Title
Resolution to Approve an Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Rivenoak Law Group, P.C. for Legal Services Relative to Sustainability Initiatives ($85,000 annually)
Memorandum
Attached for your review and approval is a resolution to approve an amended Professional Services Agreement with Rivenoak Law Group, P.C. for legal services related to A2ZERO related initiatives through June 30, 2022. The Agreement replaces the current agreement in place with Rivenoak (as amended), and shall renew annually, subject to budget appropriation.
On June 1, 2020, City Council unanimously adopted the A2ZERO carbon neutrality plan (www.a2zero.org). Achieving a just transition to community-wide carbon neutrality, as outlined in the plan, raises many unique legal issues and opportunities. Given this, the City Attorney selected Rivenoak Law Group, P.C. as the law firm to provide legal services because of the firm's familiarity with the specialized legal issues and the firm's experience and expertise.
The proposed amended agreement is to support A2ZERO related efforts in Fiscal Year 2022 (July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022), and thereafter subject to budget appropriation, to address additional specialized work on energy-choice regulations and opportunities, green rental housing, streetlighting reliability rules, building and home energy performance options, and other energy-related actions, and the corresponding compensation for this work. This initial scope of work was approved by Council via resolution R-21-235 in the amount of $50,000. Staff are requesting an adjustment to this contract to raise the contract to $85,000 to secure additional specialized legal support, specifically related to: representation of the City of Ann Arbor in the DTE rate case expected to be filed before the Michigan Public Service Commission in the fourth quarter of 2021 or first quarter of 2022; and legal counsel related to the landfill solar project, including but not limited to negotia...
Click here for full text