HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem G iso
MEMORANDUM
February 22, 1999
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Keith R. Till, City Manager
SUBJECT: Contract legal services— employee relations
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:
City Council to authorize utilization of Atkinson, Andelson law firm for employee
relations and labor matters.
BACKGROUND:
In an effort to facilitate employee relations and resolution of labor disputes, it is
recommended that City Council authorize an agreement with the above firm. Alan Atlas,
formerly with the public sector employee relations firm of Liebert, Cassidy and Frierson,
has joined a firm located in nearby Cerritos, which specializes in personnel matters. The
police department, similarly, utilizes the law firm of Martin Mayer for matters specific to
law enforcement. This recently benefited the City by providing an important friend of the
court brief from all the major state law enforcement associations in support of a Seal
Beach defense.
The City currently benefits from membership in the Liebert Cassidy consortium, which
provides training to managers and supervisors as well as free telephone consultation on
general personnel matters. The benefit of utilizing Atkinson Andelson is that we could
utilize a former Liebert Cassidy personnel specialist who is located much closer to Seal
Beach.
The hourly rates are the same as the City currently pays, so no additional budget
appropriation is necessary. It is not anticipated that utilization of the firm will be
substantial, but the benefit of having a nearby legal counsel at a firm specializing in this
area of the law is significant.
RECOMMENDATION:
City Council to pass a motion authorizing the utilization of Atkinson, Andelson for
employee relations and labor matters.
Agenda Item G
• ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOVA, RUUD S, ROMO
A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
361 MISSION INN AVENUE.UPPER LEVEL
SEVEN J x ON ATTORNEYS AT LAW RIVERSIDE. CA 92501
13304 EAST ALONDRA BOULEVARD FA190916/33.1x m0 Il2 i 44
CERRTOS. CA 90703-2263
15621404-4444 626 54e0 5776SLIDESTONERIDGE MALL ROAD.SE 200
THOMAS W N arrow s VAN urrra
PLEASANTON. CA 94588
FAX 1562)404-0905 19251227-9200
OARS C. THOMPSON PATRICK A DUNN GEE(025)„7-9203
KAREN E 555 CAPITOL
SURE 645
AN" SHMI SACRAMENTO. 95814
Cx 1916)447-4300
November 30, 1998 EA„)016)4474333
SHERRY G GORDON BRIAN 0 BOCK 440 WEST
SAN DIEGO, CAC 921 27 OURT, t2 'Q
GERALD A C°NRADI ADAM.) NEWMAN 1619)4135-9526
AIA CHRISTINE E. LOVELY OUR FILEN ER.
0845.
232779vI
HELEN RYAN FRAZER DIANE O KIM
ASA E REAVES JOSHUA E MORRISON
ALAN G ATLAS
Via First Class Mail
Keith Till
City Manager
City of Seal Beach
211 Eighth Street
Seal Beach, CA 90740
RE: Atkinson,Andelson, Lova,Ruud& Romo Proposal for Employment Relations Services
Dear Mr. Till:
It was a pleasure meeting with you last week and having the opportunity to discuss retaining Atkinson,
Andelson,Loya,Ruud& Romo as the City's employment relations counsel. I have therefore enclosed a
proposal for hourly services for your consideration. If, however, the City desires another type of fee
arrangement, we would be happy to discuss this with you.
I would also like to tell you more about Atkinson,Andelson, Loya, Ruud&Romo. The Firm has been in
existence since 1979,has 57 attorneys and six offices located throughout California. Atkinson,Andelson,
Loya, Ruud & Romo is best known in its public sector practice for its representation of more than 275
public agencies. I have joined the Firm to further develop and manage the city,county,and special district
labor law practice. Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo is resolved to be a major presence in this
area.
Our public sector services include legal representation in advising public agencies in such matters as
employment and labor law issues, personnel matters, unfair labor practices, collective bargaining,
employment contracts, lay-offs, employee discipline, employment discrimination and civil rights.
We have extensive and successful litigation experience in both federal and state courts, and before such
administrative agencies as:
4,4
ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA7RUUD Fx ROMO
Keith Till
City of Seal Beach
November 30, 1998
Page 2
• California State Office of Administrative Hearings;
• California Public Employment Relations Board;
• California Department of Labor Standards and Enforcement;
• California Unemployment Compensation Appeals Board;
• California Occupational Health& Safety Administration;
• California Department of Fair Employment& Housing;
• United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; and
• United States Department of Education Office.
We successfully represent public and private sector employers through trial each year. We also specialize
in disciplinary administrative appeal hearings and arbitrations before civil service,personnel commissions
and arbitrators, strictly representing employers.
It is the Firm's goal to work closely with our clients from the early stages of a dispute in order to favorably
resolve matters at the least expense and,when necessary,to preserve valuable affirmative defenses which
can be raised at a later date. In this manner,the Firm can help position the case in the most advantageous
position, while simultaneously exploring reasonable settlement options, if appropriate.
We offer training on a wide range of issues,including documentation of performance issues of employees,
all aspects of employment discrimination and harassment, disability discrimination, collaborative and
traditional collective bargaining, the Brown Act, and personnel records, to name a few.
We further offer our clients access to firm sponsored workshops,as well as contact with professional staff
who are immediately responsive to client needs.
I have taken the liberty to enclose the Firm's brochure and representative copies of firm newsletters,as well
as a syllabus of recent training workshops for your review. Please feel free to share the enclosed material.
Once again, it was a pleasure seeing you again and thank you for the opportunity to be of service.
Very truly yours,
ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOVA, RUUD & ROMO
Alan G. Atlas
AGA/gg
Enclosures