Brief

The City Attorney submitted a contract with Nossaman LLP to provide legal services related to tenant relocation law and support the Economic and Workforce Development Department. The Budget and Finance Committee approved the contract in April 2026, and City Council adopted it on April 22, 2026, by an 11-0-4 vote. The matter is now closed as of May 4, 2026, after the Mayor's signing deadline passed.

Full summary

The City Attorney initiated this file in February 2026 to secure outside legal help from Nossaman LLP on federal and state tenant relocation law, with the Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD) as the primary client agency. The proposed contract runs three years and is capped at $50,000 total. The Budget and Finance Committee reviewed the City Attorney's report at a special meeting on April 13, 2026, and approved a funding split: $25,000 from the City Attorney's Office and $24,999 from EWDD, with the CAO directed to identify and transfer the City Attorney's share to the Outside Counsel account. The committee vote was 4-0 with one member absent. When the item reached the full Council on April 22, 2026, Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky introduced an amended motion, seconded by Councilmember Blumenfield, that replaced the committee's split-funding structure with a simpler arrangement: the entire $50,000 would be funded solely by EWDD, eliminating the requirement for the CAO to identify separate City Attorney funding. Council adopted this amended version 11-0-4. The City Clerk transmitted the file to the Mayor on April 24, 2026, and the matter became final on May 4, 2026. The practical effect is that the City now has a three-year outside counsel contract, fully paid by EWDD, to advise on tenant relocation obligations under federal and state law.

Activity (8)

• 2026-05-04 Council action final.
• 2026-04-24 City Clerk transmitted file to Mayor. Last day for Mayor to act is May 4, 2026.
• 2026-04-22 Council adopted item, subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51.
• 2026-04-17 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on April 22, 2026.
• 2026-04-13 Budget and Finance Committee approved the City Attorney report in Open Session.
• 2026-04-10 Budget and Finance Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on April 13, 2026.
• 2026-02-24 City Attorney document(s) referred to Budget and Finance Committee.
• 2026-02-23 Document submitted by City Attorney, dated February 23, 2026.

Documents (6)

• 2026-05-04 Mayor Concurrence/Council Action · other
• 2026-04-22 Motion 28A (Yaroslavsky - Blumenfield) · motion
• 2026-04-22 Speaker Card(s) · speaker_card
• 2026-04-13 Report from Budget and Finance Committee · report
• 2026-04-13 Speaker Card(s) · speaker_card
• 2026-02-23 Report from City Attorney · report