Title
Authorization to Enter into Agreement with William R. Brown, P.C. to Provide Outside Counsel to Phoenix Employment Relations Board (Ordinance S-45305)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into a month-to-month legal service contract with William R. Brown, P.C. to provide outside legal counsel to the Phoenix Employment Relations Board beginning on or about Jan. 10, 2019 and expiring no later than Dec. 31, 2019. Further request the City Controller to disburse funds in an amount not to exceed $25,000 over the one-year contract term.
Report
Summary
The Phoenix Employment Relations Board (PERB) is responsible for adjudicating charges alleging a violation of the City’s Meet and Confer Ordinance; adjudicating unfair labor relations practice charges; resolving conflicts about employees’ unit designations; and assisting in resolving labor negotiations’ impasses. To assist with these cases, PERB has a staff attorney to provide advice and counsel. PERB will be working with the Finance Department to create a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process in order to find new legal counsel for PERB because Mr. Brown is retiring at the end of 2019. The month-to-month contract with William R. Brown, P.C. will allow time to create the RFQ list, as well as provide time for cross-training with new counsel.
Contract Term
The previous agreement with William R. Brown, P.C. was from Jan. 1, 2015 to Dec. 31, 2016, with two, one-year extensions. The extensions were executed and currently the agreement is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2018. The month-to-month agreement will begin on or about Jan. 10, 2019 and will expire no later than Dec. 31, 2019.
Financial Impact
This month-to-month agreement will not exceed $25,000. Funds are available in the PERB budget under the General Fund.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The City Council approved Ordinance S-41341 authorizing the contract with William R. Brown, P.C. on Jan. 7, 2015.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Acting Deputy City Manager Toni Maccarone and the Phoenix Employment Relations Board.