Lodi City Council appoints John Leber Burke as interim city attorney, approves $385 hourly agreement

The Lodi City Council on April 1 appointed John Leber Burke as interim city attorney and approved a legal services agreement that sets his hourly rate at $385.

According to the city attorney's report, council members interviewed candidates during a special meeting and directed staff to finalize terms for the interim appointment. "We were then directed to negotiate final agreement terms and that item is before you tonight in the legal services agreement," the city attorney told the council. The agreement gives Burke the authorities typical of the city attorney position and makes him the interim lead while a permanent recruitment proceeds.

There was no public comment before the council voted to approve the resolution and the corresponding legal-services contract. The city attorney said the agreement will have Burke reporting directly to the council and performing the normal duties of the city attorney during the recruitment process.

The agenda referenced the legal services agreement with the law firm named in the staff report. The rate in the contract was stated on the record as $385 per hour.

The council completed the vote at the April 1 meeting; staff and council did not provide a recorded roll-call tally in the meeting transcript included with the agenda. The appointment takes effect following the outgoing city attorney's last day, and the appointment will remain in place while the city conducts a search for a permanent hire.