To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Steve Potter, City Manager
Prepared By: Liz Habkirk, Assistant City Manager
TITLE:
Title
Appointment of Interim City Attorney
LABEL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt a resolution:
Recommendation
1. Authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Professional Services Agreement with Best, Best and Krieger LLP for legal services in the amount of up to $350,000; and
2. Appointing Christopher Diaz of Best, Best and Krieger as Interim City Attorney effective September 7, 2024.
Body
DISCUSSION:
Following the resignation of former City Attorney, Michael Barrett, on April 2, 2024, the City Council appointed Sabrina Wolfson, then Assistant City Attorney, as Interim City Attorney, effective May 1, 2024. In addition, the City Council designated an ad hoc advisory subcommittee consisting of Mayor Sedgley and Councilmember Luros (Subcommittee) to guide the City Manager and Human Resources Director during the City Attorney recruitment process.
In April 2024, the City Attorney's Office entered into a Legal Services Agreement with Best, Best and Krieger LLP (BBK), an experienced and full-service municipal law firm, to provide Interim Assistant City Attorney services. Since that time, BBK attorneys have been working closely with City staff and providing legal advice on a variety of issues.
On August 6, 2024, Interim City Attorney, Sabrina Wolfson, informed the Mayor and Councilmembers of her intention to resign, with her last day being September 6, 2024. City Charter Section 75 authorizes the City Council to appoint the City Attorney. The City Manager's Office has been working with the Subcommittee to identify outside counsel to serve as Interim City Attorney until the City Attorney recruitment is completed. Given that staff has been working with BBK over the past several months, the need and desire for continuity of legal services, and the short time frame for appointing an Interim City Attorney, the Ci...
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