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HomeMy WebLinkAboutC-7034-4 - Sixth Amended and Restated Employment Agreement - City AttorneyCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT CITY ATTORNEY This SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made effective as of January 26, 2021 ("Effective Date") and is entered into by and between the CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH, a California municipal corporation and Charter City ("Employer" or "City") and AARON C. HARP ("Employee"), an individual (sometimes collectively referred to herein as "the Parties"). RECITALS A. City is a municipal corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of California with the power to carry on its business as it is now being conducted under the statutes of the State of California and the Charter of the City. B. Employee has been continuously employed by City as City Attorney since September 6, 2011. Employee is currently employed under a Fifth Amended and Restated Employment Agreement approved April 9, 2019 ("Employment Agreement"). C. The Parties mutually agree that they intend for this Agreement to supersede all prior Employment Agreements, and that upon execution of this Agreement, any prior Employment Agreements shall have no force or effect. D. The Parties also mutually agree that this form of Agreement reflects the terms and conditions under which the Parties intend and desire to continue Employee's employment, and that there are no other Agreements between them; oral, written or implied. Harp Employment Agreement Page 1 NOW, THEREFORE, it is mutually agreed by and between the undersigned Parties as follows: SECTION 1: Term and Notice of Non -Renewal A. This Agreement shall become effective January 26, 2021 ("Effective Date"). Subject to the City's right to terminate Employee's employment at any time as provided for in this Agreement, the term of this Agreement is two (2) years from the Effective Date. B. This Agreement shall automatically be extended for one additional 12 -month period on each annual anniversary of the Effective Date of the Agreement, unless City notifies Employee of its intent not to extend the Agreement at least six (6) months prior to expiration of the original Term, or the Term of any subsequent automatic extension, of this Agreement. C. City's election not to extend this Agreement shall not entitle Employee to Severance pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement. SECTION 2: Duties and Authority A. Employer agrees to continue to employ Employee as City Attorney, to exercise the powers and authority and to perform the functions and duties specified in the Newport Beach City Charter, the Newport Beach Municipal Code ("NBMC") and all relevant resolutions, rules, regulations, procedures, applicable job description(s) and state codes, as they currently or may in the future exist. Employee shall exercise such power and authority and perform such other functions and duties, not inconsistent with this Agreement, as Employer, by its City Council, may legally assign. SECTION 3: Compensation and Performance Evaluation. A. Employer agrees to pay Employee an annual base salary of Two Hundred, Fifty -Two Thousand, Five Hundred Dollars ($252,500) ("Base Salary"), which is a 2.058% increase, effective on the first day of the pay period following approval of the Agreement. The Base Salary shall be subject to deductions and withholdings of any and all sums required for federal or state income tax, pension contributions, and all other taxes, deductions or withholdings required by then current state, federal or local law, prorated and paid on Employer's normal paydays for the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk and any Department Directors not covered by collective bargaining agreements ("Executive Management Employees"). Employer shall also deduct sums Employee is obligated to pay because of Harp Employment Agreement Page 2 of 17 participation in plans or programs described in Section 4 of this Agreement. The annual Base Salary of Employee will be within the approved salary range adopted by resolution of the City Council on this night, January 26, 2021. B. Effective the pay period which includes January 1, 2022, and annually thereafter; Employee shall receive a Base Salary increase equal to the lesser of: (1) a two percent (2.0%) salary adjustment or (2) a cost of living adjustment based on an increase in the "Cost of Living" as defined by the California Government Code ("Government Code" or "GOV") Section 3511.1, as it currently exists or may be modified in the future. The cost of living adjustment will be calculated by comparing the last published index number that is closest in time to the date the adjustment in compensation is to be made, and the corresponding index number for one year earlier. [(A- B)/B*100=i, where A=Most recent index B=Corresponding index for one-year earlier i=Cost of living adjustment, in percent] C. Employee shall receive a one-time, lump sum bonus in the amount of Five Hundred and Eighty -Eight Dollars ($588) in the first payroll period after the complete execution of this Agreement. D. Employer, by the City Council, and Employee may set mutually agreed upon objectives for each year under this Agreement. Employer, by the City