HomeMy WebLinkAboutPR 13490: EDC LEGAL SERVICESintero~flce
MEMORANDUM
To: Mayor, City Council & City Manager
From: Mark T. Sokolow, City Attorney~A//v~_~o-~-l~-~--~~-~vv~-'~
Subject: P. R. No. 13490 Joint EDC/Council Meeting March 14, 2006
Date: March 10, 2006
Attached is P. R. No. 13490 approving a legal services
agreement between Crain, Caton & James and the City of Port Arthur
Section 4A Economic Development Corporation as it-pertains ~ ~
KCS site on West 7th Street. This resolution needs to be first
approved by the EDC Board. There will also be an executive session
as to the value of this property.
MTS:ts
Attachment
Cc: VIA FACSIMILE (713) 658-1921
Robin Morse, Esq.
CRAIN, CATON & JAMES
VIA FACSIMILE (409) 962-4445
Floyd Batiste
CEO / EDC
z .pr13490 .memo
P. R. No. 13490
02/23/05 te
· RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A LEGAL SERVICES
AGREEMENT BETWEEN CRAIN, CATON & JAMES AND
THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR SECTION 4A ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AS IT PERTAINS TO
THE KCS SITE ON WEST 7Ts STREET
WHEREAS, it is deemed in the best interests of the citizens
to approve a legal services agreement between the Law Firm of
Crain, Caton & James and the City of Port Arthur Section 4A
Economic Development Corporation as it pertains to the
acquisition of the KCS site on West 7th Street, attached hereto
as Exhibit ~A".
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF PORT ARTHur=
Section 1. That the facts and opinions in the preamble
are true and correct.
Section 2. That the invoice, attached hereto as Exhibit
"B" is herein approved, in the amount of $2,280.39 as to be paid
by the City of Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development
Corporation.
Section 3. That a legal services agreement with the Law
Firm of Crain, Caton & James as it pertains to the acquisition
of the KCS site on West 7th Street, in substantially the same
form as attached hereto as Exhibit ~A" is herein approved.
z.pr13490
Section 4. That any additional expenditures that exceed
$10,000 will require City Council and the City of Port Arthur
Section 4A Economic Development Corporation Board approval.
Section 5. That a copy of this caption be spread upon
the Minutes of the City Council.
READ, ADOPTED AND APPROVED on this __ day of , A.D.,
2006, at a Meeting of the City Council of
the City of Port Arthur, Texas, by the following vote:
AYES: Mayor '
Council Members '
NOES:
z.pr13490
MAYOR
ATTEST .'
CITY SECRETARY
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
CITY ATTORNEY
APPROVED FOR ADMINIBTRATION:
CITY MANAGER
z.pr13490
EXHIBIT "A"
CRABI
March 10, 2006
V~a Fac_simile (409) 962~_~4~_5,
& Reguhtr ~:S. Mail
Mr. Floyd Batiste
C~ef Exe,:utive Offic~
Economic Development CorPoration
4173 39t~ Su'ee~
Poa v~, Texm; 77642
~': Pc~ kon Rt'.development ]?roject
Dear N~. Batiste:
The propose of ~s ~[elxer is to memofi~ize ~e ~gements for Cr~, Caton & Jmes,
P.C. Io represent ~e Ci(y of Pon Arthur Section 4A Econo~c Developmmt Co~oration
("EDC") m cc,mecfion wilh en~rironmemtal issues s~o~g &e ~oposed aeq~sition ~d
redeve[o~ent o! ~e Po~' iron Site ~ere in Pon ~. As you ~ow, we have heretofore
Fovided advice lo ~e C:J~ m~d ~he EDC conce~g ~s project ~d we would propose to
confimae to advise you, h~ co:asultafion ~ yo~ env~mm~ ~neefing cons~ts, as ~o
applicable enviromental re~latoD' requiremmts, potmfifl liabilities ~sociated ~ l~d
o~ershp ~d red~elopra.ent, ~Cl v~ious options on how to minimize potentifl envkomen~
remediatien co:~[s ~d ~sc, ciated Eabilifies.
