HomeMy WebLinkAbout09252017 City Council Laydowns/200�14
Birch Horton Bittner & Cherot
a professional mrporalion
September 22, 2017
Mayor and Members of the City Council
City of Seward
P.O. Box 167
Seward, AK 99664
William A. Earnhart
Respond to Anchorage Office
T 907.263.7285 • F 907.276.3680
wearnhart@bhb.com
RE: City Attorney Report for the period August 11, 2017 through September 22, 2017
Dear Mayor and City Council:
The following summarizes our activities as City Attorney during the period
August 11, 2017 through September 22, 2017:
1. General Mutters: The City Attorney's office provided advice and worked
on various matters including records request issues, subpoenas, and requests from
government offices; contract provisions and leases at the harbor and SMIC; and
resolutions from the Planning & Zoning Commission. We also advised on competitive
bidding and contract approval procedures.
2. Litigation: In the Orion litigation all briefing is complete. There will only be
oral argument if requested by the court. We hope to have a positive decision from the
Court within eleven months.
The Reinke personal injury lawsuit was tendered and accepted by Seward's
insurer, AML/JIA, and is being defended by insurance counsel with Holland &
Knight, LLP. The matter is in the preliminary discovery stage.
3. Electric Utility: We continue advising and participating in negotiations to
protect the City's interests regarding the Bradley Lake agreements, which appear to
have come to an impasse. The Bradley Lake litigation appeal is proceeding (the City is
not a party). We have been revising outdated joint use agreements to create an
updated standard form.
4. The total number of hours billed by the firm on general matters in
August 2017 was 15.9.
510 L St., Ste 700, Anchorage, AK 99501-1959 1156 15th St. N.W., Ste. 1020, Washington, D.C. 20005-1754
T 907.276.1550 • 800.478.1550 • F 907.276.3680 1 T 202,659,5800 • F 202.659.1027
507486\1002%00644864
Birch Horton Bittner & Cherot
a professional corporation
Mayor and Members of the City Council
September 22, 2017
Page 2 of 2
Please contact me if you have any questions or desire additional information on
any of the matters discussed above.
Sincerely,
BIRCH HORTON BITTNER & CHEROT
William A. Earnhart
WAE:dsg
cc: Jim Hunt, City Manager
507486\1002\00644 864