Professional Legal Services

The vendor is required to provide that professional legal services expertise in the area of general municipal law and prior experience in the following subject areas is desirable: drafting municipal resolutions and ordinances; responding to open records requests; ethics compliance; procurement, land use and zoning matters, and representing and advising the city, elected officials, and administrative boards.
- Such general legal representation includes, but is not limited to:
• Act as general legal counsel in all city-related matters as requested by the mayor, city council, city manager, and other authorized officers and employees of the city.
• All regular and special called meetings of the city council.
• Attend regular and special called meetings of other designated boards, commissions or committees as may be occasionally directed by the mayor, council, or city manager.
• Respond, within a reasonable timeframe, to inquiries from the city and third parties regarding city operations and actions.
• Legislative work associated with city council meetings, including preparation or review of ordinances and resolutions, and written policies and procedures, together with research work, as necessary, associated with the preparation of those documents. this activity shall include providing assessments of legal likelihoods in support of city risk analyses.
• Prepare oral or written opinions on legal matters as required by the mayor, city council and/or the city manager.
• Negotiate and prepare agreements, leases, contracts, or similar documents.
• Draft/review and approve as to form all contracts to which the city is a party.
• Ensure the city complies with federal and state law, city charter, local ordinances and city policies.
• The city attorney or a designated attorney from the city attorney’s office will represent the city in all litigation matters (litigation matters, meaning all actions filed in federal, superior court or state court against the city) and administrative tribunal matters, not covered by insurance, involving the city’s elected officials, officers, and personnel acting in the course of city business.
• Coordinate the work of third-party legal professionals, providing service on behalf of the city or in the interest of the city. oversee, in a cost-effective manner, litigation in which the city is represented by the city’s insurance carriers.
• Review and comment on contract form(s) between the city and independent contractors.
• The mayor, council, and/or by the city manager, perform investigations that may require interviewing witnesses, taking testimony, review of reports, and legal research.
• Provide legal counseling, guidance and opinions to the mayor, city manager, and department directors regarding the operations of the city; provided, however, except in the event of an emergency, all requests made by department directors for such legal counseling, guidance and opinions shall be channeled through the city manager.
• Participate in meetings and/or telephone conferences with the mayor and city manager and/or city staff as requested by the mayor or city manager.
• Provide staff assistance, legal research and counseling related to the acquisition or sale of real property, preparation of leases, deeds and easements; utility franchise agreements; referendum questions, contracts, surety/performance/payment bonds, insurance policies, bills of sale, liens, waivers, subordinations, and other legal instruments; liability situations; grant guidelines; arbitration; and other matters as necessary requiring legal advice.
• Maintain legal files and provide to the mayor and city manager copies of all correspondence, and all pleadings and orders in all litigation the city attorney is handling for the city.
• The mayor, city council and the city manager informed of legislation or judicial decisions that have the potential to impact the city.
• Perform other professional duties as may be required including, but not limited to, conducting legal research as required for the performance of duties representing the city. assist with other legal matters as may be requested by the mayor, city council or city manager.
• Participate in special projects as authorized by the mayor, city council, or city manager, including, but not limited to, the negotiation for sale of purchase of real estate, including fee ownership and easements and acquisition of interest in real estate through the exercise of eminent domain by the city. the city attorney or their designee shall oversee the city’s real estate, title and closing matters.
• Provides guidance and legal advice on the state open meetings act, the state open records act, rules of order, and city rules, policies and procedures.
- Contract Period/Term: 12 Month
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: February 05, 2025