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% <br />Legal Services <br />October 20, 1993 <br />page 2 <br />These amounts vary based on whether there are special projects or <br />major public improvement projects that require legal work. They <br />also vary according to the amount of planning applications reviewed <br />by the City. <br />The $1,100 per month retainer is set at the amount which generally <br />is expected to cover the actual costs of the services under the <br />retainer, which include preparation for and attendance at Council <br />meetings and providing general advice. Most other cities surveyed <br />do not have retainers. They simply pay an hourly rate for all <br />v/ork. The City of Crystal pays a retainer of $2,500 per month. <br />This covers two council meetings per month and all other civil work <br />except work related to the police contract, the HRA and litigation. <br />The City of Eden Prairie has a $500 per month retainer. This <br />covers two council meetings and four staff meetings. All other <br />work is at an hourly rate. The City of Burnsville does not have a <br />retainer but pays a flat rate of $150 per meeting for the <br />attorney's attendance at two council meetings per month. <br />Popham Haik has indicated that if the city wants to make <br />significant changes to the billing rates or to the retainer, it <br />would be best for the city to develop a Request For Proposals which <br />defines the level and range of services required and also defines <br />what is to be included in the retainer. Popham Haik will then <br />respond to the Request For Proposals. <br />to the city needs to have <br />Level of Service <br />The legal firm, providing service <br />expertise in the following areas: <br />1. Municipal land use statutes and ordinances <br />2. Municipal contracts such as joint powers agreements <br />3. Land acquisition such as easements and right-of-way <br />4. Eminent domain <br />5. Building and zoning codes <br />6. Public employment statutes <br />7. Other areas of municipal law such as; the open meeting <br />law, data practices act, etc. <br />The Council has also discussed whether it is advantageous to have <br />the resources of a large legal firm in the case of a major legal <br />proceeding which may develop in relation to iss-.tes the city is <br />facing that involve State agencies such as MnDOT or the DNR. There <br />are a number of firms capable of providing this level of