Title
Human Resources Department recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Make findings in accordance with Ordinance 3.13.030 that a contract for professional employee investigations and mediation is necessary to protect against a conflict of interest or to ensure independent and unbiased findings where there is a need for an outside perspective;
2) Approve and authorize the Purchasing Agent to sign Amendment I to Agreement 8691 with Municipal Resource Group, LLC (MRG) to increase the amount by $100,000 for a new amount not to exceed $375,000; and
3) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute any necessary amendments relating to Amendment I to Agreement 8691, excluding term extension and increases to the amount, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING: Countywide, General Fund and non-general fund.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Agreement 8691 between the County and MRG was approved by the Board on July 23, 2024, under Legistar file 24-1026. The agreement is set to expire on August 16, 2027. Human Resources is requesting approval of Amendment I to Agreement 8691 to increase the amount by $100,000 for a revised total not to exceed $375,000. This increase is necessary to ensure sufficient appropriations for MRG to continue supporting the County in investigations, given the consultant’s specialized expertise and resources in this area.
MRG has the personnel and equipment necessary to provide professional employment investigation services (which may include legal services if an attorney is chosen as the project’s principal investigator) and other specialized personnel services on an as-needed basis. To ensure that Human Resources has a wide variety of vendors with different areas of specialty, this agreement is one of multiple agreements for as-needed professional services.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to approve this agreement and instead allocate additional personnel and funding for the hiring and development of additional workplace investigators and mediators. Given the sporadic nature of complaints, however, and the need for sufficient availability of external investigators and mediators when subject matter expertise, conflicts of interest, or potential litigation issues arise, this alternative is not recommended.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
07/23/2024 Legistar file 24-1026 - Approved Agreement 8691
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Procurement and Contracts, County Counsel, and Risk Management.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Human Resources is reimbursed for costs associated with investigations from the department in which the complaint is filed. This results in the agreement being funded from a variety of departments from within their allocated resources. Departments also reimburse Human Resources for direct costs borne by complaints. Departments from which multiple complaints are filed, or for which complaints are more extensive or complex, will be financially impacted more than others given the increased cost to investigate and resolve such complaints. For all other specialized personnel services rendered under this agreement, as requested by or for Human Resources, funding for this agreement is available in the Human Resources budget. There is no change in Net County Cost, as funding for these as-needed services has been included in Human Resources' FY 2026-27 Budget. Future years costs will be budgeted appropriately.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Joseph Carruesco, Director of Human Resources