Council approves professional legal services contract after questions about RFQ process

The Common Council of the City of Lawrence approved Resolution 3, 2025, a professional services contract with Frost Brown Todd LLP for legal services, after a favorable recommendation from the Administration Budget and Finance Committee and a roll‑call vote of 8‑1.

Councilor Chavis, who reported the finance committee’s recommendation, moved to approve the resolution. Councilor Robinson seconded the motion. Councilor Wells asked whether an RFQ had been solicited for outside counsel; Chavis said, "No. We did not, nor have we ever, submitted an RFQ for our legal counsel."

Councilor Wells also asked whether the contract covered only attendance at two meetings or included additional services. The City Attorney told counselors that commissioners had received a copy of an engagement letter describing the proposed services and that the agreement would include meeting attendance plus additional services described in that letter.

The council then voted; roll call showed an 8‑1 approval and the resolution passed. No amendments to the engagement letter were made on the council floor.

The discussion at the meeting focused on procurement process and the scope of services described in the engagement letter rather than on any specific change to day‑to‑day legal representation. Councilors did not refer the resolution back to committee, nor did they request staff to solicit RFQs before the vote.