City of Madison - File #: 60920

• File #: 60920
• Version: 1
• Name: Retain special outside counsel to assist Attorney's Office related to environmental issues at the Oscar Mayer site
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Passed
• File created: 6/10/2020
• In control: Attorney's Office
• On agenda: 7/14/2020
• Final action: 7/14/2020
• Enactment date: 7/20/2020
• Enactment #: RES-20-00494
• Title: Authorizing the City to retain special outside counsel on a non-competitive basis to assist the Office of the City Attorney in representing the City’s interests related to environmental risks at the Oscar Mayer site.
• Sponsors: Syed Abbas

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
7/14/2020	1	COMMON COUNCIL	Adopt	Pass
6/22/2020	1	FINANCE COMMITTEE	RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO ADOPT - REPORT OF OFFICER	Pass
6/16/2020	1	COMMON COUNCIL	Refer	Pass
6/10/2020	1	Attorney's Office	Referred for Introduction

Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes the City to retain special outside counsel on a non-competitive basis to assist in representing the City’s interests related to environmental risks at the Oscar Mayer site and to pay up to $80,000 for these legal services from the Metro Satellite Bus Facility project (Munis #10950). There is available funding in the project to pay for these costs.
Title
Authorizing the City to retain special outside counsel on a non-competitive basis to assist the Office of the City Attorney in representing the City’s interests related to environmental risks at the Oscar Mayer site.
Body
WHEREAS, City staff is currently negotiating a letter of intent for the purchase of property at the former Oscar Mayer site (the “Property”); and,

WHEREAS, the Property has a history of environmental contamination and the current owners have worked with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to remediate contaminant; and

WHEREAS, the current owner and former owner of the Property have agreements that prevent additional environmental testing by the City, and the City is seeking to reduce the risk associate with purchasing a portion of the Property; and

WHEREAS, Attorney Arthur Harrington and Godfrey & Kahn, S.C. have the required specialized knowledge and expertise on these specific types of issues having represented numerous parties, including government agencies; and

WHEREAS, under sec. 4.26(4)(a)3., the City may retain services of an attorney without competitive bids; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City hereby agrees to retain the firm of Godfrey & Kahn, S.C. and Attorney Arthur Harrington to assist the City Attorney’s Office in representing the City’s interest in reducing environmental risks at the Oscar Mayer site; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City is authorized to pay for legal services up to $80,000 out of the amounts appropriated for the Oscar Mayer acquisition budget;

AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that ...