CLEARLAKE, Calif. - The Clearlake City Council unanimously approved a contract Thursday for legal services with Jones and Mayer, designating Ryan R. Jones as the city's new attorney.
The contract is effective July 1 at an annual cost of $79,200.
“It's a bigger package for close to the same expense,” Mayor Denise Loustalot said.
Best Best & Krieger, which acted as the city's legal firm for several years, gave notice in April that it planned to terminate its contract, as Lake County News has reported.
In the city's new contract with Jones and Mayer, a monthly retainer of $6,600 will cover 40 hours of general legal services, which equates to $165 per hour.
City Manager Joan Phillipe said the proposed preliminary budget does not reflect that amount and will need to be adjusted accordingly.
Earlier in the meeting, Phillipe requested continuation of an item related to the preliminary budget concerning the appropriations limit as contract negotiations with the city attorney are different than those reflected in the proposed budget.
Phillipe said the contract with Jones and Mayer is to be reviewed after six months to determine whether more or less than 40 hours of service a month is required.
She said the review may result in the need of a budget adjustment at the time of the mid-year budget review.
The legal firm operates from three locations, the closest to the city being in Roseville, from which travel will be calculated regardless of Jones' actual travel distance.
Additionally, there will be no charge to the city for mileage nor will there be a charge for word processing or other minor administrative functions.
The contract requires Jones' attendance at city council meetings and study sessions except when the agenda is such that attendance is not needed or can be done telephonically.
Phillipe said it has been the practice of city for quite some time to have its attorney present only at request.
Litigation services are to billed at $200 per hour and specialized services/special projects are to billed at $175 per hour.
Vice Mayor Gina Fortino Dickson said one aspect that stood out to her was the firm's “innovative practices in code enforcement,” which she thinks will be of benefit to the city. Code enforcement services will be billed at $185 an hour.
“I feel good about this contract and the services we are going to get,” Councilman Joey Luiz said.
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