AGENDA CAPTION:
Title
Consider approval of Resolution 2025-219R, approving a Change in Service to the agreement with Baker Moran Doggett Ma & Dobbs, LLP for legal services associated with land acquisitions to increase the price by up to $300,000.00, resulting in a total amount not to exceed $600,000.00; authorizing the City Manager, or her designee, to execute the Change in Service on behalf of the City; and declaring an effective date.
Body
Meeting date: November 18, 2025
Department: Engineering and CIP - Shaun Condor, Director
Amount & Source of Funding
Funds Required: $300,000.00
Account Number: Determined as services are used
Funds Available: Yes
Account Name: To be determined
Fiscal Note:
Prior Council Action: 2020-264: On-Call qualified firms list / 2025-014R: ACIS#1 to increase agreement by $200,000 with Baker Moran Doggett Ma & Dobbs, LLP
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Background Information:
This action will increase the authorized contract amounts, in general, by $300,000 for legal services associated with land acquisitions to Baker Moran Doggett Ma & Dobbs, LLP, (contract number 220-217.1) awarded in 2021.
This agreement is for the use of legal services associated with land acquisitions on various projects to acquire the rights necessary for any City project across Hays, Guadalupe, and Caldwell counties. These agreements are anticipated to be needed for multiple capital improvements projects over the next several years such as Purgatory Creek, Sunset Acres and Wallace Addition. The majority of these projects are located in established neighborhoods or properties that have been passed down from generation to generation which leads to title curative issues. Many times, staff has to proceed with legal services in order to clear the title, which sometimes requires the use of eminent domain. There are a few occasions when legal services are required to dispute the value of the property, but staff makes every effort to avoid this situation and work out an agreement with the property owner. If a project does require eminent domain, it must be authorized by Council Resolution.
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Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of the motion to increase capacity to this contact.