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Overview of the Existing Legal Services Agreement <br />•City has contracted with Meyers Nave for legal services since 1986; it is <br />the “institutional memory” for legal services. <br />•Annual monthly retainer for “Basic” services - $28,765 as of July 2011 <br />•Hourly rates charged for “Additional” services, litigation and cost-recovery <br />services. <br />•Total legal costs, not including litigation are estimated at $903,600 for FY <br />2012/13. Litigation cost are estimated at $450,000. <br />•Definitions of Basic and Additional legal services are vague, requiring <br />staff/attorney discussion and determination on many matters referred to <br />the City Attorney. <br />•City staff turnover has led to a perception that Meyers Nave is relied upon <br />for historical perspective and non-legal services and purposes. <br />•City does not have a written procedure describing how, when and under <br />what circumstances legal services are accessed. <br />•While attorneys are routinely available, there is some concern that the <br />attorneys are not always “down the hall” for early drop-in discussions. <br />3