Agenda

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C. 67

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	John Kopchik, Director, Conservation & Development Department
Date:	December 13, 2022

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Delta Counties Coalition Legal Services Contract with Soluri Meserve, a Law Corporation

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 12/13/2022

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

ABSENT:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor

Contact:

Ryan Hernandez, 925-655-2919

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: December 13, 2022
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the County Counsel, or designee, to execute, on behalf of Contra Costa County, a contract amendment with Soluri Meserve, a Law Corporation, and the Counties of Contra Costa, Solano, and San Joaquin, to extend the term from January 1, 2023 through June 30, 2023, and increase the payment limit by $50,000 to a new payment limit of $274,000 in connection with the firm’s legal work for these three Delta Counties Coalition counties.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Water Agency funds will be used to pay one-third of the attorney’s fees and expenses charged by the Firm between January 1, 2023 and June 30, 2023.

BACKGROUND:

The Delta Counties Coalition (“DCC”) is comprised of the Counties of Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, and Yolo. The DCC advocates for the five counties’ shared interests concerning matters affecting the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

Since October 22, 2019, Soluri Meserve (“Firm”) has been performing legal services for the Counties of Contra Costa, San Joaquin, and Solano under a legal services contract among those counties. In February 2022, the legal services contract was extended to December 31, 2022, with an increased payment limit to $224,000. Each county is responsible for paying its proportional share (i.e., one-third) of attorney’s fees and expenses charged by the Firm.

The three DCC counties agree the Firm has been an integral part in the review and preparation of materials that further the goals of protecting and improving the Delta. Therefore, we seek to extend the term of the contract to June 30, 2023 and increase the amount of the contract by $50,000, with a new payment limit of $274,000.

Water Agency staff recommends approving the amendment to ensure the Firm can continue to perform legal work for the three DCC counties through June 30, 2023.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

The contract would not be amended, and the firm would stop performing legal services once the current $224,000 payment limit is reached, or by December 31, 2022, whichever occurs first.