Committee forwards amendment to Jefferies litigation-consulting contract despite redactions

The Budget & Finance Committee voted to forward to the full Board a resolution authorizing a second amendment to a litigation-consulting contract between the City Attorney's Office and Jefferies LLC that would extend the contract through Sept. 17, 2027 and increase the value by about $5.5 million for a new not-to-exceed total of $15.5 million.

Deputy City Attorney Anne Pearson said the amendment would continue a contract for litigation consulting services that otherwise was scheduled to expire April 1. The Budget & Legislative Analyst's office, represented by Nick Menard, told the committee the contract and the underlying solicitation were withheld as privileged and redacted, leaving the BLA unable to assess whether the price or deliverables are market‑rate or how performance has been monitored.

"We don't really have much information about this contract except that it's for analysis to support the power enterprise," Menard said, recommending that the City Attorney's Office provide follow-up on solicitation procedures, bid evaluation, budget, deliverables and performance assessment.

No members of the public spoke on the item. Chair Connie Chan moved to forward the resolution with a positive recommendation; Vice Chair Rafael Mandelmann and Chair Chan voted "aye" and Member Asha Safaie was absent. The committee recorded the motion as passed and the item will be considered by the full Board.

The Budget & Legislative Analyst characterized approval as a policy matter and asked for additional information from the City Attorney's Office before full Board action. The committee did not adopt any conditions or substantive edits to the resolution during the hearing.