City Attorney's Office
General Fund
Department Description
The mission of the City Attorney’s Office is to support the City Commission’s goals and objectives by providing quality legal counsel and representation. As mandated by the City Charter, services are provided to the City Commission, to the City Manager and City Administration staff, to other City Commission appointees, and to other City boards and bodies.
The City Attorney’s Office prosecutes ordinance violations, including those that impact the quality of life in our neighborhoods; reviews and prepares contracts and agreements, including those related to economic development and re-use of Brownfields; drafts ordinances and resolutions; represents the City in both state and federal courts and in administrative tribunals; and gives legal opinions and counsel on a wide variety of issues.
Core Services
The City Attorney’s office has established six distinct service areas encompassing the services it provides:
- General Counsel- provide legal advice to City Commission & City Administration; contract drafting/review
- Claims Management- settlement/denial of personal injury and property damage claims up to $25,000
- Ordinance Prosecution- district court pretrials & trials; ordinance review & drafting; respond to expungement requests
- Civil Litigation- represent City, its officers, officials and employees in both Michigan and Federal trial and appellate courts
- Administrative Advocacy- represent City in tax appeals, civil rights complaints, unemployment claims, etc.
- Freedom of Information Act Requests- designated by City Commission as FOIA Coordinator
Department Goals
Goal: Revising City Ordinance Code
Action Plan: Review codes, align with State law, reduce number of criminal violations, work with affected departments
Objectives: Cleaner, better organized, and less punitive ordinances
Metrics: Submit at least 9 ordinances to City Commission in 2022
Alignment with Strategic Vision: Good Governance
Goal: Freedom Of Information Act & Open Meetings
Action Plan: Create tutorial program and easily understood aids for City employees to reference
Objectives: Develop greater organizational understanding of legal obligations
Metrics: Meet FOIA deadlines 98% of time; 100% compliance with OMA
Alignment with Strategic Vision: Good Governance