10-25-1993 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: Mayor and City Council Ron Moorse, City Administrator October 20, 1993 Legal Services s staff has been working with Popham Haik to address concerns regarding their proposal for legal services for 1993. Popham Haik's 1993 proposal is as follows: A. Hourly Rates Popham Haik has proposed the legal service fees for 1993 be increased from $80.00 per hour for associates and $85.00 per hour for partners to $100.00 per hour for associates and $110.00 per hour for partners. This increase comes after the rates have remained unchanged for the past three years. These rates are above the average rate charged to cities in the Metropolitan area, but are comparable to the rates charged by other large legal firms. The average 1993 legal service rate in a sample of 31 Metropolitan cities is $93.00 per hour. Of these cities, six pay over $100,00 per hour. B. Private Rate Popham Haik currently charges "private" rates, which have ranged from $115.00 per hour to $200.00 per hour; fer work for which costs are passed through to a third party payer, such as planning applicants. Popham Haik has indicated the practice of charging vhe private rates will remain as part of their billing practice in the 1993 proposal. Staff is not aware of any other legal firms that have this dual rate structure for cities. C R0t3inG3T The current monthly retainer for legal services is $1,100 per month. This includes the following: 1. ) Preparation for and attendance at Council meetings. 2. ) Providing general advice on all routine matters. Popham Haik has been billing the City at the 1992 rates for 1993 work. They have indicated they do not intend to rebill the city at a higher rate for the 1993 work. The total amounts paid to Popham Haik for civil legal services for the past three years are as follows: 1990 - $ 97,58i 1991 - $ 91,210 1992 - $ 67,733