Resident questions city attorney’s eligibility; councilmember defends city attorney Ruben Duran

Michael Rios, a resident who spoke during the public-comment period, said records show the city attorney was not eligible to practice law in California on July 15 and asked the council for an explanation of why the city attorney represented the city while allegedly ineligible. "On July 15, it's recorded that the city attorney was not eligible to practice law in the state of California," Rios said, and asked for "a response of some sort as to why he was able to represent himself as the city attorney when he was not eligible to practice law."

Mayor Leon invited the city manager to facilitate a private follow-up; the city manager said the city attorney would respond and staff would arrange a conversation outside the meeting.

Later in the meeting, Council Member Watner said he had "full faith and confidence in our city attorney, mister Ruben Duran." The council did not take formal action on the matter during the meeting, and the city attorney provided a closed-session report earlier that the council had met in closed session, received staff briefing and provided direction, but there was "no reportable action this evening," according to the city attorney.

The matter remained unresolved on the public record at the end of the meeting; city staff offered to follow up with the speaker and the city attorney. The council did not announce a timetable for any public response or records release related to the allegation.