City of Columbus - File #: 0201-2006

• File #: 0201-2006
• Version: 1
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Passed
• File created: 1/24/2006
• In control: Safety Committee
• On agenda: 2/6/2006
• Final action: 2/8/2006
• Title: To authorize the City Attorney to modify an agreement for special legal counsel with representatives of the law firm of the Baller Herbst Law Group, P.C.; to authorize the expenditure of the sum of Thirty-five Thousand Dollars and no cents ($35,000.00); and to declare an emergency.

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
2/8/2006	1	CITY CLERK	Attest
2/7/2006	1	MAYOR	Signed
2/6/2006	1	Columbus City Council	Approved	Pass
2/6/2006	1	COUNCIL PRESIDENT	Signed
1/30/2006	1	Atty Drafter	Sent to Clerk's Office for Council
1/27/2006	1	Atty Drafter	Sent for Approval
1/27/2006	1	CITY ATTORNEY	Reviewed and Approved
1/27/2006	1	Atty Drafter	Sent to Clerk's Office for Council
1/27/2006	1	City Clerk's Office	Sent back for Clarification/Correction
1/26/2006	1	Finance Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
1/26/2006	1	Atty Drafter	Sent for Approval
1/26/2006	1	FINANCE DIRECTOR	Reviewed and Approved
1/25/2006	1	Atty Drafter	Sent for Approval
1/25/2006	1	TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR	Reviewed and Approved
1/25/2006	1	Atty Drafter	Sent for Approval
1/25/2006	1	CITY AUDITOR	Contingent
1/25/2006	1	CITY AUDITOR	Reviewed and Approved

Explanation

Background: This ordinance provides for ongoing progress in the City's efforts to obtain from three (3) cable operators (WideOpenWest, Time Warner, and Insight) additional channel capacity as required by the existing service permit agreements and Columbus City Code Section 595.05(J). The City intends to use this additional capacity to deliver, via digital or internet protocal (IP) video, training programs to City employees and to establish an internal commmuncation channel for City employees.

The Baller Herbst Law Group, P.C., was selected through the RFP process in 2005 by the Department of Technology to begin review of the City's needs and the cable operators' capabilities to deliver the additional channel capacity. A professional services contract was executed by the City Attorney's Office for $20,000 (ED 024065)with Baller Herbst to begin the review and begin discussing technological options with the cable providers. Formal technical meetings with all three cable operators occurred the week of January 9, 2006. A contract modification in the amount of $35,000 is necessary to keep Baller Herbst retained on this project in order to present options for the City in light of the technical proposals suggested by the cable operators and to negotiate a final technical and cost estimate for this project.

This modification is an addition to the original scope of services, but is a continuation of the existing work being performed and it would not be practical to contract with different legal counsel and consultants.

This ordinance authorizes the City Attorney to modify the existing professional services contract with the Baller Herbst in the amount of $35,000.00 to complete this task. Baller Herbst's total revised contract amount (including this modification) will be $55,000.00

Fiscal Impact: The total cost of this contract modification is $35,000.00. This sum is available within the Department of Technology's Fund No. 514.
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