C:r~, Caron & Janm~s, P.C.. will bill aais man~ ~ accord~ce ~ o~ stmd~d ho~ty
rates, z~ those rates may be adjusted ~om t~te to ~e in accord~ce ~ nom~ Fire billing
Foced~es, bul: discomted by 25% in accord~ce M~ ~e ~edueed fees ~at we aomflly ch~ge
the City of Port A~hm'. My re~l~ rate fbr 2006 is $350 p~ ho~, which world be reduced m
$262.50 per hour in accor&u~ce ~d ~ ~e 25% discomt. ~e rates of o~ associate anomeys v~
ffoin $175 per hot~ to $233 per horn, d~,ending on ~ek level of experience, ~d ~e rates ofo~
p~eg~s va~' [?om $65 per b>m: to $110 per ho~, agra d~ending on ~eir level of
expiate. ~1 of these rates w/il be ~sco~ted by ~e ~or~fioned 25%. We do not mink
up o~ expenses, but m~,:r p~s ~c~ '~ou~ as ~ey ~e ~c~ed. We no~ly bill on a
money b~sis, ~td o~ ~nvoices are due upon receipt. F~flly, ~t is o~ ~d~sm~ng ~at ~e
~fi~ au~tofized :~o~l fbr o~ bills is ~oposed to be $10,000, ~ mo~t we ~ll not ~ceed
~aout t~er au~ofi~tion.
111. 261_~86vl
01431gt0~)03
March 10, 2006
Page 2
The undersigne6 will act as the primary attorney in charge of this ma~ter, with possible
assislance from others wit. hJx~ the Finn where they can complete certain t~sks under my direct
supervision at ~ low~ cost to you. We will closely coordinate w/th you all work to be
performed.
Crain, Caton & James, P..C.. reserves the right to terminate its legal representation of the
EDC, without waiver of nights to collec't any amount owed prior to termination, upon failure tc
pay agreed upon :tees and exFenses when due, or tbr other reasons as authorized by Rule 1.15(b';
of the Texas Disciplinmry Rules of ProCessional Conduct (attached). Any controversy or claim
ar/sing out of or relating to om legal services shall be settled by mediation ~, if mediation fails
or if either party objects to mediation, ir. accordance with the Rules of the American Arbitration
Association, mad judgraent on the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.
You understand that, by :agreein~l to such alternate dispute resolution, EDC will be waiving its
right to trial by jury in an2' such dispute.
if you undersumd and agm~'e to the foregoing terms of our engagement, please sign
engagement letter as provided bellow ar.~d return an executed copy to us. We look forward to
working with you on this pr,.~j ~ct.
Sincerely,
CRAIN, CATON & JAMES, P.C.
By:
Robert E. "Robin" Morse, III
Enclosure
AGREED:
Cit) of Port Arthur Secfior~ 4A
Economic Development Corporation
By:
Floyd Batiste
cc: Mark Sokolow Via Facsimile (409) 983-8124
CiD' Attorney
Cily of Port Arthur
P.O. Box 1089
Po:t Arthur, rexz~s 77641-i[ 089
l 11 - 261386v1
01 ti3 [ 8,t000003
M~rch 10, 2006
Pag~ 3
cc: Slev¢ Fitzgibbons Via Facsimile (409) 982.6745
City Manager
C.',:ity of Port Pmhm:
P.O. Box 1089
Port Art_h~r, Tex~s 5'75,* 1 .- 10:89
111-261385vl
Rule 1.1~ STATI~ BAR RULES
or ~o~a ve;~ nor does he £c,lvii~ his o~ ~ ~e 2. La~ o~_ rece~'e ~ ~om ~6 ~ ~om sh
~en~ th.~ client ~ ~ not ra~d ~ r~t ~ p~on fi'om w~a ~e
fee 2 ~ be ~d. How~, a :a~ ~y not hold ~ to
Rule L]4, Safekeepi~ Y'l~p~w~y ~?~e a ~t m~mc~g ~e ~s con~n~on.