Council, may elect to conduct an evaluation of Employee's performance at any time or times during the period in which this Agreement remains in effect. E. Employee's compensation as discussed under this Section is not tied to the compensation of any other City employee or group of City employees, except as expressly provided in this Agreement. SECTION 4: Employee Benefits A. Benefit Balances Carried Over. Employee shall not have a break in employment service between the prior Employment Agreement and this Agreement. All of Employee's accrued leave and other benefit balances shall carry over as agreed, and Employee leave and benefit balances shall continue to accrue under the terms of applicable City policies and this Agreement. B. Flex Leave. Employee shall accumulate Flex Leave as provided in the City's Key and Management Compensation Plan ("Compensation Plan"), Executive Harp Employment Agreement Page 3 of 17 Management category, at the rate designated for Employee's years of service (9.69 hours per Pay Period). Employee's maximum accrual for Flex Leave is limited to four hundred (400) hours. No Flex Leave shall further accrue beyond said maximum. The right to sell back accumulated Flex Leave shall be consistent with the Compensation Plan, LEAVES, Section H - Leave Sellback. C. Administrative Leave. Employee shall be entitled to a maximum of eighty (80) hours of paid Administrative Leave and shall be credited with said leave the first pay period in January of each calendar year. Administrative Leave will not rollover from calendar year to calendar year and must be used each calendar year or no additional entitlement above eighty (80) hours shall arise or occur. Consistent with the City's Key and Management Compensation Plan, Administrative Leave does not accrue and therefore has no cash value. As such it will not be paid out upon Employee request or separation from the City. D. Additional Benefits. Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, Employee shall receive the same benefits as are available to Executive Management Employees under the Compensation Plan and/or Employee Policy Manual ("EPM"), including cafeteria benefits, LIUNA Supplemental Pension, IRS Section 125 Flexible Spending Accounts, short-term and long-term disability plans, life insurance plans, and deferred compensation plans. This Agreement shall be deemed amended whenever the City Council adopts a resolution or takes action changing these benefits under the Compensation Plan and/or EPM. E. Annual Physical Exam. Employee may undergo an annual physical examination and City shall reimburse Employee for the actual cost of the examination up to a maximum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000). F. Automobile Allowance. Employee's duties require Employee to be available and to respond to demands of City business at all times and outside of regular business hours, including weekends. Employer shall, therefore, pay to Employee an Automobile Allowance of Five Hundred Dollars ($500) per month to respond to these demands of City business. G. Phone Allowance. Employee shall be entitled to the same phone allowance as provided to any Executive Management Employee. H. Deferred Compensation. Employer shall contribute to Employee's City -sponsored Harp Employment Agreement Page 4 of 17 deferred compensation account as follows: Effective on the first day of the pay period following the approval of this Agreement, Employer shall contribute Two Hundred Dollars ($200), biweekly, towards Employee's deferred compensation account. I. Amendment of Benefits. Except as expressly provided under Section 4 of this Agreement, Employee's benefits are not tied to the compensation of any other City employee or group of City employees. J. Retirement - CaIPERS. Employee contributes thirteen percent (13%) of compensation earnable towards Employee's retirement benefit, which is designated as follows: 8% Employee/Member's total PERSable salary as the Employee/Member Contribution; and 2.42% and 2.58% as cost sharing of the Employer Contribution Rate in accordance with Government Code sections 20516(a) and 20516(f) respectively. The Parties agree that the City will not report as special compensation the value of any Employer Paid Member Contribution. In the event the City Council adopts a Compensation Plan in which retirement contributions for non -safety employees of the Key & Management Group exceeds 13%, this Agreement shall be deemed amended and Employee will be subject to the same formula or percentage contribution as it is applied to the non -safety employees of the Key & Management Group covered under the Compensation Plan and for the same duration. In no event, shall the Employee's retirement contribution be less than 13%. Employee's retirement contributions that are in addition to the normal PERS Member Contribution shall be calculated on Base Salary, special pays, and other pays normally reported as "PERSable" compensation, and will be made on a pre-tax basis through payroll deduction, to the extent allowable by the Government Code. SECTION 5: General Business Expenses A. Employer recognizes that Employee may incur expenses of a non - personal, job-related nature that are reasonably necessary to Employee's service to Employer. Employer agrees .to either pay such