COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
TO: Honorable Mayor and Council
FROM: Charlie Cassens, City Manager
SUBJECT:Title
Approve Professional Services Contract with Whitney & Whitney PLLC for Public Defender Legal Services
Body
FUNDING SOURCE:
General Fund
PURPOSE:
Award contract to provide legal representation for indigent defendants and Veteran’s Treatment Court participants for fiscal year 2017-18.
BACKGROUND:
On April 1, 2012, the City first entered into a Professional Services Contract for public defender legal services with Whitney & Whitney following a Request For Proposal process. The Contract was for a one-year term with annual, automatic renewals not to exceed five years and $60,000 per year. The contract was later amended to include an increase to $100,000 per year for the final three years of the contract. The increase was predicated on greater caseload and the added responsibility of Veterans Court. Additionally, during this fiscal year, Council approved another increase in payment from $100,000 to $125,000 to enable the firm to maintain an increase in staff devoted fulltime to Veteran Court cases.
Although this is considered a specialized service under the Exception Section of the Procurement Code (3.10.010.5.A.3) and does not require a competitive solicitation, due to increases in contract payments over the five year period and expiration of allowable extensions, it is staff’s intent to enter a single year contract for fiscal year 2017-18, and solicit interest from additional firms in the next budget cycle.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
Providing quality legal services to indigent defendants and Veteran’s Treatment Court participants improves the lives of those who qualify for those services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funds in the amount of $170,000 have been budgeted in account #110-1310-401-3102 for fiscal year 2017-18.
ATTACHMENTS:
Contract No.: 17-2215
SUGGESTED MOTION:Recommendation
I move to approve the Professional Services Contract with Whitney & Whitney PLLC for Public Defender Legal Services and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement on behalf of the City.