Authorize Request for Proposals for Civil Legal Services

In 2021, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for civil legal services. Following the evaluation process, the City Council selected Fritz Knakk from the firm Holstad & Knaak, PLC and entered into a two-year agreement commencing on November 1, 2021. On October 24, 2023, the City Council approved the renewal of the Civil Legal Services agreement with Mr. Knaak for an additional two-year term, beginning November 1, 2023, and expiring October 31, 2025. 

City Code Sec. 2-275 - Purchasing alternatives, addresses professional service contracts via a request for proposal (RFP).   Within that, it generally states that the city conducts an RFP for legal services every three years.  A clause is present that would allow the City Council, at its discretion, to formally extend a current contract upon the recommendation of city staff.

The timeframe to conduct an RFP, hold interviews and ultimately select a final firm would span approximately two and a half months.  A tentative timeline would be as follows:

• July 9 - City Council Authorize advertisement for RFP
• August 1 - Submittal deadline for proposals
• August 15th - Complete proposal evaluations
• August 26 or September 9 - City Council interviews (may need a special work session to conduct interviews)
• September 23 - City Council formal approval of firm
• November 1 - Contract begins in correlation to the expiration of the current contract

Staff recommend an RFP process.

Motion to authorize request for proposals for civil legal services.