City Attorney Services

The Vendor is required to provide the city attorney serves as the chief legal officer for the city.
- This position provides high-level legal advice, representation, and counsel to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, department heads, boards, commissions, and other city officials and employees in their official capacities.
- The City Attorney ensures all municipal actions comply with federal, state, and local laws, the City Charter, ordinances, and policies while protecting the City's interests and promoting transparent, ethical governance.
- This is a highly responsible executive and professional position requiring sound judgment, expertise in municipal law, and the ability to navigate complex legal and policy issues in a growing small-city environment.
- Essential Duties and Responsibilities
• Legal advice and opinions: provide timely oral and written legal opinions on matters affecting the city, including interpretation of the city charter, ordinances, state and federal laws, contracts, and policies. Advise on governance, ethics, procurement, personnel, land use, economic development (e.g., data centers, water agreements, bonds, and easements), grants, and compliance issues.
• Representation and litigation: represent the city in civil litigation, administrative proceedings, and other legal matters (or coordinate with special counsel as needed). Defend the city and its officials/employees in suits arising from official duties. Prosecute or handle code enforcement, eminent domain, and other proceedings as authorized.
• Document review and preparation: draft, review, and approve as to form and legality all ordinances, resolutions, contracts, agreements, deeds, leases, RFPS/RFQS, policies, and other legal instruments. Ensure compliance with procurement laws, open meetings act, open records act, and other state requirements.
• Meetings and boards: attend city council meetings, work sessions, and meetings of boards/commissions (e.g., planning commission, housing authority) as required or requested. Provide legal guidance during deliberations.
• Risk management and compliance: identify and mitigate legal risks. Advice on ethics, conflicts of interest, and personnel matters, investigations, and policy modernization (e.g., procurement, pensions). Support external investigations and compliance with state/federal grants and regulations.
• Contract negotiation: negotiate and prepare contracts, intergovernmental agreements (IGAS), economic development incentives, and real estate transactions.
• Supervision and administration: oversee budget for legal services and coordinate with outside counsel when appropriate.
• Other duties: perform additional duties as assigned by the city council or city manager, including research, training for staff/officials, and responses to public records requests (in coordination with departments).