Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Director of Human Resources seeks the authority to modify and increase the contract currently in effect with the law firm of Baker & Hostetler LLP for collective bargaining negotiations and related activities. The city entered into the original contract earlier this year (Ord. 0106-2023) to provide labor relations assistance because of their long history and experience representing the City of Columbus in negotiations with bargaining units. Costs initially legislated, per Ordinance 0106-2023, totaled $300,000.00; this modification provides for additional expenses related to legal counsel for labor negotiations and related activities. This legislation serves to increase the maximum obligation liability by $100,000.00, bringing the total contract obligation to $400,000.00. In addition, this ordinance serves to appropriate sufficient funds to allow this expenditure to occur.
It would not be in the City’s best interests to have additional contract requirements awarded through other procurement processes specified in Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes because the law firm of Baker & Hostetler LLP continues to bring a wealth of institutional knowledge and experience in ongoing labor negotiations and related activities with the City of Columbus and because the potential of changing outside legal counsel in the midst of collective bargaining negotiations would be detrimental to the City. Costs associated with several ongoing negotiations were underestimated in the initial contract. An analysis of year to date expenditures for the balance of the contract year supports this increase.
This legislation authorizes the appropriation of $100,000.00 from the unappropriated balance of the employee benefits fund, authorizes the Human Resources Department Director to modify and increase the current contract with Baker & Hostetler LLP by $100,000.00, and, further, authorizes the expenditure of the additional $100,000.00 to compensate for lega...
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