Ahlers & Cooney Law Firm Letter of Engagement_Legal Services Copyrighted
June 5, 2017
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 25.
ITEM TITLE: Ahlers & Cooney Law Firm Letter of Engagement
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval to engage the
Ahlers & Cooney Law Firm to provide legal services
pertaining to negotiations with the railroad and for some
remaining property acquisition work effective May 22, 2017,
and authorize the Mayor to sign the letter of engagement.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Legal Services RFP Related to Railroad and Property City Manager Memo
Acquisition-MVM Memo
Staff Memo Staff Memo
Engagement Letter Supporting Documentation
THE CITY OF Dubuque
fta B E I 11p y
Masterpiece 012 the Mississippi 2007.2012«2013
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Resiliency Grant
Legal Services RFP Related to Railroad and Property Acquisition
DATE: May 25, 2017
Two proposals were received in response to a Request for Proposals for legal services
pertaining to negotiations with the railroad and for some remaining property acquisition
work.
City Attorney Crenna Brumwell recommends City Council approval to engage the
Ahlers & Cooney law firm to provide this work effective May 22, 2017, and authorize the
Mayor to sign the letter of engagement.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
/IA4Y
Mic ael C. Van Milligen `
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
THE CITY OF
DUB E M MORANDUM
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
CRENNA M . BRUMWELL , ES
CITY ATTORNEY
To: Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
DATE: May 22, 2017
RE: Resiliency Grant
Legal Services RFP Related to Railroad and Property Acquisition
As part of the Resiliency Grant the City was required to put out a request for proposals
(RFP) for legal services pertaining to negotiations with the railroad. Some remaining
property acquisition work was also included in the RFP.
A committee drafted the RFP. The RFP was distributed by newspaper publication, via
the City's website and Notify Me feature, as well as to known law firms in Iowa which
might have an interest in responding.
Two proposals were received, evaluated, and scored. My recommendation is to
engage the Ahlers & Cooney law firm of Des Moines for this work, effective retroactively
to May 22, 2017. A letter of engagement is attached for forwarding to the Mayor and
City Council for consideration and approval.
Thank you.
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY DUBUQUE, IOWA
SUITE 330, HARBOR VIEW PLACE, 300 MAIN STREET DUBUQUE, IA 52001-6944
TELEPHONE (563)589-4381 /FAx (563)583-1040/EMAIL cbrumwel@cityofdubuque.org
Ahlers&Cooney,P.C.
AHLERS C❑ONEY Attorneys at Law
100 Court Avenue, Suite 600
A T T R N E Y S Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2231
Phone: 515-243-7611
Fax: 515-243-2149
www.ahlerslaw.com
James R.Wainwright
515.246.0319
jwainwright@ahlerslaw.com
May 11, 2017
Via E-mail Only:
Ms. Crenna Brumwell
City Attorney
City of Dubuque
300 Main Street, Suite 330
Dubuque, Iowa 52001
RE: Engagement Letter- Legal Work Associated with Railroad Easement
Dear Crenna:
The purpose of this engagement letter is to confirm the terms of our Firm's engagement
and to explain our billing practices for the above referenced matter. Upon the City Council's
acceptance,this letter and the Firm's April 27, 2017 Response to the City of Dubuque's Request
for Proposals (RFP) for Legal Work Associated with Railroad Easement will serve as a
memorandum of the terms of the engagement of this Firm to represent the City of Dubuque as
outlined herein.
The fees charged by the Firm for services hereunder will be based on the current hourly
rate of the person performing the service at the time services are performed. Ivan Webber and
James Wainwright will be primarily responsible for this matter. Where appropriate, we may
involve associate and/or legal assistants in the course of our representation. As always, we will
work to prevent any duplication of efforts. Out-of-pocket expenses including, but not limited to,
photocopying expenses, would be in addition to the hourly charges and will also be billed for
separately on our statements. We will forward itemized statements of services rendered on a
monthly basis to your attention. If payment is not rendered in a timely fashion, the Firm reserves
the right to immediately terminate its representation.
The current hourly rates (2017) charged by the Firm for the services contemplated herein
are as follows:
Ivan T. Webber- $310
James R. Wainwright- $280
Maria E. Brownell - $200
Conner Wasson- $190
Emily Kolbe - $180
Legal Assistant- $125
The Firm's billing rates are reviewed annually, and if revised, such changes occur in January.
WISHARD & BAILY - 18881 GUERNSEY & BAILY - 18931 GAILY & STIPP - 19011 STIPP, PERRY, BANNISTER & STARZINGER - 19141 BANNISTER, CARPENTER,
AHLERS & COONEY - 19501 AHLERS, COONEY, DORWEILER, ALLBEE, HAYNIE & SMITH - 19741 AHLERS, COONEY, DORWEILER, HAYNIE, SMITH & ALLBEE, P.C. - 1990
Ms. Crenna Brumwell
May 11, 2017
Page 2
Please indicate the Council's approval and acceptance of the above referenced terms and
conditions of our engagement by signing, dating, and returning a copy of this letter to me.
Should you have any questions or concerns about our proposed terms and conditions, please do
not hesitate to contact me.
We appreciate the opportunity to represent the City of Dubuque and we look forward to
working with you. Thank you.
cc: Ivan Webber
Accepted and appr
Sincerely,,
AHLERS & COONEY, P.C.
B
ed on behalf of the City Council*
James R. Wainwright
By: ;Q . Dated: June 5 ,. 2.0-17
Title: Mayor
*Authorized by Roll Call 7-0 approved on _ June 5 : 2017,
01362856-1\10422-175