Title
Consider/Discuss/ Act on a Resolution Authorizing an Increase for Redistricting Consulting Services with Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP
Summary
MEETING DATE: October 18, 2011
DEPARTMENT: City Council
CONTACT: Sandy Hart, City Secretary
Mark Houser, City Attorney
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
· Approval of the Resolution
ITEM SUMMARY:
· This Resolution authorizes the City Manager to increase the not to exceed amount for the law firm of Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta, LLP.
· The City Council approved a Resolution in June 2010 to engage Bickerstaff, Health Delgado to provide legal services regarding redistricting for the City of McKinney. The original amount cost estimate by Bickerstaff was $41,000. In response to their estimate, the Council approved a Resolution with an amount not to exceed $45,000.
· The expenses submitted through September 15, 2011 total $54,437 plus expenses of $2,759.
· The original estimate was based on one map drawing session and the preparation of two plans. Ultimately, there were five drawing sessions with Council and eight plans with significant changes to two of the plans prepared. They also did not anticipate in their original budget to contemplate input and analysis of a citizen plan.
· The actual drawing portion of the City’s process required substantially more attorney time and GIS time which would account for the divergence from the budget up through the completion of the plan drawing phase of the project.
· Bickerstaff has estimated the costs for the remaining work to be done at $16,000 which includes the submission to the Department of Justice and any responses to questions from the Department of Justice.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
· The Bickerstaff firm employs experienced attorneys, staff, redistricting specialists and full-time GIS technicians who have substantial elections, redistricting and voting rights experience, including representation of various governmental entities in complex...
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