TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Diego Chavez, Administrative Services Director
PREPARED BY: Diego Chavez, Administrative Services Director
SUBJECT:
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Second Amendment to the Agreement with JL Group, LLC for Workplace Investigation Services
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ABSTRACT
This report outlines the City of Murrieta’s (City) ongoing need for professional workplace investigation services to support employment-related matters and ensure compliance with legal and insurance requirements. The City currently contracts with Aleshire & Wynder, LLP for City Attorney services and, when necessary, engages independent investigators to maintain impartiality and avoid potential conflicts of interest. The current contract amount is $100,000, and staff anticipates exceeding the approved contract amount based on current and anticipated cases. Accordingly, this report recommends approval of a Second Amendment to increase the contract by an additional $50,000 for continued on-call investigation services for a total not-to-exceed amount of $150,000.
RECOMMENDATION
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Amend the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025/26 Operating Budget to establish an additional appropriation of $20,000 in the Risk Management Fund as detailed in the fiscal impact statement;
Amend the Fiscal Year 2026/27 Operating Budget to establish an additional appropriation of $40,000 in the Risk Management Fund as detailed in the fiscal impact statement;
Approve the Second Amendment to the agreement with JL Group, LLC for specialized investigative services not to exceed $150,000, in a form approved by the City Attorney; and
Authorize the City Manager to execute the Second Amendment to the agreement.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
On February 18, 2025, the City Council Approved the First Amendment to the agreement with JL Group, LLC for specialized investigative services not to exceed $100,000 (Vote 5-0).
STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT
This item aligns with the City Council goal of: maintaining a high performing organization that values fiscal sustainability, transparency, accountability and organizational efficiency relating to an administrative priority.
DISCUSSION
The City of Murrieta (City) contracts with the law firm Aleshire & Wynder, LLP for City Attorney legal services. From time to time, due to the nature of employment cases, it is necessary to engage a professional workplace investigator. In some instances, this may also be required by the City’s employment practices liability coverage and helps ensure impartiality and avoid any perceived conflict of interest associated with using in-house investigations.
On July 20, 2024, under the authority granted by Municipal Code section 3.08.280, the City Manager entered into an agreement with the firm JL Group, LLC to perform time-sensitive, personnel investigation services in an amount not to exceed $50,000. On February 18, 2025, the City Council approved the First Amendment to the agreement, extending its terms to June 30, 2027, and allocating an additional $50,000 in budget to the contract for as-needed on-call investigation services.
The work being performed is of such a nature that continued use of the firm is required. JL Group has been very responsive over the past two years and has a qualified team of investigators specializing in public-sector personnel matters, including police and firefighter investigations. Their work includes collecting evidence, identifying applicable laws and policies, weighing evidence according to legal standards, evaluating findings, and preparing comprehensive fact-finding reports. Due to current and projected investigations, it has been determined that the engagement will exceed the approved contract sum of $100,000. Staff hereby requests approval of the Second Amendment (Attachment 1) to the agreement with JL Group, LLC, which proposes to increase the contract sum by an additional $50,000 for on-call investigation services.
PUBLIC NOTICING
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
FISCAL IMPACT
If the Second Amendment of this agreement is approved, the remaining available balance of the contract amount will be approximately $60,000. Staff anticipates services totaling $20,000 during FY 2025/26, and $40,000 during FY 2026/27. Based on these projections, staff recommends amending the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Operating Budget in the amount of $20,000 and Fiscal Year 2026/27 in the amount of $40,000 in the Risk Management Fund General Ledger 7018100-60440 for this service agreement.
ATTACHMENTS
ATT 1 - Second Amendment to the Agreement with JL Group, LLC