The City Attorney as outlined in §26 of the City Charter is appointed by the council, the scope of whose duties and whose compensation shall be fixed by the council and who shall serve at the pleasure of the council. As a member of the City’s management team, the City Attorney serves as chief legal counsel for the City government and is independently responsible for providing legal advice and guidance to the City Council, the City Manager, and City departments. The position encounters a wide diversity of work situations involving a high degree of complexity due to various legal issues, which may include land use planning and engineering, employment and labor law, Social Services administrative and litigation matters, construction of public infrastructure, purchasing and procurement, purchase and sale of property, and code development, administration and compliance. The City Attorney is responsible for the preparation of ordinances, regulations, contracts and other legal documents, ensuring compliance with local, state and federal law. They resolve legal questions which arise during the development and implementation of City projects and programs, and provide legal opinions and advice as requested. Reliance on outside counsel is limited to those instances where specialized expertise is needed or it is more efficient or cost-effective to outsource. In those instances where the City contracts with outside counsel for special legal services, the City Attorney manages and coordinates these services. Decisions are made within a broad interpretation of applicable laws and governmental guidelines. The City Attorney has a high level of visibility and interaction with elected officials, the City Manager, and other City leaders.
