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Baldwin Park council appoints Tony Meyer law firm as city attorney; debate over retainer hours to return for amendment
Summary
The council voted 5‑0 to approve Resolution 2025‑019 appointing Tony Meyer Law as the City's city attorney and approve a legal services agreement. Council members debated reducing the retainer from 100 hours to 75 and directed staff to return with a possible amendment.
The Baldwin Park City Council on June 18 adopted Resolution 2025‑019, appointing the law firm Tony Meyer Law as the City Attorney and approving a legal services agreement. The motion passed 5‑0 after discussion about the contract’s retainer and hourly structure.
Mayor Pro Tem Damien moved to approve the resolution; Mayor Alejandra Avila seconded. Council Member Ayala, Council Member Lozano, Council Member Estrada (who joined the meeting before the vote), Mayor Pro Tem Damien and Mayor Avila all voted “yes.”
Why it matters: the contract sets the city’s outside legal counsel for the next term and identifies the attorneys who will be assigned to Baldwin Park.
Contract terms and debate: staff and council said the agreement calls for a 100‑hour retainer and a retainer amount of $24,000 (as stated in the staff report at the meeting). One council member recommended reducing the initial retainer to 75 hours to lower costs; the council discussed whether the amendment could be implemented immediately or required the firm’s written consent and a later amendment.
Staff explained the signed agreement allowed flexibility to exceed 100 hours at the same rate and said the firm had negotiated terms favorable to the city. Council members agreed to approve the current agreement and directed staff to return with a proposed amendment to reduce the retainer to 75 hours if the firm agrees.
Assigned attorneys: during the item staff named the attorneys who will be assigned to Baldwin Park: Christian Benhausen, Britney Roberto and Gary Cranker.
Implementation: staff said the firm would begin work July 1 under the current agreement; any amendment would require the firm’s consent and a subsequent council action.
No fiscal amendment was adopted at the meeting; council members said they would pursue a change only if the firm agreed and return that amendment to the council for approval.
