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Mr. Quiring stated they propose a flat rate for office hours and meetings and no travel time, <br />which would address concerns with cost. <br />Do you bill hourly for civil work or are you open to retainer to assure staying within budget? <br />Mr. Langel stated they have done retainers before but the challenge is to get a handle on the <br />City's usage of legal services so everyone is on the same page. <br />Do you feel it is appropriate for City staff to draft legal documents such as ordinances, purchase <br />agreements, development agreements? If not, why? If so, what is your role to ensure the City's <br />interests are protected? <br />Mr. Langel stated it is entirely appropriate and City staff drafts legal documents all the time, <br />unless the City has extremely limited staff. He stated it would be expected that Ramsey's <br />professional staff would draft the document and, at that point, his role would be to review the <br />document and advise of problems or holes that need to be addressed. He stated that is his view <br />of efficient legal services. <br />Describe the most challenging municipal issues you have faced during your legal career? What <br />were the circumstances and what was the outcome? <br />Mr. Langel stated the most delicate cases are those involving Councilmembers, investigations <br />involving Councilmembers, or misconduct by Councilmembers. He stated they work for the <br />City Council and answer to them so when dealing with misconduct and allegations of use of <br />position for financial benefit, they have to be handled in a delicate manner. Mr. Langel stated <br />their firm has done hundreds of investigations and has the ability to send out someone other than <br />the City Attorney to conduct the investigation and write up the report with the City Attorney <br />presenting the report before the Council. In this way, the issue is taken care of without becoming <br />a public debacle. <br />Mr. Quiring stated the firm has a wealth of experience and holds contracts with the State of <br />Minnesota to do investigations. In the past 12 months, the firm has conducted 30 investigations <br />on behalf of the State relating to employee misconduct and politically sensitive investigations. <br />Mr. Quiring stated the firm has had that contract for 20 years and also conducted investigations <br />for school districts, counties, and municipal clients. <br />Please describe your philosophy with serving as the City Attorney. <br />Mr. Langel stated if retained as counsel to the City, their role is to not just answer questions or be <br />a "yes man" but to tell staff and the Council of the options and what he thinks is the best option. <br />The ultimate decision is up to the Council. Mr. Langel stated it is not his job to say only what <br />the Council wants to hear but to recognize the risks and assure full disclosure. He stated he is <br />here to provide advice and it is then up to the Council to decide if they want to take the advice. <br />Mr. Langel stated it is not his job to become an adjunct councilmember and make the decisions. <br />Any other questions and/or concerns? <br />City Council Work Session / May 7, 2013 <br />Page 14 of 23 <br />