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Item No: 04A Meeting Date: May 2, 2005 Type of Business: Work Session City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Kurt Ulrich, City Administrator Item Title/Subject: Kennedy & Graven Legal Services Agreement Background Our current agreement with Kennedy and Graven for legal services will expire on July 14, 2005. Attached is the current agreement along with Resolution 6059 authorizing execution of the agreement. Discussion In 2003, the City Council directed Staff to examine available RFPs for legal services and drafted an RFP specific to Mounds View. Staff interviewed approximately 13 law firms in 2003, and the City Council decided to continue with Kennedy and Graven for the City’s legal services. This was a two year agreement, which expires on July 14, 2005. Staff could start the process of drafting another RFP for legal representation and start interviewing other law firms. However, with some major issues before the City (e.g., Clear Channel/Medtronic), it would be difficult to change legal representation. Clearly, Kennedy & Graven has the advantage of knowing the history of many of the City’s past actions on contracts, ordinances, and cases worked on in the past. The size of the firm is also an advantage because specialists are readily available for consultation. With some exceptions over the years, staff has been satisfied with work performed, but is open to the option of switching at some point in the future. Recommendation Staff would like Council direction on how to proceed with the legal agreement between the City and Kennedy & Graven. Staff recommends that we extend the agreement with Kennedy & Graven for one year, and revisit this issue after the agreement extension has expired. An alternative would be to extend the agreement six months, and begin the RFP process this summer. Respectfully submitted, Kurt Ulrich City Administrator