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Couri & Ruppe Legal Services Proposal <br />March 28, 2013 <br />Page 8 of 13 <br />establishment, special assessments, hazardous building litigation, and municipal <br />contracts. Mr. Ruppe serves as City Attorney for the cities of Kingston since 2004, <br />Onamia since 2007, Blomkest since 2008 and Nowthen since 2010. Mr. Ruppe's only <br />standing meeting commitments are the first Monday and the second Tuesday of each <br />month. Mr. Ruppe also represents a number of Townships. <br />Accessibility and Responsiveness <br />We at Couri & Ruppe believe very strongly in the philosophy that as City Attorneys, we <br />should act as a fully integrated member of the City Staff. We view our job as one that <br />works with other members of the City Staff to review issues and advise the City Council <br />on the various options available to the City on a particular matter, recommending the <br />option we feel is the best available. We believe that the City Attorney should advise the <br />City Council in formulating City policy, but we recognize that only the City Council has <br />the power to decide what each policy will be. We typically take direction from the City <br />Administrator and City Council as to what legal matters we should perform work on. We <br />encourage frequent contact between our office and City Staff so that all issues are freely <br />and fully aired before the matter goes to the City Council for a decision. <br />Mr. Couri looks forward to having office hours at the City on the first and third Mondays. <br />Mr. Couri has had set office hours with another City client and has found the experience <br />very productive in providing better communication between the City Attorney and other <br />City departments. <br />Both Mr. Couri and Mr. Ruppe would be accessible daily when not at City Hall. Mr. <br />Couri currently has one standing meeting during regular business hours on the morning <br />of the first and third Tuesdays of the month. His other meeting commitments are evening <br />meetings on the first and third Monday evenings, and the first Tuesday evening Mr. <br />Couri is typically available by phone or email at all other times Mr. Ruppe has no <br />scheduled meeting commitments during regular business hours. Clients are encouraged <br />to call Mr. Couri on his cell phone (612- 751 -9910) if he is out of the office. Mr. Ruppe <br />can also be reached on his cell phone (612- 210 -8679) if he is out of the office. <br />It is our policy to return phone calls and emails on the same day. If we are out of the <br />office when the call comes in, we will return the call the next day. If we are unable to <br />return an email during business hours on the same day, we will often return it later the <br />same evening, as we have access to our office emails both at the office and at home. We <br />understand the importance of getting timely information to the City Staff and City <br />Council members, as that information often translates directly into the issuance of a <br />permit, the purchase of needed materials or the provision of services, all of which impact <br />the public directly. While as City Attorney we represent the City Council, we fully <br />