A-3. Legal Services0
CITY OF
CgANgASSEN
7700 Market Boulevard
PO Box 147
Chanhassen, MN 55317
Administration
Phone: 952.227.1100
Fax: 952.227.1110
Building Inspections
Phone: 952.227.1180
Fax: 952.227.1190
Engineering
Phone: 952.227.1160
Fax: 952.227.1170
Finance
Phone: 952.227.1140
Fax: 952.227.1110
Park & Recreation
Phone: 952.227.1120
Fax: 952.227.1110
Recreation Center
2310 Coulter Boulevard
Phone: 952.227.1400
Fax: 952.227.1404
Planning &
Natural Resources
Phone: 952.227.1130
Fax: 952.227.1110
Public Works
7901 Park Place
Phone: 952.227.1300
Fax: 952.227.1310
Senior Center
Phone: 952.227.1125
Fax: 952.227.1110
Web Site
www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us
MEMORANDUM
TO: Todd Gerhardt, City Manager n n
FROM: Laurie Hokkanen, Assistant City Manager .X.
Greg Sticha, Finance Director 611T,
DATE: November 9, 2011 U14
SUBJ: Legal Services Comparison
BACKGROUND
A - 3
During budget discussions earlier this year, we discussed conducting a review of
legal services and the legal services budget. Staff worked with our KFS Cities to
put together a comparison of legal budgets and fees. While there is much
variation in contract arrangements, we tried to focus on total legal spending for
the most accurate comparisons.
The City has contracted for attorney services from Campbell Knutson for 30+
years. The City benefits from the institutional knowledge that the attorneys at
Campbell Knutson have developed over the years.
Rate History, 2001 -2011:
(Civil) Hourly Rates:
2001 through 2003
$115 – Roger Knutson
$110 - Partners
$100 - Associates
2004
$121 – Roger Knutson
$116 - Partners
$105 - Associates
2005
$127 – Roger Knutson
$122 - Partners
$110 - Associates
2006
$131 – Roger Knutson
$126 - Partners
$113 - Associates
G:\Admin\LH \City Council \Legal Services Comparison 201 Ldoc
Chanhassen is a Community for Life - Providing for Today and Pla
2007 through 2011
$135 — Roger Knutson
$129 - Partners
$116 - Associates
Note: Campbell Knutson's average billing rate is $156 1hour, as compared to
$135 1hour in Chanhassen.
Prosecution retainer:
2004 (first year) - $1,700 per month.
2005 - $1,785 per month.
2006 - $1,964 per month.
2007 -2011 - $4,500 per month.
This item will be discussed further at the work session.
ATTACHMENTS
1. KFS Cities Legal Services Comparisons
2. Five -Year History of Legal Budget and Actual Spending and Proposed 2012
Budget
2
KFS Cities Legal Services Comparison
Prosecutorial
Civil
Hourly Rate
City
Population
Services
Services
Total Legal Services
Civil /General Counsel
Civil Firm Name
Notes
Champlin
23,089
$ 74,095
$ 48,500
$ 122,595
$ 141
Barna, Guzy, & Steffen LTD
Flat fee of $2,773 per month for legal. Real Estate: $133 /hr attorney + $67/hr clerk time.
Litigation $128 -$154/ hr attorney + $56- $67 /hr clerk time. Prosecution rate is $5,991 per
month plus expenses.
Oakdale
27,378
180,000
65,000
245,000
160
Kennedy & Graven
Oakdale has in house prosecution. Outsources general legal counsel.
Lino Lakes
20,216
135,000
40,000
175,000
145
Ratwick, Rozak, & Maloney
Shoreview
25,043
52,000
55,000
107,000
95
Peterson, Fram, and Bergman
$1250 per month retainer, hourly prosecution rates $70 for attorney + $50 for the paralegal,
Civil Litigation $110 /hr, and general city business at $95 /hr. City attorney tenure= 40 years.
Chanhassen
22,952
54,000
89,000
143,000
135
Campbell Knutson
54,500 month flat rate for prosecution 1 expense reimbursement.
Prior Lake
22,796
115,000
193,000
308,000
-
Nilan Johnson / Scott County Joint Prosecution
Association
$9,000 /month retainer for civil work. Litigation, Employment Law, etc. billed seperately on
an hourly basis.
Inver Grove Heights
33,880
240,000
222,600
462,600
120
Lavander, Gillen & Miller
Andover
30,598
-
-
-
141
Hawkins & Baumgartner
Farmington
21,086
79,000
75,000
154,000
150
Campbell Knutson
Chaska
23,770
95,600
65,000
160,600
165
Melchert, Hubert, Sjodin, PLLP / Carver County
Prosecution
Carver County retains a portion of fine revenue, which comes out to approximately half of
what the City collects, plus a surcharge based on caseload.
(In Chanhassen, this would be approximately $65,000 in fine revenue + $42,000 case load
surcharge per year.)
Savage
26,911
-
Average
25,247
93,154
77,555
170,709
1.25
City of Chanhassen
Legal Department Budget vs. Actual Expenditures
Year
Budget
Actual
2006
$ 145,000
$ 158,768
2007
168,000
142,106
2008
168,000
131,789
2009
168,000
135,725
2010
148,000
142,333
2011 *
142,000
121,690
2012 **
145,000
* - Actual expenditures through October 31st
** - Proposed 2012 Budget