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EXPERIENCE <br />The roster of municipalities for which the firm currently serves, and has served over the <br />firm's 70 years, as general counsel illustrates the firm's depth and understanding of <br />municipal law. The firm has individual lawyers who are proficient in general municipal law <br />matters, but are also knowledgeable in matters such as economic development, real <br />estate, litigation, labor and employment, data practices, conflict resolution and more. In <br />addition to advising on matters related to general governance, the following is a <br />compressive listing of more specialized knowledge and experience the firm will provide <br />to the City as detailed in the Scope of Work section of your Request for Proposal. <br />Contracts <br />The firm assists its public -sector clients with contract drafting related to joint governmental <br />actions, construction activities, enterprise agreements, regulatory services, vendor <br />arrangements, and the like. They also assist communities with contract drafting and <br />interpretation issues, and work with staff to ensure that each municipality's intent is clearly <br />conveyed in the document. The firm always negotiates with other governmental entities, <br />developers, and private parties with a City's best interests in mind. In addition, our <br />municipal attorneys are experienced negotiating and drafting Joint Powers Agreements <br />with other government entities, having recently completed a multi jurisdictional mutual aid <br />agreement and updated fire department services agreement for a municipal client. <br />Public Improvements <br />Cities maintain a large network of streets and related infrastructure. The most common <br />method to finance and maintain these items is through the special assessment process. <br />During any given capital improvement cycle, the City may entertain multiple improvement <br />and special assessment public hearings, assessed cost determinations, and formal <br />appeals by property owners. Eckberg Lammers has assisted in the drafting and revising <br />of many assessment policies and is available to the City in this endeavor. We are well <br />versed in assisting councils with conducting public improvement and special assessment <br />public hearings, which can often be contentious with high public involvement, as well as <br />procuring and reviewing assessment appraisals. <br />Condemnation <br />Eckberg Lammers also has extensive experience in the area of eminent domain. Often <br />other governmental agencies or the applicable county government, are involved in <br />eminent domain issues, and the firm has solid working relationships with these agencies. <br />The firm is experienced litigating contested condemnation proceedings, including court <br />commissioner evidentiary valuation hearings, and its attorneys are actively engaged in <br />several condemnation actions at this time. <br />Civil Litigation <br />Eckberg Lammers believes any legal action or dispute requires an experienced municipal <br />attorney's attention. Our attorneys are capable negotiators when it comes to resolving <br />cases short of trial, and will do so when appropriate, with an eye toward zealously but <br />9 <br />