Civil Legal Services

The Vendor is required to provide civil legal services to the city and fulfilling the role of city attorney.
- Responsible for carrying out the policies and ordinances of the city council and for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the city government.
- The city is organized into seven departments, including police, fire, public works, parks and recreation, community development, finance and administration, and has approximately 190 benefits eligible employees, plus additional temporary and seasonal staff.
- Services include:
• Advise mayor, council members, city administrator, department heads and other staff on city legal matters.
• Draft and review ordinances, resolutions, and correspondence, as requested.
• Review council and planning commission agendas, staff reports and minutes as requested. 
• Directly prepare select agenda items for city council meetings.
• Prepare and/or review municipal contracts, agreements, and/or leases concerning public improvements such as development agreements, joint powers of agreements, construction, telecommunication leases and purchase of equipment.
• Participate in meetings and discussions as requested to provide legal analysis, options, and risk assessment of specific subject matters.
• Respond to city staff’s day-to-day inquiries in a timely manner.
• Assist staff in processing licensing violations, administrative fines and suspensions, public nuisance abatements, including implementation of administrative review procedures.
• Represent the city in matters related to the enforcement of building and zoning codes and property maintenance standards.
• Provide advice on public employment matters. (Collective bargaining and labor relations advice provided by a separate firm.)
• Advice and assist staff as requested in the development of proposals, formal bid documents and construction or purchasing contracts.
• Research and submit legal opinions on municipal legal matters, as requested by city council or city administrator.
• Meet with the city council, city administrator, department heads and city staff, as needed, to review council agenda items, and the status of legal matters before the city.
• Provide legal briefings as requested to city council and staff regarding new or proposed legislation, matters impacting zoning or new court cases affecting municipal operations and activities.
• Upon request, provide written update on new state or federal legislation or judicial decisions impacting the city and suggested action or changes in operations or procedures to assure compliance.
• Provide advice on open meeting law, data practice, records retention, and conflict of interest and ethics issues.
• Provide city staff and consultant support with upcoming legal review and recodification of the city code.
• Provide advice on and represent the city in the acquisition of real property for public purposes (public improvements, easements, parks, etc.).
• Prepare and review the following: conditional use permits and documentation; vacation of rights-of-way; and other land use approval documents.
• Issue formal and informal advisory ethics opinions, and assist the city council and staff in matters related to ethics.
- Contract Period/Term: 5 years
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: July 14 – August 1, 2025