City Attorney's Office

The City Attorney’s Office provides legal advice and guidance to the City Council and City staff. The City Attorney’s Office assists the City Council and City staff in carrying out policies adopted by the City and helps to ensure that all actions of the City comply with Federal and State laws as well as the City Charter, City ordinances and City policies.

• Provide responses to legal questions raised by City Council and City staff
• Draft, review, and revise City ordinances upon request of City Council and City staff
• Assist City law enforcement officers and code enforcement staff with the interpretation of City ordinances, and prosecute code violations and Class C Misdemeanor cases in Municipal Court
• Attend City Council, Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment, and Historic Review Board meetings, to provide legal advice and to ensure compliance with the City Charter, ordinances and policies
• Review contracts, real estate conveyances, and other legal documents related to City business
• Provide legal advice and written legal opinions to City Council on policy issues
• Ensure that the City remains compliant with the Texas Open Meetings Act, the Texas Public Information Act, and other applicable State laws

• Be accessible to City Council and City staff to resolve legal issues
• Be proactive in identifying any problems with City ordinances and policies
• Provide guidance and training to City Council and City staff, on best practices to comply with Federal, State, and local laws and regulations
• Complete continuing legal education on an annual basis to remain current on applicable Federal and State laws and regulations

• Drafted new ordinances as requested by the City Council, including ordinances related to short term rental zoning and regulatory changes, multiple voluntary annexations for development projects, amending the City’s water conservation program, revising the City’s records management program, amending the City’s outdoor burning restrictions, and several zoning changes in the City
• Reviewed and released approximately 50 open records requests, including submission of written briefs to the Office of the Attorney General when warranted

• Continuing legal education annually to remain informed about municipal law trends and recent legislative updates
• Draft new ordinances, or make revisions to current ordinances, as requested by the City Council