expenses in advance or to reimburse the expenses, so long as the expenses are incurred and submitted according to Employer's normal expense reimbursement procedures or such other procedure as may be designated by the City Council. To be eligible for reimbursement, all expenses must be supported by documentation meeting Employer's normal requirements and must be submitted within time limits established by Employer. Harp Employment Agreement Page 5 of 17 B. Employer shall reimburse Employee for expenses incurred while attending a reasonable number of League of Cities and other similar conferences relevant to the performance of Employee's duties. City shall pay Employee's annual California Bar Association dues, membership in the Orange County Bar Association and appropriate sections of that Association and the expenses for satisfying Employee's Mandatory Continuing Legal Education ("MCLE") obligations. It is not contemplated that travel outside of Orange County will be required for Employee to meet the MCLE obligations. C. The expenses to be budgeted and paid in this Section 5, Paragraphs A and B above, are exclusive of reasonable expenses related to events, participation in organizations, or attendance at events or meetings on behalf of the City as required by the City Council. Employer will separately budget and pay for membership and participation in community, civic or other organizations or events in which Employer requires Employee to participate. SECTION 6: At -Will Employment Relationship A. Consistent with Article VI of the City Charter, Section 600, Employee is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the City Council. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent, limit or otherwise interfere with the right of Employer to terminate this Agreement and the employment of Employee at any time, with or without Cause (as defined below), and with or without notice. Employer shall pay Employee for all services through the Effective Date of termination and Employee shall have no right to any additional compensation or payment, except as provided in Section 7, Severance and Benefit Payoff at Termination and General Release Agreement, below. B. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent, limit or otherwise interfere with the right of Employee to resign from Employee's employment with Employer, subject only to Employee providing a minimum of forty-five (45) calendar days prior written notice to Employer of the effective date of Employee's resignation. Upon the effective date of resignation, Employee forfeits all compensation and benefits owing for the remainder of the term of this Agreement, as well as any potential "Severance" pay per Section 7 below. SECTION 7: Severance and Benefit Payoff at Termination and General Release Agreement Harp Employment Agreement Page 6 of 17 A. Termination Without Cause. If Employer terminates this Agreement (thereby terminating Employee's employment) without Cause, as determined by the affirmative votes of a majority of the members of the City Council at a meeting of the City Council, and if Employee signs, delivers to the City Council, and does not revoke the Agreement of Separation, Severance and General Release Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, then Employer shall pay Employee beginning on the effective date of termination a lump sum benefit equal to six (6) months of Employee's then applicable Base Salary and shall provide six (6) months of medical coverage as provided under the Compensation Plan, as long as Employee is already enrolled in and receiving medical coverage through the City medical benefits plan at the time of termination. In accordance with Government Code Section 53260(a), in no event shall Employee receive a cash settlement that is greater than the monthly Base Salary of Employee multiplied by the number of months left on the unexpired term of the Agreement. The lump sum payment described in this Section 7(A) shall be referred to herein as "Severance". B. Termination With Cause. If Employer terminates this Agreement (thereby terminating Employee's employment) with Cause, as determined by the affirmative votes of a majority of the members of the City Council at a meeting of the City Council, Employee shall not be entitled to any additional compensation or payment, including Severance. If the City Council intends to terminate with Cause, based on a reason or reasons set forth in subparts 5 or 6, immediately below, the Council shall first deliver to Employee a written Notice of Intent to Terminate, stating the reason or reasons for the proposed termination, and providing a thirty (30) day period for Employee to cure. If, in the City Council's independent judgment, Employee cures the identified reason or reasons for Cause termination, Employee shall not be terminated therefor. As used in this Agreement, Cause shall only mean any of the following: 1. Conviction of a felony, 2. Conviction of a misdemeanor arising out of Employee's duties under this Agreement and involving a willful or intentional violation of law, Harp Employment Agreement Page 7 of 17 3. Conviction of any crime involving an "abuse of office or position," as that term is defined in Government Code Section 53243.4; 4. Willful abandonment of duties; 5. Repeated failure to