Summary Sheet- RFCA SUMMARY

CITY OF TEMPE
Meeting Date: 04/30/2026  
REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
Agenda Item: 7B6
ACTION:  Approve one-year contract renewals with Law Office of Manuel S. Silvas, Phoenix Defense 
Law Group, Redpath Law, Rideout Law, The Schreck Law Firm, and Yako Law, who provide court-
appointed attorney representation for defendants whose cases are filed with the City of Tempe Municipal 
Court.
FISCAL IMPACT:  The total cost of the contracts will not exceed $455,000. Sufficient funds have been 
appropriated in the General Fund, Cost Center 1410 (Judicial Division – Administration), for anticipated 
expenditures during the current fiscal year and next fiscal year, contingent upon City Council approval 
of the City’s annual budget.
RECOMMENDATION:  Approve the contract renewals.
 
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:  (T24-118-02, 03, 04, 05, 07, 08 and T25-131-01) City Council 
approved the contract awards on June 6, 2024, for an initial one-year period, with four, one-year renewal 
options. This renewal request is the second of four renewal options.
The contracts provide court-appointed attorney representation to indigent individuals entitled to counsel 
in any criminal proceeding that may result in punishment involving a loss of liberty, including hearings 
to determine release conditions at or following the initial appearance, as well as other criminal 
proceedings.   The Court may also appoint an attorney for a defendant if required by the interests of 
justice.  Additionally, court-appointed attorneys represent participants in Tempe Treatment Courts 
(Mental Health Court and Veterans Court).
The City has utilized contracted court-appointed attorneys to provide these services for more than twenty 
years. The Court has established a fixed rate ($180) per assigned case and ($70) per hour for coverage 
during the in-custody docket. Tempe Municipal Court has similar costs for indigent representation among 
municipal courts of similar size and seeks reimbursement, when possible, by assessing fees to some 
defendants to offset a portion of the costs attributed to their defense.
Contractor Performance
The performance of the contractors was evaluated by City staff as shown in the following tables:
Law Office of 
Manuel S. Silvas
Phoenix Defense
 Law Group
Redpath Law
Evaluation Criteria
Meets Contract 
Requirements
Does Not  Meet 
Contract
Requirements
Meets Contract 
Requirements
Does Not  Meet 
Contract
Requirements
Meets 
Contract 
Requirements
Does Not  Meet 
Contract
Requirements
Contract personnel are responsive, 
cooperative, and available
X
X
X
Quality of products or services 
delivered
X
X
X
Timeliness of performance
X
X
X
Follow-up skills in resolving 
complaints or problems 
X
X
X

2
Promptness and accuracy of pricing 
on submitted invoices
X
X
X
Rideout Law
The Schreck 
Law Firm
Yako Law
Evaluation Criteria
Meets Contract 
Requirements
Does Not  Meet 
Contract
Requirements
Meets Contract 
Requirements
Does Not  Meet 
Contract
Requirements
Meets Contract 
Requirements
Does Not  Meet 
Contract
Requirements
Contract personnel are responsive, 
cooperative, and available
X
X
X
Quality of products or services 
delivered
X
X
X
Timeliness of performance
X
X
X
Follow-up skills in resolving 
complaints or problems 
X
X
X
Promptness and accuracy of pricing 
on submitted invoices
X
X
X
ATTACHMENTS:  N/A   
STAFF CONTACT(S):  Alexis Allen, Court Director, (480) 350-8252
Department Director:  Laura Calder, Financial Services Director  
Legal review by:  Dave Park, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Prepared by:  Cecille Lewis, Procurement Officer