TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute a Third Amendment to Agreement No. 31680 with Davis Wright Tremaine LLP for legal services increasing the maximum authorized amount from $95,000 to $135,000 per year, subject to appropriation of funds in future years.
DISCUSSION
On March 2, 2010, the City Council authorized the execution of a contract with Davis Wright Tremaine LLP (Davis Wright) for the provision of specialized legal services to the Long Beach Gas & Oil Department (LBGO). On January 10, 2012 the City Council authorized the extension of the Davis Wright contract, extending the term to January 31, 2012. On January 21, 2014, the City Council authorized the extension of the Davis Wright contract, extending the term to January 31, 2016. Davis Wright successfully represented the City in proceedings before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) brought by the Southern California Gas Company (SoCaIGas) which were of vital interest to the City in that they affected the manner in which gas and electricity are purchased and transported by large end-users such as the City (and its customers). Effective January 31, 2015, LBGO wishes to expand the scope of Davis Wright's current representation in order to assist with recent actions by the CPUC which may affect LBGO and its customers, including, among other things, ongoing hearings before the CPUC regarding pipeline safety and cap-and-trade program compliance obligations. It is important that the interests of the City and its customers are continued to be represented and protected before the CPUC in connection with these ongoing proceedings.
Both the City Attorney's Office and LBGO have been pleased with Davis Wright's work product to date and believe that the firm's energy regulatory group will continue to provide top-quality advice and representation on behalf of the City.
FISCAL IMPACT
Payment for these services has been budgeted by the LBGO in the Gas Revenue fund and will result ...
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