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Report regarding a resolution approving and authorizing the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement between the City of South San Francisco and Redwood Public Law, LLP (Leah Lockhart, Human Resources Director)
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RECOMMENDATION
By resolution, approve and authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement between the City of South San Francisco and Redwood Public Law, LLP to provide for additional labor negotiations services.
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BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
On February 28, 2024, the City Council approved a Professional Services Agreement between the City of South San Francisco and Redwood Public Law, LLC for legal services (Attachment 1). Through this agreement, the City extended the appointment of Sky Woodruff as City Attorney as he transitioned from Meyers Nave to establish a new law firm of Redwood Public Law, LLP. Several attorneys who had provided legal services to the City under the former agreement with Meyers Nave transitioned to Redwood Public Law, providing continued services in specialized areas, including labor and employment law.
On July 1, 2025, collective bargaining agreements with the City's seven (7) employee units will expire, and negotiations for successor agreements will begin in early 2025. In addition, in May 2024, the City agreed to coalition bargaining with groups represented by AFSCME Local 829 and Teamsters Local 856. Therefore, staff identified an increased need for labor relations services, including appointments of Chief Negotiators for each table. On December 11, 2024, staff met with City Council in closed session to discuss planning for labor negotiations. At that meeting, Council directed staff to extend the existing agreement with Christopher Boucher of Boucher Law, PC (an administrative extension of time only), to serve as Chief Negotiator for up to four groups. In addition, due to the number of employee groups and the potential complex...
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