Council authorizes RFP for city-attorney services; committee and evaluation approach set

City staff advised the council that the city's long-time outsourced legal firm plans to close and presented two principal options: continue outsourcing city-attorney services or recruit an in-house attorney.

Mister Hall and Miss Collins reviewed an RFP draft and surveyed regional practices. Staff reported average outsourced legal rates around $230 per hour, average retainers near $83,400 and that in-house attorney operations in comparable cities often have average attorney salaries around $200,000 and total legal budgets approaching $1 million.

Staff recommended an RFP so the city could evaluate both outsourcing firms and potential in-house arrangements. Council discussed preferred qualifications and whether municipal experience should be mandatory. Members agreed to make municipal experience a strong preference but leave the RFP open to qualified applicants without strict exclusion.

Council agreed on a hybrid evaluation process: use an RFP to cast a broad net, allow firms of different sizes to bid, then convene a review committee with council and staff. The council suggested the review committee include council members plus key staff: Mister Cobb, Miss Collins and Mister Boot (staff titles provided in the RFP process discussion). Staff will circulate the RFP, accept responses and return with recommended finalists for interviews. The council also confirmed current budget assumptions and asked staff to refine evaluation materials; staff noted legal services are exempt from standard competitive-bid rules and the RFP is advisory, not mandatory.

No contract award was made at the meeting; staff will seek proposals and return with interview recommendations.