(a) A la,~m s~:l hold fmcS: ~cd other prop~ ~ ~ho~d ~ugg~t m~ f~ ~pt re~olu~ ~
b~on~mg M whole ~ M pact to clients or
t~,~t ~e m a m~s ~oss~,~on m co.etlon ~ds shoed be ~omp~y ~bu~d ~ ~ose ~ed
~ a represen~¢~on sep~at~, ~'ora the ~a~;~ o~ recmve ~ by *~ of ~e rew~om A ~
prope~,. Such ~x~ ~ be kep~ i~ a ssp~a~ ~o~d ~ot ~ ev~ ~at ~on of ~ ~o~ ~
m&l~ed ~ ~. ~ w~e the la~yeFs ,~ce ~ d~g ~ere~s ~a ~ ~a~ ~ ~e ~ ~ ~t acco~
~a~d, or els~h~e ~th ~le eonsent of ~e c~ent or ~ be ~s~d ~ ~e ~e~s ~ m~ ~ ~t of
as su~: &~:d apt:,rop~a~Iy ~;fe;~'a~de, t. Csmple~ cons~Va~ a ~ep~t ~ a les ~d ta~t b~ongs ~ ~s
recor~ ofsa~ ~couat f~d~ ~d ~ ~
be kept by the law?er ~d ~naJl b,~ pz~.~e~ed Ibc a ~e ~e ~qd ~ aec~r~ce ~ p~ (~). .~
pe~od of 5;e yem~ a~r ~-n~ca~on c~ the ~n~zan- ad~g t&a ~t ~tt ~e s~ce ~ bo~ r~d~d ~a
~on. tha f~ a~ed, ~d m ~e abs~ of a ~pu~, ~e
· ,, Upon re(',efv~g ~ds or or&er pro~s¢~ ~ wM~ ~rh (e) do~ not ~o~t ~pa~oa ~ ~ IOLTA or re
p~mp~ no~ ~e c]ien~ or ~rd p~s~m. E~ept ~ 3. ~d p~es, su~ ~ ~Vs ~, ~y ~w j~t (c'.
A ]a~ ~y We a duU ~d~ app~b]e ~w ~ ~o~
d~ver t~ tke -" ' '
pro~ ~at the ~e~qt or ~'d ~erson j~: en~ed ~ ~ ~e ~t Ho~., a ~ ~ho~d no~ ~y (d
~c~ve ~d, upon re(l~est by the c~ o:~ ~ -~. ~e ~ ~bi~ a ~m b~ ~e ~ ~d ~e
son, s~[ prcmp~y ~ealder a ~ acco~g reg~i~g ~ ~"
p~deut ~ ~osa ~g ~m a~ o~ ~a ~d~ o~er
(e) ~.en. ~u ~le course of ~resen'.~on a la~r ~ 1~ ~cs. For ~e, a ~ who se~ ~ ~
~e ~er and o~t~ psmon d~s) ~terests, the pz~p- na.~s ~en ~ough ~e ~ d~s not ~na~ )s~
~ sh~ be kept sep~te by the ]aw~ar c,n~ ~ :~ ~cea ~ ~e ~s~. ~-~
5. The "~t's se~ ~d" m T~ p~16~ a m~
~ ~co~ng arm severance of tk.e~ kW. er~sk ~ ~o~htheco~e~-eeff~of~eb~r~mb~e~o~
o~ ~ tiose p~ons enfitle,~ to receive ~lgm by conduct of a~. the
~e of ~e repre~;entaUon or by law. ]fa ~p:l~ R~¢ 1.15. DecI~g or Te~inatlng Repre-
~es concen~g ~qe~ respeM~v'(~ :'urea'esl:,, the poz'- s~on L ,
Uon ~ ~sput~ sh~ be kept sep:~le J by '~e la~,~ (a) A h~er sh~ de~a ~ represent a ~t or, u~e~;
~ rite ~pu~ is resoled, and tke ~:dh;,n~ea p~- wh~¢ re~es~Uon ~ co~en~d, ~ ~w, out
~on ~a~ be (k~hu~d approp~W. 1 ~, 1,
Co~t: ~on of a ~L fi:
