Staff Report
PREPARED BY: LISA VELASCO
Human Resources Director
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 02/05/2019
ITEM NO: 7
DATE: JANUARY 31, 2019
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE AN INCREASE IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED TO $111,000
FOR THE AGREEMENT FOR SPECIAL SERVICES WITH LIEBERT CASSIDY
WHITMORE, TO CONTINUE TO PERFORM LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
RELATIONS ASSISTANCE
RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize an increase in an amount not to exceed to $111,000 for the Agreement for Special
Services (Attachment 1) with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, to continue to perform labor and
employment relations assistance.
BACKGROUND:
The Town of Los Gatos entered into a two-year agreement with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, a
Public Sector Employment Law firm, in February 2018 to provide labor and employment
relations services in the amount not to exceed $95,000 due to pending expiration of labor
agreements with the Town’s three bargaining units.
The Town also has a separate ongoing agreement with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore to participate
in a consortium that offers Human Resource professionals, management, and supervisory
employment related training in areas such as: the hiring process, wage and hour issues,
discipline and performance, legislative updates, the disability interactive process, and
retirement. The consortium also offers free telephone legal consultation for less complicated
employment relations inquiries.
PAGE 2 OF 2
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE AN INCREASE IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED TO $111,000 FOR
THE AGREEMENT FOR SPECIAL SERVICES WITH LIEBERT CASSIDY
WHITMORE, TO CONTINUE TO PERFORM LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
RELATIONS ASSISTANCE.
DATE: JANUARY 31, 2019
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2019\02-05-19\07 Liebert Cassidy Whitmore\Staff Report.docx 1/31/2019 12:32 PM
DISCUSSION:
The services provided by Liebert Cassidy Whitmore were instrumental in the successful and
timely conclusion of the 2018 labor negotiations process with the Town’s bargaining units. The
original not to exceed amount of $95,000 was an estimate of the total cost. The actual amount
is based on the hourly rates of a dedicated labor negotiator and additional consultations with
Liebert Cassidy Whitmore staff related to specialty areas, such as health care and the Fair Labor
Standards Act. To process the remaining payment for the services provided during the 2018
labor negotiations process as well as to continue to use the employment relations services that
are beyond the scope of the consortium services, staff is requesting to increase the
compensation by $16,000 for a total not to exceed amount of $111,000.
CONCLUSION:
Liebert Cassidy Whitmore has been highly effective in assisting the Town with labor
negotiations and employment relations support. The firm also has an abundance of legal
resources to provide support during and after the negotiations process. Staff recommends
approval of the increase in the not to exceed amount to process the remaining payment for
negotiations work that has already been completed and to continue to provide limited legal
consulting services throughout the remainder of the agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The $16,000 added funding source will be identified as part of the February 19, 2019 mid-year
budget review.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachment:
1. Executed Agreement for Special Services – Liebert Cassidy Whitmore