Agenda

Return

C.110

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Sharon L. Anderson, County Counsel
Date:	July 19, 2016

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Amendment to Contract with Greenan, Peffer, Sallander & Lally

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 07/19/2016

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

ABSENT:

Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor

Contact:

Stephen M. Siptroth, (925) 335-1817

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: July 19, 2016
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the County Counsel, or her designee, to execute, on behalf of Contra Costa County, an amendment to a contract for specialized professional services with Greenan, Peffer, Sallander & Lally, effective November 1, 2015.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Eminent domain and real property matters will be charged to pertinent project accounts. The amendment adds hourly billing rates for paralegals that perform services under the contract. Legal services will be billed at a rate of $265 per hour for attorneys, and $110 per hour for paralegals.

BACKGROUND:

On August 1, 2011, the County entered into a new contract with Greenan, Peffer, Sallander & Lally for specialized legal services, including eminent domain services, as requested by the County Counsel. The contract specifies hourly billing rates for partners and associate attorneys.

The firm has recently added paralegal staff to perform certain services at an hourly rate that is significantly lower than the hourly rate for attorneys. Recently, the Auditor’s office was unable to process bills in several cases because the contract did not include hourly rates for paralegals. The County and the firm desire to amend the contract, effective November 1, 2015, to add hourly billing rates for paralegals to allow invoices to be paid when work is performed by paralegals at the firm.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Payment for work performed by the firm may continue to be delayed or withheld.