1. A h~er ~-¢~d ho.d p~per~y of ,:fk~.a ~:th :~e c~e (1) ~e represan~on ~1 ~s~t ~ ~ola~on of
~¢~ed of a profl~oasJ fi,Ju~F. See~i~e.,, :¢hould be R~e 3.08, O~er appH~ble ~es of professionM
~y w~ ~s tke p~oez~ of ~]~ o:' ~d p~,~o~ ~ouJd condiUon ma~y ~p~s ~ ~s fitness ~
Sep~ ~t a(:eo~ may be wm~n~d when a~.t~ (3) ~e la~ is ~s~ged, ~ or ~out good
500
...... i~tULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT R~ le 1.15
fi.,~m :;~ not ~th~w ~om r~'p:~ez~ntb¢ ~ e~nt ~e~s: conduct or o~law, ~ek~ not ob~
'U~ ~e (2) tke ~ent p~Ml3 b: :h co.se of ~on ~volv- pr~es~or~ ob~fiom Cf. R~ 1.02(c) ~d (fl)
3. W%ea a ~ ~ b~ appo~d
~e be~eves may be ~h~ or ~a;d~ent; ~ ~es app~M of ~e gpp~g au~oh~ or
~nd ~hs (8) the c~ent 1~ used ~e la~s ~,~ce~ ~ ~g judge. S~ ~ ~e 6.0L
~t ~e 1~ en~ ~ ~o~ess~on~
~ed ~ (4~ a c~t ~n~zt~ ~pm~ pc~g ~ objee~ve ~ ~y ~h ~ ~on for ~
Iai'er ~ the 18~'~ con~tder~, repu~.~:t or im~den~ ~e ~'~ ~ be bound ~ keep ~d~
~e ~en~on ~ shoed b~ ~ccep~d
fl~at ~clu~ ~ ebU~:o~ to pay ~e lav~s fee ~ 4.- -~ ~ent ~ ~e p~ to ~c~
~ ~:~ ~ed, ~d h~ been given r~on~l)le w~g ~at ~e, ~th ~ ~out cause, subject ~ ~ f~ p~
sho~d ~e )a~r ~ ~w c~ess [~e ob~a~on ~ for ~ ls~i s~s, ~d p~ph (a)
r,~. ab]e ~:md~ b~den on t:.e ]a~er or h~ been
7& ~,r rended, ed t~em~onably ~d~ic~t by i~e e~cnt; or 5. ~e~ ~ ~ent ~ ~c~ ~ appo~d
('O oliver ~od caa;e for vc[th(~a~ ~. de~ ou Se app~able ~w. A ~t se~ ~ do so
~o~ be ~v~ ~ ~on of ~e commences. L~
Ja~'. (c) ~h~m o~ed ~ do so by a ~b~m~, a ]a~ some ~ees ~e conzequ~s may ~ude ~ de.on by
.:'.~c~ slt~ con,hue represen~fion no~st~u~g good ~e ap~g au~o~ ~ p~si~g judge ~at appog~t
Cue s]~ t~e s~ps ~ ~e extent re ~c,mably prae~cab]e ~ 6. E me cE~t ~ m~ ~eompe~k ~e ~ent ~y
pm~ a e~ent's h~t~s, such ~ ~ re~onabh I~ ~e le~ ~pa~ ~ ~e~ khe
' ~e ~ ~y be ~c~ ~e ~ the
~g ~lher core,scl, ~m~e~de~ng papem ~ad prop~ ~ e~. ~e 2~ ~o~d m~e spe~
!%M p~ten~ ~f f~ '~sl. h;~ nc~ been e~ed. ~e 5 of Co~ M R~e 1.~9) ~d M some si~o~ ~y
b'~e~' may ~n pape~ ~la~b~ ~) Che ~ent to ~e ~ p~e~ for a co~p or .i~i~v pro~e-
~e~s e~nt i~rr~ed by ctJ~e:~ ~ only ff s~ch re~on ~eu of ~e e~ See R~e 1.02(e).