carry out a directive or directives of the City Council made by the City Council as a body; and 6. Any grossly negligent action or inaction by Employee that materially and adversely: (a) impedes or disrupts the operations of Employer or its organizational units; (b) is detrimental to employees or public safety; or (c) violates properly established rules or procedures of Employer. C. In no event may Employee be terminated within ninety (90) days after any municipal election for the selection or recall of one or more of the members of the City Council. D. Resignation. If Employee resigns or otherwise terminates this Agreement (thereby terminating Employee's employment), Employee shall not be entitled to any additional compensation or payment, including Severance. E. Upon termination (regardless of reason), Employee shall be compensated for all accrued but unused Flex Leave. No compensation shall be paid for any unused Administrative Leave. SECTION 8: Employee's Obligations and Hours of Work A. Employee shall devote Employee's full energies, interests, abilities and productive time to the performance of this Agreement and utilize Employee's best efforts to promote Employer's interests. Employee's duties may involve expenditures of time in excess of the regularly established workday or in excess of a forty (40) hour workweek and may also include time outside normal office hours, including attendance at City Council meetings. Employee's Base Salary includes compensation for all hours worked and Employee shall be classified as an exempt employee for purposes of overtime and shall not be entitled to any form of compensation for overtime. In recognition of the significant time Employee will need to devote outside normal office hours to business activities of Employer and the exempt salaried nature of the employment, Employee is permitted to exercise a flexible work schedule. However, consistent with this flexibility and Employee's participation in activities out of the office, Employee will generally be expected to keep office hours at City Hall during normal business hours, subject to paragraph B of this Section below. Harp Employment Agreement Page 8 of 17 B. Employee is authorized to work the 9/80 schedule as defined in Section 2(RR)(1) of the Employee Policy Manual and referred to in Miscellaneous Section (D) of the Compensation Plan. However, as City Attorney, Employee shall not take a 9/80 day: (1) on any Monday or Friday immediately preceding a regularly scheduled City Council Meeting; (2) on the same day as the Assistant City Attorney takes a 9/80 day off or (3) any other day where the press of business requires Employee's attendance, in Employee's good faith judgment, such as court appearances or emergency City Council meetings. SECTION 9: Confidentiality and Non -Disparagement A. Employee acknowledges that in the course of Employee's employment contemplated herein, Employee will be given or will have access to privileged, confidential and proprietary documents and information, relating to the City, its residents, businesses, employees, and customers ("Confidential Information"). Such Confidential Information may include, but is not limited to, all information given to or otherwise accessible to Employee that is not public information or would be exempt from public disclosure as confidential, protected, exempt or privileged information. Employee shall hold the Confidential Information in trust for City's benefit and shall not disclose the Confidential Information to others without the express written consent of City. B. Except as otherwise required by law, in the event the City terminates Employee with or without Cause, the City and Employee agree that no member of the City Council, the City's management staff, nor the Employee shall make any written, oral, or electronic statement to any member of the public, the press, or any City employee concerning the Employee's termination except in the form of a joint press release or statement, which is mutually agreeable to City and Employee. The joint press release or statement shall not contain any text or information that is disparaging to either Party. Either Party may verbally repeat the substance of the joint press release or statement in response to any inquiry. Nothing herein shall prohibit any Council Member or Employee from exercising their rights under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. C. The obligations of Employer and Employee under this Section 9 shall survive the termination of this Agreement. SECTION 10: Outside Activities Harp Employment Agreement Page 9 of 17 A. Employee shall not engage in any employment, activity, consulting service or enterprise for compensation, or otherwise, which is, actually or potentially, inconsistent, incompatible, in conflict, inimical to or which materially interferes with Employee's duties and responsibilities to Employer. (GOV § 1125 - 1129) SECTION 11: Indemnification A. To the extent mandated by the California Government Code, the City shall defend, hold harmless, and indemnify Employee against any tort, professional liability, claim or demand, or other legal action arising out of an alleged act or omission occurring in the performance of employee's services under this Agreement. This section shall not apply to any intentional tort or crime committed by Employee, to any action outside the course and scope of the services provided by employee under this Agreement, or any other intentional or malicious conduct or gross negligence of Employee. (GOV § 825, 995, et. seq.) B. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and consistent with Sections 53243 through 53243.3 of the Government Code, Employee shall be required, if convicted of a crime involving an abuse of Employee's office or position, to fully reimburse the City for: (1) any paid leave salary offered by the City to the Employee; (2) any funds provided for the legal criminal defense of the Employee; (3) any cash settlement related to the termination that Employee may receive; and (4) any other payments received by Employee from City that in any way relate to the foregoing. SECTION 12: Other Terms and Conditions of Employment A. Employer may fix other terms and conditions of employment, as it may determine from time to time, relating to the performance of the Employee, provided such terms and conditions are not inconsistent with or in conflict with the provisions of this Agreement or applicable law. SECTION 13: Notices A. Notice pursuant to this Agreement shall be given by depositing written notification in the custody of the United States Postal Service, postage prepaid, addressed as follows: (1) EMPLOYER: Harp Employment Agreement Page 10 of 17 City of Newport Beach c/o City Clerk 100 Civic Center Drive Newport Beach, California 92660 (2) EMPLOYEE: Aaron C. Harp at the home address then shown in Employer's files B. Alternatively, notice required pursuant to this Agreement may be personally served in the same manner as is applicable in civil judicial practice. Notice shall be deemed given as of the date of personal service or five days after the date of mailing. SECTION 14: General Provisions A. Integration. This Agreement sets forth the final, complete and exclusive agreement between Employer and Employee relating to the employment of Employee by Employer. Any prior discussions or representations by or between the parties are merged into this Agreement or are otherwise rendered null and void. The Parties by mutual written agreement may amend any provision of this Agreement during the life of the Agreement. Such amendments shall be incorporated and made a part of this Agreement. The foregoing notwithstanding, Employee acknowledges that, except as expressly provided in this Agreement, Employee's employment is subject to Employer's generally applicable rules and policies pertaining to employment matters, such as those addressing equal employment opportunity, sexual harassment and violence in the workplace, as they currently or may in the future exist, and Employee's employment is, and will continue to be, at the will of the City Council. B. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding on the Employer and the Employee as well as their heirs, assigns, executors, personal representatives and successors in interest. C. Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be interpreted and construed pursuant to and in accordance with the laws of the State of California and all applicable City Charter provisions, Codes, Ordinances, Policies and Resolutions. D. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect. If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable with Harp Employment Agreement Page 11 of 17 respect to particular circumstances, it shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect in all other circumstances. E. Conflict with City Charter or Municipal Code. In the event of a conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the City Charter, or this Agreement and the NBMC, the City Charter or the NBMC shall prevail over this Agreement. All other City personnel ordinances, resolutions, rules, and policies shall apply to Employee in the same manner as applied to other Executive Management Employees. F. Employee's Independent Review: Employee acknowledges that Employee has had the opportunity and has conducted an independent review of the financial and legal effects of this Agreement. Employee acknowledges that Employee has made an independent judgment upon the financial and legal effects of this Agreement and has not relied upon any representation of Employer, its officers, agents or employees other than those expressly set forth in this Agreement. Employee acknowledges that Employee has been advised to obtain and has availed oneself of legal advice with respect to the terms and provisions of this Agreement. [Signatures on next page] Harp Employment Agreement Page 12 of 17 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed on the dates reflected below each signature. EMPLOYER CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH, A Municipal Corporation By: /I /L �IlliAvery, Mayor Date:( �2-6 / 2-c, 2 t APPROVED AS TO FORM: EMPLOYEE, An Individual By: JC. Aaron C. Harp Date: (/2L7 / By: Date Edward P. Zappij THE ZAPPIA LA'W FIRM A Professional Corporation ATTEST: ►... �, LL >►.J �itl City Clerk Date:— 1. a1- aDa l [End of Signatures] Attachment: Exhibit A - General Release Agreement Harp Employment Agreement Page 13 of 17 Exhibit A GENERAL RELEASE AGREEMENT This General Release Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into by