pages: CityCouncil/2020-04-22.pdf, 11
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CityCouncil | 2020-04-22 | 11 | involved. The City Attorney inquired whether Councilmember Vella is proposing the City engage different counsel. Councilmember Vella responded in the affirmative; stated that she is not comfortable with the waiver and all parties involved; expressed support for engaging different Attorneys rather than Attorneys from the same firm. The City Attorney stated should Council decline the waiver, the Housing Authority will likely engage different counsel. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired the reason for the Housing Authority would engage different counsel. The City Attorney responded Goldfarb is providing limited services to the City; stated the services are ongoing; Goldfarb has provided services at Alameda Point for many years with valuable knowledge; the City does not have an immediate need for Goldfarb to provide specific work right away; the Housing Authority needs Goldfarb right away; denial of the waiver will likely result in Goldfarb not being hired by the Housing Authority. Councilmember Oddie stated that he is not willing to support the item, but could in the future; the City Manager is working on a referral that has taken lower priority; that he will abstain on the item rather than vote no. The City Manager stated the item is coming forward based on a mediation process; outlined the urgency; stated since Goldfarb is the Housing Authority's main firm, there is a dilemma for the City. The Community Development Director stated Goldfarb is the General Counsel for the Housing Authority; the Attorney working with the City is different than the Attorney working with the Housing Authority; the Housing Authority has an ongoing, day-to-day relationship with Goldfarb as General Counsel; negotiations have begun related to the rent program and the contract with the Housing Authority and will come before Council in June; staff will also bring an amendment to the staffing services agreement with the Housing Authority; staff anticipates recommending the City bring the Community Development Block and Home program back to be administered by City staff; the two agreements are what brought the waiver request forward for Council consideration; the City will use in-house attorneys on both staffing services agreements; noted the work with Karen Tiedemann of Goldfarb is integral to the work at Site A as outside counsel to the City; City staff strongly values the relationship with Goldfarb and would like to maintain the relationships. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft questioned whether Councilmembers Oddie and Vella would be able to consider the waiver under certain circumstances. Continued April 21, 2020 Regular Meeting Alameda City Council 11 April 22, 2020 | CityCouncil/2020-04-22.pdf |