City attorney's office to add attorney amid state law change; council approves reclassification
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Council approved a restructuring of the city attorney’s office to add a full‑time attorney after state law changes required civilian positions in the office to be filled by licensed attorneys or support staff. The change kept total FTEs constant by reallocating existing budgeted positions.
The council approved a reorganization of the City Attorney’s Office that replaces a civilian position with a licensed attorney and restructures staff roles for succession planning. The request came after a change in state law this year required positions in the office to be filled in a manner consistent with licensure and support requirements.
City Attorney’s Office staff explained that the new structure maintains the existing authorized 5.62 full‑time equivalent positions but adjusts the mix to include three full‑time attorneys, with Senior Counsel Barry A. Lindahl continuing in a part‑time senior counsel role, plus two administrative support professionals. The change flows from the elimination of a civilian position that, under the new state law, could not remain as previously configured.
Councilmember Farber asked staff for more information about office depth and succession planning; staff confirmed the change was implemented within existing budget dollars and that the office had been requesting an additional attorney in prior budget cycles. The council voted 7‑0 to receive and file and approve the restructuring (motion by Farber, second by Resnick).