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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. 20-227 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,on July 9,2019,the City Council approved an extension of the engagement with Ahlers and Cooney to a total amount of $50,412.58, and this amount has been reached in work completed to-date by Ahlers and Cooney; and, WHEREAS,the PERB hearing regarding this matter has been delayed from April to August; and, WHEREAS, City staff estimates that an additional $15,000 is needed to complete the legal work through the conclusion of the hearing in August,for a total contract amount of$65,412.58;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 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 12t'day of May, 2020. Dia e-R. Voss, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor Introduced by: Gartin Seconded by: Corrieri Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Junck, Martin Voting nay: None Absent: None Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 12t' day of May, 2020.