Brief

The City Attorney has submitted a proposed agreement with Stoel Rives LLP to provide outside legal counsel services to the City. The scope and cost of services are not detailed in the available documents. The file was referred to the Budget and Finance Committee on May 5, 2026, where it currently awaits review and approval.

Full summary

City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto is asking the City Council to approve a three-year contract with outside law firm Stoel Rives LLP, capped at $300,000, to handle matters related to significant litigation exposure. The internal file reference to sewer legal services suggests the engagement is connected to sewer-related legal matters, though the specific dispute or regulatory issue is not publicly disclosed. Because the underlying legal situation involves litigation exposure, the City Attorney is requesting that substantive discussion take place in closed session under California Government Code Sections 54956.9(d)(2) and (d)(4), which allow public agencies to meet privately when facing significant exposure to litigation. The report, signed by Assistant City Attorney Anne Haley on behalf of City Attorney Feldstein Soto, makes two parallel requests: that the Council hold a closed session to receive legal advice on the litigation exposure, and that it separately authorize the formal retention of Stoel Rives LLP and execution of the contract. The City Attorney asked that both items be placed on the Budget and Finance Committee's closed session agenda as soon as practicable. The file was referred to the Budget and Finance Committee on May 5, 2026, one day after it was submitted. No committee action or Council vote has taken place yet. The file remains open and pending committee review, with an expiration date of May 4, 2028.

Activity (2)

• 2026-05-05 City Attorney document(s) referred to Budget and Finance Committee.
• 2026-05-04 Document submitted by City Attorney, dated May 4, 2026.

Documents (1)

• 2026-05-04 Report from City Attorney · report