Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel Contracts topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Porterville council hires new outside law firm for city attorney services after long‑serving attorney’s departure
Summary
Following a mutual separation with the prior city attorney, the council approved a contract with Griswald (Griswald Lasowl) for municipal legal services at a proposed fixed monthly fee of $25,000 (approximately $300,000 annually) and approved a small budget amendment to cover the remainder of the fiscal year.
The Porterville City Council approved a new agreement for city attorney services with the firm identified at the meeting as Griswald (referred to in staff materials as Griswald Lasowl). The city manager told the council the draft agreement included a fixed monthly fee ‘‘of $25,000 per month’’ and that the total program cost would be roughly $300,000 annually; staff recommended a budget amendment not to exceed $6,500 to cover the remainder of the current fiscal year.
Council members thanked outgoing city attorney Julia for long service and took time for formal recognition. The city manager said the council had interviewed firms, directed staff to negotiate an agreement and that the proposed firm has municipal experience in land use, labor, water and infrastructure matters.
Council approved the agreement and the budget amendment in a single motion; the vote in the record was unanimous, 5-0. Staff said the contract provides a fixed monthly retainer for core services with other services available at hourly rates if council chooses to use them.
What happens next: the mayor was authorized to execute the agreement, staff will process the budget amendment, and the city will transition legal services under the new agreement effective as stated in the staff report. Council members commended Julia for her long tenure and presented a plaque in recognition of her service.
