To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Counsel
Staff Name and Phone Number: Deputy County Counsel Lisa Pheatt, (707) 565-2421
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): All
Title:
Title
Amendment to Existing Legal Services Agreement with Nossaman LLP
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize County Counsel to amend a Legal Services Agreement with Nossaman, LLP to increase the amount not-to-exceed to $100,000 for specialized legal services associated with the application of the State Landfill Methane Rule to the closed Healdsburg Landfill. (4/5th Vote Required).
end
Executive Summary:
Nossaman LLP was retained by County Counsel in October 2025 to provide specialized legal services to resolve an air quality compliance matter at the Healdsburg Closed landfill. The complexity of this case warrants additional support to ensure a successful outcome. For these reasons, County Counsel is recommending an increase in the not-to-exceed budget for the contract from $35,000 to $100,000. The agreement will terminate upon final resolution of the pending matter, unless otherwise terminated by the County.
Discussion:
County Counsel retained Nossaman LLP (Nossaman) in October 2025 to provide specialized legal services to support ongoing efforts to resolve an air quality compliance matter at the closed Healdsburg Landfill. The contract was entered into consistent with County Purchasing Policies and within the Department Head’s delegated authority. Nossaman was identified for this project due to the firm’s unique expertise in representing municipal landfill owners in air quality compliance and enforcement matters, often involving state and local regulatory agencies.
Successful resolution of this legally and technically complex matter will require additional resources from the experts at Nossaman LLP. For these reasons, County Counsel is recommending an increase in the not-to-exceed budget for the contract from $35,000 to $100,000. The agreement will terminate upon final resolution of the matter at issue, unless otherwise terminated by the County.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
None
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$65,000 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$65,000 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$65,000 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$65,000 |
$0 |
$0 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The proposed Amendment provides for an increase of $65,000 to support specialized legal services. Sufficient appropriations are available within the Former Urban Landfill budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26 to accommodate the proposed increase.
Funding for costs associated to the Healdsburg closed landfill is stipulated by the Landfill Settlement Agreement (LSA) between the County of Sonoma and the Committed Cities, which became effective on April 1, 2015. The LSA directs the collection of Concession Fees for each ton of Municipal Solid Waste and Organic Waste received at one of five County-owned Solid Waste Facilities.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
1st Amendment to Nossaman LSA
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
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