HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 09152009 - C.54RECOMMENDATION(S):
Approve and authorize the County Administrator, or his designee, to execute, on behalf of
the County, a contract amendment with Nielsen, Merksamer, Parrinello, Mueller and
Naylor, LLP., effective June 30, 2009, to amend Contract #48256, to increase the Contract
payment limit by $85,000, from $267,000 to a new total of $352,000, and to extend the
term from June 30, 2009 through June 30, 2010.
FISCAL IMPACT:
100% General Fund
BACKGROUND:
The law firm of Nielsen, Merksamer, Parrinello, Mueller and Naylor ("Nielsen
Merksamer") has extensive experience with Indian gaming issues and has represented
multiple counties in their dealings with Indian gaming proposals.
Cathy Christian, the primary consultant under this contract, has represented Contra Costa,
Yolo, Sonoma, Marin and Tulare counties on Indian gaming issues for several years. She is
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 09/15/2009 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I
Supervisor
Gayle B. Uilkema, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Susan A. Bonilla, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: L. DeLaney, 5-1097
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board
of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: September 15, 2009
David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: Celicia Nelson, Deputy
cc:
C.54
To:Board of Supervisors
From:David Twa, County Administrator
Date:September 15, 2009
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Contract Amendment for Representation on Indian Gaming Issues
a nationally recognized expert on Indian
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
Gaming issues. Prior to joining the firm of Nielsen Merksamer, Ms. Christian served in the
California Attorney General's office, where she was senior advisor to the Attorney General
on gambling and Indian law and was General Counsel to the California Horse Racing
Board. Ms. Christian is also Contra Costa County's lead legislative advocate in Sacramento
and so has an excellent understanding of County issues.
The County has received notice that the City of Richmond Planning and Building
Department has prepared a Joint Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental
Impact Report with the Bureau of Indian Affairs for the Point Molate Resort and Casino
Project. We have a 75 day comment period for the document, with our response due on
September 23, 2009. With a contract amendment, the County’s response to the DEIS/EIR
would be prepared by Sara Hoffman, the County’s Indian Affairs Advisor, with assistance
from Nielsen Merksamer, myself, as well as County Counsel. The effort would include
gathering data from County departments about service impact information related not only
to the Point Molate casino project but also to the Scotts Valley proposal in North Richmond.