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CASSELBERRY CITY COMMISSION Minutes of November 14, 2022 — Regular Meeting Page 27 of 30 • Stated lie is looking forward to staff working on all the decorations for Lake Concord Park which will be a beautiful sight for the holidays. 15. CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT A. City Attorney Billing Rate Consumer Price Index (CPI) Increase Staff presentation: City Attorney Katie Reischmann stated in 2015 the City Commission had approved increasing the City Attorney rated based on the CPI (Consumer Price Index). The CPI is currently at 8.7% for the Southeast Region. The hourly rate for attorneys would increase the current rate of $190 to $206.53 rounded down to $205 for attorneys. Understanding the City is challenged with inflationary pressure on costs along with the recent impacts of Hurricane Ian, the City Attorney proposes to accept an increase to $200 per hour for the term of November 1, 2022 to October 31, 2023. In addition, there is a request to increase the hourly rate for paralegals from $85 to $90 which has not changed since 2015. Budget Impact: Funds will be budgeted accordingly in the City Attorney Legal Services account #001- 0140-514.31-01 for legal fees. Recommendation: The City Manager and the City Attorney recommended approval of the rate adjustments for City Attorney services. MOTION: Commissioner Meadows moved to increase the City Attorney's hourly rate to $205 per hour and the paralegal rate to $90 per hour, as presented. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Busch. City Attorney Reischmann advised that her firm had actually agreed to keep the fee increase at $200 due to the current rate of inflation. AMENDED MOTION: Commissioner Meadows moved to increase the City Attorney's hourly rate to $200 per hour and the paralegal rate to $90 per hour, as presented. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Busch. Discussion: Commissioner Meadows commended Ms. Reischmann and her firm for voluntarily accommodating the City by reducing the requested increase due to the current high inflation rate. He stated it showed what a great partner she and her firm had been to the City over the years, and he expressed the City's thanks to her and asked that she also extend those thanks to the other members of her firm. Ms. Reischmann expressed appreciation for Commissioner Meadows' comments and stated she very much enjoyed the relationship she had enjoyed with the City over the years. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote 4-0.