Memo - Review of City Attorney Services
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES:
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
MEETING DATE:
SUBJECT:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the Ci
Rick Getschow, Hopkins City Manager
May 24, 2005
Review of City Attorney Services
Background:
The City Council has requested a discussion on the review of city attorney
services provided by our current law firm, Miller, Steiner & Curtiss, P.A., at a
work session.
A brief questionnaire was distributed to city staff to receive feedback on attorney
services provided in the following areas:
. Economic Development, Real Estate, Housing;
. Criminal Prosecution;
. Ordinance drafting;
. Ordinance enforcement;
. Contracts; and
. Dispute Resolution
The purpose of this work session is for the Council to provide their preliminary
feedback on the quality of city attorney services. Once that feedback is provided,
and the staff feedback is discussed, the City Council can request that the City
Attorney(s) be invited to a future Council work session to discuss the results of
the review of their services.
Included in the packet is a copy of the questionnaire that was used by city staff to
gauge city attorney services.
Enclosures:
1. Attorney Services Questionaire
Attorney Services Questionnaire
Please fill out the following survey regarding attorney services. Your response will be
compiled with the responses of other employees to provide general information to the
City Council.
What Ie al services do
Service
Environmental law
Economic Develo ment
Personnel
Criminal Prosecution
Ordinance draftin
Ordinance enforcement
Contracts
List the legal services that you get from the City Attorney's office. How well do they
erform these services?
Excellent Good Fair Poor
If you could use either the City Attorney's office or another firm for legal work which
would you choose? City Attorney 0 Other Firm 0
Wh ? check all that a
Qualit of service
Cost
Le al ex ertise
Convenience
Other:
5/3/2005
1
What do you dislike about using the City Attorney or what problems have you
experienced?
Do you think that the City should prepare a legal RFP and solicit proposals from other
legal firms for City Attorney services?
Yes 0 No 0
Why?
5/3/2005
2