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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20D - AA LEGAL COSTS REIMBURSEMENTREQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: AUGUST 20, 2019 TITLE: APPROVE AN APPROPRIATION ADJUSTMENT NO. 2019-179 INCREASING REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTS BY $74,000 TO COVER REIMBURSABLE LEGAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2018-19 AND AN APPROPRIATION ADJUSTMENT 2020-013 INCREASING REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTS BY $500,000 TO COVER REIMBURSABLE LEGAL COSTS FOR LEGAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY BEST BEST AND KRIEGER LLP ASSOCIATED WITH SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019-20 (STRATEGIC PLAN NO. 4, 2A) CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: APPROVED ❑ As Recommended ❑ As Amended ❑ Ordinance on 1s' Reading ❑ Ordinance on 2nd Reading ❑ Implementing Resolution ❑ Set Public Hearing For CONTINUED TO FILE NUMBER CITY MA AGER RECOMMENDED ACTION 1. Approve appropriation adjustment 2019-179 adding $74,000 to Account No. 05316002- 57000 Expense Reimbursement to reflect anticipated fees collected from developers to cover outside legal costs associated with processing development projects and adding $74,000 to Account No. 05316021-62300 Contract Services -Professional to reflect anticipated payment of legal costs incurred by the City in processing development projects. The total allocations are subject to non -substantive changes by the City Manager and City Attorney. 2. Approve appropriation adjustment 2020-013 adding $500,000 to Account No. 05316002- 57000 Expense Reimbursement to reflect anticipated fees collected from developers to cover as needed third party legal support associated with processing development projects and adding $500,000 to Account No. 05316021-62300 Contract Services - Professional to reflect anticipated payment of legal costs incurred by the City in processing development projects. The total allocations are subject to non -substantive changes by the City Manager and City Attorney. 20D-1 Appropriation Adjustment of Development -Related Legal Fees August 20, 2019 Page 2 From time to time the City requires legal assistance that cannot be provided by in-house staff. Best Best & Krieger LLP (BBK) has been retained to provide additional specialized legal services, funded by the applicant, but operating under the direction of the City. The tasks undertaken by BBK are overseen by the Planning and Building Agency and the City Attorney's Office. These outside legal services are paid for by the developer in the following manner. Prior to beginning work on a project, BBK provides an estimated cost for legal services. The estimated cost plus a 10% administrative fee is collected from the developer. As work on the project proceeds, staff reviews the invoices to ensure that the estimated cost is not exceeded. If necessary, staff may need to request additional funds from the developer to cover unanticipated additional costs. Upon approval of the two proposed Appropriation Adjustments, revenues collected for project - related legal fees will be deposited in Revenue Account No. 05316002-57000 Expense Reimbursement. The 10% administrative fee will be deposited in the General Fund. Payments for outside legal services will be appropriately charged to Expenditure Account No. 05316021- 62300 Contract Services -Professional. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT None. STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT Approval of the action allows the City to meet Goal #4 — City Financial Stability, Objective #2, (provide a reliable five year financial forecast that ensures financial stability in accordance with the strategic plan, Strategy A (adopt a budget that is in alignment with the financial forecast and strategic plan). FISCAL IMPACT The appropriation adjustments will assign $574,000 to Revenue Account 05316002-57000 Expense Reimbursement and $574,000 to Expenditure Account No. 05316021-62300 Contract Services -Professional as follows: All monies will be collected from developers. There will be a slight increase in the General Fund from the 10% administrative fee. 20D-2 Appropriation Adjustment of Development -Related Legal Fees August 20, 2019 Page 3 Accounting Unit, Fiscal Year Account Unit — Fund Description Account Amount Account # Description FY 2018/19 05316021-62300 City Services Contract Services- $74,000 Professional FY 2019/20 05316021-62300 City Services Contract Services- Professional $500,000 Minh Thai Executive Director Planning and Building Agency CN/SM:Ia S:RFCA\8-20-19 APPROVED AS TO FUNDS AND ACCOUNTS: Kathryn Dow s, CPA Executive Director Finance and Management Services Agency 20D-3 20D-4