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• • in other police and fire departments; • Discussion of relevant Texas case law; • Discussion of a strategic plan for coordinating Council and management issues to avoid splintered or by-pass (Association bargains with the Council members directly) bargaining; and • Exploration and discussion of bargaining styles and strategies including interest-based bargaining in the context of the legal duties of all parties. In addition to the consultation and meeting we held on May 15, 2008, we do not charge for the "getting up to speed" necessary to review local civil service rules, ordinances, prior litigation, and such matters. When I was City Attorney in San Antonio, I hated to pay outside lawyers to learn what I and my staff already knew. For our initial bargaining team meeting to prepare for negotiations, we will bill only for one lawyer even though the two lead lawyers designated to handle the representation will both attend. Our negotiation team approach is to designate two negotiators, and a third team lawyer who has close familiarity with the issues and the draft agreement terms. This is consistent with the usual Ground Rules in our negotiations for both sides. It also allows us to meet the scheduling needs and expectations that you have, and that the Association will typically have. It is important all of the time, but it is especially important when real bargaining momentum exists, or when the lack of momentum is used to blame the City for not being committed to the process. Christy Johnson is my Assistant, and she serves as the contract document coordinator to make sure that we have a good negotiation history, and to finalize the document reflecting our agreement to make sure that our deal is captured as agreed. As the background material shows, both Mr. Pena and Ms. Provencio have extensive Lead Negotiator experience, and very good skills in deal making and contract drafting. Mr. Pena is involved in the wage and overtime compliance issues in all of our agreements; and his extensive experience in contract arbitration which is essential to avoiding controversiesor being prepared to prevail in them, once the deal is done. Ms. Provencio has completed Police and Fire agreements for Abilene and Denton as the Lead Negotiator, and she has assisted me in bargaining a number of other agreements. Charlie Zech is an experienced municipal lawyer and former City Attorney in New Braunfels. He will be serving in an apprentice role, and will have some involvement in negotiation as the process develops, but will work primarily proposals and logistics. My role will be to consult and oversee the bargaining strategy with your key team members, and to work with our team during the process. Our rates are as follows: Lowell Denton (Partner) - $285 per hour; Albert Pena (Associate) - $210 per hour; Elizabeth Provencio (Associate) - $185 per hour; Charles Zech (Associate) - $185 per hour; and paralegals - $75 per hour. These rates are at or below market rates for such services, and we will make sure that our time is used effectively. That is important to us, as we fully understand your taxpayer's expectations for appropriate pricing and efficient service. On that same note, our travel time/cost policy is as follows: • We only bill for travel time that we cannot otherwise use (with cell phone, portable dictation and wireless access, this limits the dead time cost