RPVCCA_CC_SR_2012_06_19_J_ Authorization_City_Atty_to_DeLongCITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
CAROL LYNCH,CITY ATTORNEY
JUNE 19,2012
REQUEST TO DISCLOSE CITY ATTORNEY TIME AND COST
PERTAINING TO THE RULES OF PROCEDURE AND
PROTOCOL
RECOMMENDATION:AUTHORIZE THE CITY ATTORNEY TO SEND AN EMAIL TO
MR.DELONG THAT PROVIDES THE TOTAL NUMBER OF
HOURS AND THE COST TO THE CITY FOR THE TIME SPENT
IN CONNECTION WITH THE RULES OF PROCEDURE AND
PROTOCOL PROJECT.
REVIEWED BY:CAROLYN LEHR Q.Q-
BACKGROUND
On December 6 and December 20,2011,the City Council adopted some minor
amendments to the City Council Rules of Procedure ("Rules").Subsequently,other
amendments to the Rules were proposed along with the adoption of a Protocol for City
Council Members and Members of City Commissions and Committees.The process of
revising the Rules and Protocol and gathering input from the public and from members of
the City's Commissions and Committees was conducted through the first five months of
2012,leading up to the adoption of the revised Council Rules of Procedure and Protocol
on May 29,2012.
On May 30,2012,the City received a request from Mr.Ken Delong for certain
documents,which included the following:"City Attorney lynch billing hours /costs for
revising Council 'Rules &Procedures'and Protocol project.This request is to include all
billing from whence project initiated which I believe was February to and including last
night's meeting.Email summary OK."
DISCUSSION
Invoices for City Attorney services are provided to the City monthly.The incremental time
breakdown is 1/1 oth of an hour,or six minute increments.The invoices contain descriptions of
work that is performed by the City Attorney's office and,accordingly,are within the scope of
the attorney-client privilege.As such,the City Council must approve disclosure of information
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Authorization to Disclose Time Spent and Fees Incurred by the City in Connection with the
Rules of Procedure and Protocol Project
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June 19,2012
that is subject to the attorney-client privilege.Since Mr.Delong has not asked for the content
of the invoices or for the description of the specific tasks that were performed by the City
Attorney in connection with the Rules of Procedure/Protocol project,Staff recommends
providing the information that Mr.Delong has requested.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Attorney to send an email to Mr.
Delong that provides the total number of hours and the cost to the City for the time that was
time spent by the City Attorney in 2012 in connection with the Rules of Procedure and
Protocol project.
ALTERNATIVES
The City Council could decline Mr.Delong's request,and if he chooses to threaten litigation
against the City,the City Council then could discuss the threat of litigation in closed session.
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