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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Change Order No. 9 with Ritts Law Group for Legal Support RESOLUTION NO. 16-093 RESOLUTION APPROVING CHANGE ORDER NO. 9 TO RITTS LAW GROUP AGREEMENT FOR THE CITY OF AMES WHEREAS, in September 2009, the City Council approved an engagement and retainer agreement with The Ritts Law Group, PLLC, of Alexandria, Virginia, for legal services related to the regulatory compliance with the Clean Air Act; and, WHEREAS, for the initial agreement, Council authorized expenditure of an amount not exceed $100,000; and, WHEREAS, during the initial 12 months, Ritts worked closely with Electric Services and the Legal Department to evaluate projects scheduled at the steam electric plant and the combustion turbines; and, WHEREAS, in the ensuing years, Ritts has continued to provide assistance in support of a number of matters facing Electric Services; and, WHEREAS,since its engagement with The Ritts Law Group in 2009,the City has expended a total of$635,557 with this firm; and, WHEREAS, additional funding is needed for the City to continue to receive analyses and legal advice from The Ritts Law Group regarding existing Clean Air Act issues and proposed regulations that currently affect the City's electric utility, as well as other issues that are critical in planning and mapping out the future of the utility's energy producing resources; and, WHEREAS, staff is now in the process of asking the Environmental Protection Agency for additional time to meet the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards Rule,evaluating and complying with the Clean Power Plan, challenging the CSAPR, renewal of our Title V permit, complying with the Coal Combustion Residual rule, and gaining a construction permit from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to repair Combustion Turbine No. 1, and all of these tasks will require legal guidance from The Ritts Law Group; and, WHEREAS, Council authorization is now requested to extend the engagement with Ritts Law Group for an additional amount not to exceed $100,000; and, WHEREAS, funding in an amount of$45,000 in FY 2015/16 and$100,000 in FY 2016/17 will be available for this outside service from the Fuel and Purchased Power program in the Electric Services operating budget. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa, that contract Change Order No. 9 in the amount of$100,000 to The Ritts Law Group for specialized environmental legal support, extensive environmental analysis, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources construction permit preparation work is hereby approved. ADOPTED THIS 1 St day of March, 2016. A. cam'• �i�+.� Diane R. Voss, City Clerk Ann H. Campbell, Mayor Introduced by: Corrieri Seconded by: Betcher Voting aye: Betcher, Beatty-Hansen, Corrieri, Gartin,Nelson, Orazem Voting nay: None Absent: None Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 1st day of March, 2016.