Explanation
BACKGROUND: The collective bargaining agreement between the City and FOP/Capital City Lodge #9 expired on December 8, 2005. It was imperative that negotiations for a successor agreement were commenced prior to the passage of the FY 2006 budget in order to hasten the likelihood of a resolution and avoid a potentially protracted process.
The law firm of Baker and Hostetler, contract compliance #340082025 has been solicited to provide assistance in collective bargaining negotiations because of its experience representing the City of Columbus in previous negotiations. With Baker's assistance the City has successfully resolved the 2002 FOP negotiations, and has resolved the 2004 IAFF and 2005 AFSCME negotiations without the need for third party intervention. The firm's services were initiated through an engagement letter.
This legislation will authorize the execution of a formal contract incorporating the terms of the engagement letter and will further authorize the appropriation of $125,000.00 to compensate the contractor for services rendered in conjunction with the final resolution of the negotiation with FOP/Capital City Lodge #9.
The competitive bid process would exacerbate an already potentially protracted process and would not be conducive to bringing the negotiations to closure in an expeditious fashion. Therefore, competitive bidding requirements are being waived.
Fiscal Impact: These funds are budget within the Department of Human Resources 2006 General Fund budget.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Human Resources to enter into contract with the law firm of Baker & Hostetler for the purpose of providing assistance as may be necessary to achieve final resolution of the negotiations with FOP/Capital City Lodge #9; to authorize the expenditure of $125,000.00 from the General Fund; to waive the competitive bid requirements of the Columbus City code; and to declare an emergency ($125,000.00).
Body
WHEREAS, the collective bargaining contract between the City and the FOP/Capital City Lodge #9 expired December 8, 2005; and
WHEREAS, the law firm of Baker & Hostetler has provided effective assistance in preparing for and negotiating previous collective bargaining contracts for the City; and
WHEREAS, it is in the mutual best interest of the City and the FOP/Capital City Lodge #9 to finalize collective bargaining negotiations as expeditiously as possible, therefore requiring the waiver of the competitive bidding provisions set forth in the Columbus City Codes; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exist in the usual daily operation of the City in that it is immediately necessary to enter into contract with Baker & Hostetler in order to finalize collective bargaining negotiations as soon as possible, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; Now therefore;
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Human Resources is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with Baker & Hostetler to assist the City to achieve final resolution of the negotiations with FOP/Capital City Lodge #9.
SECTION 2. That the provisions of Chapter 329.10 of the Columbus City Codes be waived.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $125,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be expended from the General Fund as follows:
Fund: General Fund 10 | Department: Human Resources 46-01 | OBL 3: 3336 | OCA: 281667
SECTION 4. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.