Executive/Council Action Form (ECAF2025-3499)
ITEM TITLE:
Title
Motion 25-511, authorizing the Snohomish County Executive to sign a contract amendment with Kaplan Kirsch LLP for legal services regarding federal aviation law and regulation
body
DEPARTMENT: Airport
ORIGINATOR: Emily Phillipe
EXECUTIVE RECOMMENDATION: Approved by Mike Fong 11/3/25
PURPOSE: To continue legal services regarding federal aviation and airport law and regulations.
BACKGROUND:
• Kaplan Kirsch LLP provides skilled, creative legal representation and an understanding of the public sector that comes from direct experience in cities and counties nationwide.
• Kaplan Kirsch has provided sound and insightful advice to the County regarding federal aviation and airport law and regulation since December 2008.
• Peter Kirsch is a nationally recognized attorney in the field of airports, the environment and federal aviation law and has provided counsel on a wide variety of public agencies across the country.
• Continuing advice from Peter Kirsch is critical to informed County decision-making regarding service at Paine Field and other federal aviation and airport law and regulation matters.
• The current 2021 contract was for an amount not to exceed $150,000 (by previous motions 21-332, 25-060, whereby Council approved and authorized the Executive to sign amendments 1 and 2 to the legal professional services agreements with Kaplan Kirsch) and has been extended to December 31, 2027 with one additional three-year extension term remaining.
• Amendment 3 provides additional compensation of $300,000.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
|
EXPEND: FUND, AGY, ORG, ACTY, OBJ, AU |
2021 |
2022 |
To 2027 |
|
410-521680-4101 Professional Services |
$25,000 |
$75,000 |
$450,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
$25,000 |
$75,000 |
$450,000 |
|
REVENUE: FUND, AGY, ORG, REV, SOURCE |
2021 |
2022 |
To 2027 |
|
410-321680-0800 Fund Balance |
$25,000 |
$75,000 |
$450,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
$25,000 |
$75,000 |
$450,000 |
DEPARTMENT FISCAL IMPACT NOTES:
The Airport Enterprise Fund has sufficient funds in the 2025-2026 budget
CONTRACT INFORMATION:
|
ORIGINAL |
|
CONTRACT# |
|
AMOUNT |
|
|
AMENDMENT |
X |
CONTRACT# |
Amendment 3 |
AMOUNT |
$450,000 |
Contract Period
|
ORIGINAL |
START |
|
END |
|
|
AMENDMENT X |
START |
01/01/2021 |
END |
12/31/2027 |
OTHER DEPARTMENTAL REVIEWCOMMENTS: Reviewed/approved by Risk Management (Sheila Barker 10/31/25), Finance (Nathan Kennedy 10/31/25), and Prosecuting Attorney’s Office as to form only (Michelle Corsi 10/16/25)