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Approve a third contract amendment for Sloan, Sakai, Yeung & Wong for $50,000 for a total contract amount of $384,999 through June 30, 2027, to continue labor negotiations support and to include additional technical assistance; and Authorize the County Administrator to execute the amendment
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Human Resources recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve a third contract amendment for Sloan, Sakai, Yeung & Wong for $50,000 for a total contract amount of $384,999 through June 30, 2027, to continue labor negotiations support and to include additional technical assistance; and
2. Authorize the County Administrator to execute the amendment.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
To support the County's collective bargaining process, the County has historically engaged labor negotiation firms to provide specialized negotiation services. This support helps minimize the impact on Human Resources' day-to-day operations while facilitating a more streamlined, efficient, and effective bargaining process. In preparation for the 2025 labor negotiations, the County secured a contract with Sloan Sakai Yeung & Wong, LLP for FY2025/26. The original contract, dated July 1, 2025, was in the amount of $260,000. The first amendment, dated November 3, 2025, amended the scope of work, and the second amendment, dated March 3, 2026, increased the contract amount by $74,999. The third amendment increases the budget by $50,000, amends the scope of services, and extends the contract term through June 30, 2027.
Labor negotiations continued longer than anticipated, increasing the associated costs. Additionally, the County is preparing for fact-finding proceedings with the State Employee Relations Board (PERB) for one of the bargaining units that has not reached an agreement. Since the bargaining process has been more protracted and complex than anticipated, additional funding is needed for Sloan, Sakai, Yeung & Wong to continue to assist with ongoing negotiations and representation through the fact-finding proceedings.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The initial contract amount of $260,000 was included in the Department of Human Resources requested annual budget FY2025/26, and an amendment of $74,999 on March 3, 2026, was absorbed by the department’s Working Budget. Additional funding has been identified for this third amendment in the department’s Working Budget.
The costs associated with preparing this agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2025/26 Working Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to approve the contract amendment to expand the scope and budget of the Sloan, Sakai, Yeung & Wong contract or the ATR to ensure the necessary funding; however, this is not recommended as Human Resources is not staffed to provide this level of technical legal representation for such hearings and proceedings. County Counsel has recommended the use of outside counsel.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION