City Attorney
Mission
Why We Exist
The City Attorney provides legal representation for the City and provides opinions and advice to City Council and staff on City legal matters regarding management decisions or affecting City policy Per the City Charter. The City Attorney is appointed by the City Council as chief legal advisor for the Council, the City Manager, and all City departments, offices and agencies, and shall represent the City in all legal proceedings (those not covered by the City’s insurance provider or outside counsel) and performs any other duties prescribed by this Charter or by City Code.
Key Functions
What We Do
- Drafts, reviews, and research City resolutions, ordinances, contracts and legal documents
- Renders legal opinions and advice
- Commences or defends lawsuits and other legal actions or proceedings involving the City
- Serves as general legal counsel represents the City in Court in civil litigation
- Coordinates discovery with City departments, develops litigation strategy, and analyzes settlement proposals
- Represents the City in employee grievances and all personnel matters Serves as chief legal counsel in all personnel and employment issues
- Represents the City in real estate transactions, drafts and reviews various real estate documents
- Advises and represents the City on land-use matters
- Provides legal advice and representation to the Durango Local Licensing Authority, Board of Ethics and Planning Commission
- Prosecutes Municipal Court cases
FY 2021 Strategic Accomplishments
Financial Excellence and Transparency (FET)
- Update Lodgers’ Tax
- Assist Human Resources with updates to Personnel Policy Manual
- Completed training for Boards and Commissions
- Amendments to the Code creating procedures regarding the receipt of complaints and other actions on violations related to municipal campaign finance matters
- Provide regularly scheduled 1:1 meetings with Community Development, Human Re-sources, Airport and City Manager
- Amendments to the Code creating procedures regarding the receipt of complaints and other actions on violations related to municipal campaign finance matters
- Various emergency COVID-19 orders including - face coverings, Utility Bill Forgiveness Program, Temporary Speed Limit Reduction on Main Avenue and the Outdoor Commerce Program (bump-outs) (AEO, ELS)
- Continued effort to make Code revisions to promote alignment of affordable housing ini-tiatives, including updates to the International Codes
- Fair Share Ordinance review
- Negotiate and assist with the purchase contract for Best Western Hotel Inn and Suites
- Work on homeless initiatives with La Plata County
- Assist in review of Police Core Program contract with Axis Mental Health Care
- Durango Mesa Property acquisition
- Creation of Inter-Governmental Agreement with La Plata County and Durango Fire Pro-tection District for the Wildfire Mitigation and Water Shed Protection Fund
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)
- Work with the Community Relations Commission on revising establishing resolution to carry out their work plan
Environmental and Social Sustainability (ESS)
- Review of Sustainability Performance Energy Contracts, LPEA Agreement and amend-ments to the City’s Land Use and Development Code to include electric vehicle parking
Ensure Effective Infrastructure Network (EEIN)
- McCormick and Hargraves property acquisition parcel for the construction of the 32nd Street underpass for the Animas River Trail connection (EEIN, ELSP)
- Transaction for the Webb property donation for the purposes of extending the SMART 160 Trail through Grandview (EEIN, ELSP)
- Assist with filing of diligence and final decree on the recent Durango Boating Park Rec-reational In-Channel Diversion (RICD) water rights
FY 2021-2022 Our Strategic Initiatives
- Continued effort to make Code revisions to promote alignment of affordable housing initiatives
- Fair Share Ordinance review
- MOU with La Plata County regarding homeless location
Key Performance Indicators
How We Measure Success