk
Agenda Item: Approving a legal services agreement with Birch Horton Bittner& Cherot.
BACKGROUND &JUSTIFICATION:
Due to the dissolving of the city's current legal firm Wohlforth, Brecht& Cartledge, the city was
faced with obtaining new legal representation for the first time in over twenty years.
The City Council directed staff to prepare a Request For Proposal for such legal services and five
proposals were received. Upon preliminary scoring and interviewing throughout the month of
November and December, the City Council has selected the law firm of Birch Horton Bittner &
Cherot(BHBC)to negotiate a contract for legal services.
The contract included in this agenda packet is negotiated and signed by BHBC. The agreed upon
rate schedule is $215 per hour for Shareholders and Lead Attorney Will Earnhart, $195.00 for
Associates, and$120.00 per hour for Paralegals/Law Clerks.
INTENT:
CONSISTENCY CHECKLIST: Yes No N/A
City Charter (document source here): 2.1 (b) "The appointive officers of
the city are the city manager, the city clerk and the city attorney. "
2.5 The compensation of all elective officers and board members, the
1. city manager, the city clerk and the city attorney shall be established by X
the council. "
5.6 "The city attorney shall act as the legal advisor or and be
responsible to the council. "
2. City Code (document source here): 2.20.040—City Attorney X
FISCAL NOTE:
The Funding for city legal services is a budget fund approved in the 2016-2017 Budget.
Approved by Finance Department:
ATTORNEY REVIEW: Yes No X
RECOMMENDATION:
Council approve Resolution 2015-116, a legal services agreement with Birch Horton Bittner &
Cherot.