CLEARLAKE >> The Clearlake City Council increased the number of hours attached to the city attorney’s retainer.
Ryan R. Jones, of Roseville-based law firm Jones and Mayer, has been on retainer for the city since June of last year.
“Based upon a review of the last year’s monthly billings, it appears that a monthly retainer at the level of 45 hours would be a better match to the typical need of legal services,” Clearlake City Manager Greg Folsom said.
Previously, Jones was retained for a total of 40 hours each month at $165 an hour for general legal services. Specialized legal services and special projects are billed at $175 per hour, while code enforcement services is $185 per hour. Litigation services are the highest billed, at $200 per hour. All rates remain the same with the amended contract.
Annually, the contract will cost a total of slightly more than $89,000. However, “there is likely to be no real cost increase,” as the city paid the law firm a little more than $92,000 last year because only four months required 40 hours or less in legal services.
In the event that all 45 hours are not needed in a given month, the unused hours can be credited to the following month.
“There is no charge for mileage, word processing or other administrative functions,” Folsom explained.
Additionally, the contract requires Jones to attend all city council meetings and study sessions, “except where the agenda is such that attendance is not needed or can be done telephonically.” Currently, Jones does not normally attend planning commission meetings.
The contract will be reviewed after six months to determine if more than 40 hours per month are needed.
Jones represented former Sheriff Frank Rivero when Lake County District Attorney Don Anderson filed two suits after Anderson determined Rivero lied following a 2008 on-duty shooting incident that occurred when Rivero was a deputy.
Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.
