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Ojai council selects Alshire & Winder as city attorney and authorizes continuity with prior firm
Summary
The council appointed Alshire and Winder LLP as Ojai’s new city attorney under a five-year contract and approved an amendment allowing the prior firm to continue select trailing matters for continuity; the council directed staff to return with a list of matters and related recommendations.
The Ojai City Council voted Dec. 2 to appoint Alshire and Winder LLP as the city’s legal counsel under a proposed five-year agreement and approved an amendment allowing the prior city attorney firm to remain engaged on selected matters to support continuity.
City Manager Harvey told the council the choice followed an RFQ process that began in May and concluded with interviews; Bethany Burgess, a partner at Alshire and Winder, and two colleagues introduced the firm’s municipal experience and local presence. Burgess said the firm has “over 65 attorneys and seven offices, six of which are in Southern California,” and pledged a collaborative approach with city staff.
Councillors asked whether the outgoing city attorney had reviewed the new contract. Harvey said the current city attorney’s office reviewed the agreement, requested minor revisions that Alshire and Winder accepted, and staff believes the terms are consistent with the firm’s proposal. Counsel said invoices and billing practices will be tracked and that budget adjustments could be brought during the midyear update in February 2026 if needed.
Councilmember Whitman moved to approve the contract and appoint the firm; the motion passed on a roll-call vote with all members present voting yes.
At a separate, related item the council considered a fifth amendment to the prior firm’s contract to allow limited continuity on matters that may be appropriate to remain with the prior attorney. Staff described this as a standard municipal practice that preserves institutional memory and supports a smooth transition. Burgess said the prior firm would be available to assist on select pending litigation and contractual matters as needed.
Council directed staff to return with a list of specific matters proposed to remain with the prior firm for council review. The amendment carried on a roll-call vote with one abstention noted.
Council members said they welcomed the new counsel and thanked the outgoing attorneys for their service. The council’s approval authorizes staff to execute the new agreement with Alshire and Winder and to implement the continuity amendment consistent with the direction to provide a follow-up list to the council.
