Discussion and possible action on any and all matters regarding hiring independent Legal Counsel for the City of San Luis Fire Local Board.  (Mary Barajas, Human Resources Coordinator).

The City Attorney cannot provide legal counsel to the Board.  Pursuant to A.R.S. 38-847. Local Boards (N). The fees of the medical board and of the local board's independent legal counsel and all other expenses of the local board necessary for the administration of the system shall be paid by the employer and not the board of trustees or system at such rates and in such amounts as the local board shall approve. Each local board shall hire an independent legal counsel who is not an employee of or contracted with the employer or any employee organization and owes its duty of loyalty only to the local board in connection with its representation of the local board. The independent legal counsel may not represent a member of the plan before any local board or any judicial appeal of a local board decision. The local board’s independent legal counsel shall review the Model Uniform Rules for Local Board Procedure that are issued by the board of trustees.

Attached is the Representation and Engagement Agreement from Ryann Rapp Pacheco Sorensen P.L.C. The primary attorney engaged in this representation will be Ms. Lesli M. Sorensen who has been representing Local Boards since 2017. If approved by the Board, the attorneys will, as requested, attend meetings of the board, review agendas and supporting material prior to the meetings and monitor compliance with open meeting law for those meetings attended. The attorneys will, upon referral of a lawsuit or other legal matter by the Board, provide any necessary legal representation to the Board and any of its officers, employees, or agents as directed by the Board.