Rental Housing Board Again Increases Contract Price for Legal Services

On Wednesday the Pasadena Rental Housing Board unanimously approved a recommendation to increase the contract with Goldfarb & Lipman LLP from $225,000 to $550,000.

This is not the first time the Board increased the price of its contract with the firm, which provides the Board legal services related to the implementation of the Measure H City Charter Amendment.

On June 7, 2023, the Board awarded the contract to Goldfarb & Lipman for $50,000. Last October, due to the heavy workload required of the firm to draft necessary rules related to Measure H, the Board requested an increase amounting to $175,000, for a total of $225,000.

Interim Rent Stabilization Department Director Philip Leclair said the firm has been doing an outstanding job in providing the Board with legal advisory services.

For Leclair, retaining the firm is necessary, especially while the Board continues to establish regulations and programs for the remainder of the year.

According to Leclair, the City Attorney’s Office is currently recruiting a deputy city attorney who will eventually fulfill the role of Goldfarb & Lipman.

However, he advised the Board to maintain its relationship with Goldfarb & Lipman even after the permanent position is filled, saying the Board may still need its advice, considering it has extensive expertise in rent and stabilization matters.

Vice Chair Brandon Lamar thanked Goldfarb & Lipman lawyers for their services to the Board.

“I think that our attorneys from Goldfarb & Lipman have been doing an amazing job and we would not have gotten to this point without them,” said Lamar. “Whether people believe it or not, it would’ve definitely been prolonged without them. And so definitely thank you for the work that you continue to do.”