HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Waiving the City's Purchasing Policy Requirement for Formal Bidding Procedures and Extending the Engagement with Ahlers and Cooney, P.C. RESOLUTION NO. 19-333
RESOLUTION WAIVING THE CITY'S PURCHASING POLICY REQUIREMENT FOR
FORMAL BIDDING PROCEDURES AND EXTENDING THE ENGAGEMENT WITH
AHLERS AND COONEY, P.C.
FOR THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA
WHEREAS, in 2017,Iowa law related to collective bargaining for public sector employees
was modified,and in 2018,the City began negotiations for the first time under this revised law;and,
WHEREAS, due to federal protections for the collective bargaining rights of transit
employees, there is a dispute between the City and the union representing the City's Blue Collar
bargaining unit (which includes a mix of Transit and non-Transit City employees) regarding how
bargaining should work under the new state law; and,
WHEREAS,prior to negotiations, the City engaged the services of Ahlers and Cooney law
firm to assist on an informal basis with preparations for bargaining; and,
WHEREAS, the City utilized the services of Ahlers and Cooney extensively to prepare an
interim agreement that settled the collective bargaining agreement and outlined the steps remaining
to get clarification from the Public Employment Relations Board(PERB) about the law; and,
WHEREAS, to date, the City has paid$35,412.58 to Ahlers and Cooney for this work and
the firm estimates that an additional $15,000 will be required to represent the City through the
conclusion of the PERB hearing regarding this matter; and,
WHEREAS, this will bring the total expenditures to $50,412.58, which requires approval
from the City Council; and,
WHEREAS, the actual amount charged to the City is based on the hourly rates for the
attorneys, plus actual fees for copying, printing, and related services and should any additional
services be required due to appeals by either party, additional funding may be recommended in the
future; and,
WHEREAS, these types of services would be retained only after a competitive solicitation
process and the evaluation of proposals; however, the City did not envision these issues would
require such extensive legal services when it initiated the engagement with Ahlers and Cooney.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa,
that waiver of formal bidding procedures is hereby approved, and authorization to extend the
engagement with Ahlers and Cooney,P.C.,of Des Moines,Iowa in an amount not to exceed$15,000
is hereby approved.
ADOPTED THIS 9t'day of July, 2019.
Dia e-R. Voss, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor
Introduced by: Gartin
Seconded by: Corrieri
Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin,Nelson
Voting nay: None Absent: Martin
Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 9'day of July, 2019.