:so~.~ '~d~ not pr~u~ce ~ chant 2~ ~,a subject ~ of ~tion~
7. P~sph ~) sup~ p~ph
or, ~m~ It ~ be p~ted ec~ten~y, ~cmp~, ~d ~- Jus~ed ff ~e d~t ~ ~ a co~e of scion
:~w, ou'; ~proper co~ct of ~,~rest. See ge~e~ R~ 1,0I, b~ ~ not ~u~d to be ~¢~d ~ su~ cc nduet
1,06, I.J~, 1.08, ~d 1,09. Ha~ ~aspr~d ~e m~sen~- .
tc :om~e~oa. Nev~r~e[a~s. ~ ce:r~ ~it~ ~e ~ ~d ~ ~con~ua ~e repr~en~on ~ ~e a~
~ tio:~ ~e a~yer~ p~ttod t~ ~it.~clraw at w~h po~t the la~'~s ~dm~ ~ ~da~ ~d by
em~o~aent ,~ ~;ae the, h'a~*¢ .: ~ge La aonauet ~at n~t ~ ~prad~t ob~e~e or one ~ w~
~ R~es of ~oibss~c~M Com~:~. Ru~e 1.15(aX1); ~. c~tr~es,&b~gduly~ed,~ab~eby~e~
$~ y, ~m~ph ,'&~(? ~f ~s l}~u~ ~qu~s a !a~ ~ a~e~t eon~ fees ~ eou~ cos~ or ~ ~eemenC
501
EXHIBIT "B"
CRAIN, CATON & JAMES
A PI~OFESSIONAL COI~PORATION
17TH FLOOR . ~ HOUSTON CENTER
1401 MCK]NNEY STREET
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77010-4035
713. 658. 2323
FAX 713. 658. 1921
TAX ID #76-0323066
Page 1
Invoice % 1061291
Date 02-20-06
14318-000003 - REM
CITY OF PORT ARTHUR
C/O CITY ATTORNEY
POST OFFICE BOX 1089
PORT ARTHUR, TX 77641-1089
Re: Port Iron Site
For Services and Expenses Rendered Through January 31, 2006
Date Atty Description of Services Hours
01-17-06 REM Returned call to consultant (S. Neely). 0.20
01-18-06 REM Conferred with Sokolow; site visit. 1.00
01-24-06 HEM Called Neely; attention to Sokolow
correspondence. 0.50
01-25-06 REM Calls to insurance agent (Persha) and
Neely; E-mail to Sokolow and Fitzgibbons;
call from Sokolow's assistant. 1.00
01-26-06 REM Calls to and from Neely and Persha. 0.40
01-31-06 REM Meeting in Port Arthur with city
officials; related discussions with Neely
and Persha. 5.50
Total Fees $ 2,257.50
Hours Rate Amount
Robert E Morse III 8.60 262.50 2,257.50
CRAIN, CATON & JAMES
A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
lTl'It I~OOR. ~ HOUSTON CENTER
1401 MCKINNE¥ STREET
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77010-4035
713. 658. 2323
FAX 713. 658. 1921
TAX ID #76-0323066
Page 2
Invoice % 1061291
Date 02-20-06
14318-000003 REM
Disbursement Description Amount
2.00
Duplicating Expense 20.50
Parking 0.39
Postage ............
Total Disbursements this Matter 22.89
Total Due 2,280.39
CRAIN, CATON & JAM~S
A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
17TH ~R. ~ HOUSTON ~R
1401 M~Y S~T
HOUSTON~ ~ 7701~035
713.6~8. 2323
F~ 713. 6~8. 1921
T~ ~ ~76-0323066
Page 3
Invoice # 1061291
Date 02-20-06
14318-000003 REM
TOTAL FEES 2,257.50
TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS 22.89
Total Due 2,280.39