(25) County Counsel

The Office of County Counsel provides a broad range of high quality, cost-effective legal services designed to promote the public service objectives of the County of San Benito, and each of its departments and agencies, in compliance with all applicable legal requirements, while at the same time protecting the County from risk and loss.

• Continued to handle all County legal matters efficiently and professionally
• Advised County regarding Covid-19 issues
• Successfully represented the County in various litigation matters during FY 20-21
• Legal work to secure 99-year lease with the San Benito High School District for Regional Park
• Successfully negotiated Third Amendment to JSRL Operating Agreement
• Facilitated CEQA compliance for JSRL slope modification to increase capacity of existing landfill for CalRecycle permit amendment
• Facilitated preparation of JSRL Expansion EIR
• Legal work associated with new public defender contracts
• Conducted staff training with Clerk of the Board on contracts, ordinances and resolutions
• Conducted training for CASA volunteers
• Participated in DRC litigation settlement negotiations and implementation of settlement agreement.
• Successfully resolved multiple Code Enforcement matters
• Work related to purchasing Mechanics Bank note for 21.1-acre property located on Cienega Road and for potential addition to Regional Park land.
• Increased reporting on pending litigation matters
• Reduced use of outside counsel
• Continued to work on reducing potential legal risks to the County

• The main concern is the level of staffing provided to the office. There is a need both for additional clerical and attorney staffing. The office is not staffed to the level staffed in comparable counties. This reduces the Department’s ability to work on matters that would be beneficial to the County, but which are not immediately urgent.

• Continue to provide prompt high quality legal advice
• Increase Department’s involvement in workers’ compensation and long-term employee leave issues
• Complete revisions to the County’s Code Enforcement Ordinance
• Finalize implementation of office tracking to monitor all assignments within the Department