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: 02/20/18
ITEM NO: 04
DATE: FEBRUARY 13, 2018
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE THE TOWN MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH
LIEBERT CASSIDY WHITMORE TO PERFORM LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
RELATIONS ASSISTANCE IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $95,000
RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize the Town Manager to execute an Agreement (Attachment 1) with Liebert Cassidy
Whitmore to perform labor and employment relations assistance in an amount not to exceed
$95,000.
BACKGROUND:
The Town of Los Gatos has an ongoing agreement with Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, a public
sector employment law firm, 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 Town previously contracted with Renne Sloan Holtzman Sakai as a sole source provider for
labor and employment relations services for the past eight (8) years. The agreement with
Renne Sloan Holtzman Sakai has since expired and with negotiations scheduled to ensue in
2018 with the Town’s three labor groups, staff invited additional public sector employment law
firms to engage in a competitive interview process to determine labor and employment
relations services offered as well as anticipated cost. Through that process, the firm of Liebert
Cassidy Whitmore was selected as the sole source provider for the next two years.
PAGE 2 OF 2
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE THE TOWN MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH
LIEBERT CASSIDY WHITMORE TO PERFORM LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
RELATIONS ASSISTANCE IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $95,000
DATE: FEBRUARY 20, 2018
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2018\02-20-18\04 LCW Agreement\Staff Report FINAL.docx 2/15/2018 2:16 PM LV
DISCUSSION:
The Town has three bargaining units: the Town Employees’ Association (TEA), the American
Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and the Police Officers’
Association (POA). The Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) that outline the individual
agreements between the Town and each unit related to compensation, health benefits, leave
time, and grievance procedures will expire with TEA and AFSCME on June 30, 2018. POA’s
MOU will expire on September 30, 2018. In order to facilitate new agreements with each
bargaining unit before the expiration dates, engagement in the negotiations process should
begin in March 2018. Staff proposes that the Town be represented in the process by Liebert
Cassidy Whitmore.
CONCLUSION:
The firm of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore has been vetted by a collaborative interview process
involving the Town Manager’s Office, the Town Attorney’s Office, and the Human Resources
Department, as well as through recommendations and references from other public sector
agency clients. The firm of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore has skilled labor negotiators and also has
legal and support resources available throughout the negotiations process.
COORDINATION:
This report was coordinated with the offices of the Town Manager and Town Attorney.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total amount proposed not to exceed $95,000 will be incurred over a two-year fiscal
period. Sufficient funding is budgeted each fiscal year in the Human Resources Labor Relations
Services program.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachments:
1. Agreement for Special Services – Liebert Cassidy Whitmore