and between AARON C. HARP ("Employee") and CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH ("Employer"), in light of the following facts: A. Employee's employment with Employer concluded on B. Certain disputes have arisen between Employer and Employee. C. Employer and Employee each deny any liability whatsoever to the other. D. Employer and Employee wish to fully and finally resolve any and all disputes they may have with each other. E. Employee is hereby informed that Employee has twenty-one (21) days from receipt of this Agreement to consider it. Employer hereby advises Employee to consult with Employee's legal counsel before signing this Agreement. F. Employee acknowledges that for a period of seven (7) days following the signing of this Agreement ("Revocation Period"), Employee may revoke the Agreement. This Agreement shall not become effective or enforceable until the day the Revocation Period has expired. G. Employee acknowledges that the Salary Payment referenced in paragraph 1 of this Agreement represents all compensation, including salary, accrued benefit balances and reimbursed expenses, due and payable to Employee through the date of employment termination. Employee also acknowledges that Employer has made this Salary Payment without regard to whether Employee signs this Agreement. The Salary Payment does not constitute consideration for this Agreement. Employee acknowledges that the Severance referenced in paragraph 2 of this Agreement is in excess of all amounts that are due and owing to Employee as a result of Employee's employment by Employer. 1. Receipt of Salary Payment. Employee hereby acknowledges receipt of a check or checks for all compensation owing to Employee, including salary, accrued benefit balances and reimbursed expenses ("Salary Payment") from Employer. Harp Employment Agreement Page 14 of 17 2. Severance. Within ten (10) days following Employee's signing, delivering to the City Council, and not revoking this Agreement, City shall pay Employee the gross amount provided for in Section 7 of the Sixth Amended and Restated Employment Agreement effective January 26, 2021, less applicable deductions, and shall provide the months of medical benefits as provided in that same Section 7 ("Severance"). Employee acknowledges that the Severance is in excess of all amounts due and owing Employee as a result of Employee's employment by Employer. 3. General Release. In consideration of the Severance to be paid and provided to Employee, and other good and valuable consideration, Employee hereby releases and discharges Employer and its past and present City Council Members, employees, representatives and agents, from all rights, claims, causes of action, and damages, both known and unknown, in law or in equity, concerning and/or arising out of Employee's employment with Employer which Employee now has, or ever had, including but not limited to any rights, claims, causes of action or damages arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Older Workers Benefits Protection Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the Domestic Partners Act of 2003, the California Labor Code, the Private Attorneys General Act of 2004, the California Moore -Brown -Roberti Family Rights Act, the California Unruh Civil Rights Act, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, any other federal, state, or local employment practice legislation, or any federal or state common law, including wrongful discharge, breach of express or implied contract, or breach of public policy. Employee hereby waives and relinquishes all rights and benefits afforded by Section 1542 of the Civil Code of California. Employee understands and acknowledges the significance and consequences of this specific waiver of Section 1542. Section 1542 of the Civil Code of California states as follows: "A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS THAT THE CREDITOR OR RELEASING PARTY DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE AND THAT, IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER, WOULD HAVE Harp Employment Agreement Page 15 of 17 MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR OR RELEASED PARTY." Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1542, and for the purpose of implementing a full and complete release and discharge of Employer and its past and present City Council Members, employees, representatives and agents, Employee expressly acknowledges that this General Release is intended to include in its effect, without limitation, all claims which Employee does not know or suspect to exist in Employee's favor. Employee further acknowledges that Employee has read this General Release and that Employee understands that this is a general release, and that Employee intends to be legally bound bythe same. 4. Fees. Employee and Employer agree that in the event of litigation relating to this General Release Agreement, the prevailing party shall not be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys' fees. Dated , 20_ [Signatures on Next Page] Harp Employment Agreement Page 16 of 17 CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH Dated 120_ By: Newport Beach Mayor Dated: 120_ Aaron C. Harp APPROVED AS TO FORM: By: Date: ATTEST: By: City Clerk Date: Harp Employment Agreement Page 17 of 17