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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9.1(a)--Consider Resolution approving new Assistant City Attorney position CITY OF REDDING REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL Recommendation Authorize the following relative to the City Attorney’s Office: (1) Approve the addition of a full time Assistant City Attorney; and (2) Adopt Resolution approving and adopting the 78th Amendment to City Budget Resolution No. 2021-078 appropriating $50,980 to the City Attorney’s Office for the addition of a full-time Assistant City Attorney. Fiscal Impact The salary and benefit cost for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2022-23 is estimated to be $50,980. For a full fiscal year, the cost of the new position is estimated to be $203,900 and the funding will be budgeted in the next budget cycle. It is estimated that having an additional attorney on staff will reduce the utilization of contract attorneys, providing an estimated $100,000 in savings, and will make the net cost of the new position approximately $103,900 per year. Alternative Action The City Council (Council) could choose to decline adoption of the resolution, and direct staff to continue to use contract attorneys. Background/Analysis For years, the City Attorney’s office was staffed by three full-time attorneys. In 2019, an Assistant City Attorney retired and City Attorney DeWalt chose not to fill that position in order to remain fiscally conservative. That decision has remained a low-cost option for the General Fund, but recently, workload has increased, the State and Federal regulatory climate has become more complicated, and additional claims and lawsuits have caused the City of Redding (City) to rely more on contract attorneys. Staff recommends that the Council consider increasing the City Attorney staffing to lower the City’s reliance on contract attorneys, diversify the knowledge base MEETING DATE: January 17, 2023 ITEM NO. 9.1(a) FROM: ***APPROVED BY*** btippin@cityofredding.org btippin@cityofredding.org SUBJECT: 9.1(a)--Consider adoption of Resolution approving a new Assistant City Attorney position within the City Attorney's Office. Barry Tippin, City Manager Report to Redding City Council January 11, 2023 Re: 9.1(a)--Consider Resolution approving new Assistant City Attorney position Page 2 of the City Attorney’s Office, potentially reduce the City Attorney’s budget over time, and improve the opportunity for succession planning, which is a key goal of the Council. Environmental Review This is not a project defined under the California Environmental Quality Act, and no further action is required. Council Priority/City Manager Goals • Budget and Financial Management – “Achieve balanced and stable 10-year Financial Plans for all funds.” • Government of the 21st Century – “Be relevant and proactive to the opportunities and challenges of today’s residents and workforce. Anticipate the future to make better decisions today.” Attachments ^Resolution RESOLUTION NO. 2023-___ A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF REDDING APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE 78TH AMENDMENT TO CITY BUDGET RESOLUTION NO. 2021-078 APPROPRIATING $50,980 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022-23 FOR A FULL-TIME ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY POSITION IN THE CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDDING THAT Budget Resolution No. 2021-078 be and is hereby amended as follows: FUND DIVISION DESCRIPTION INCREASE DECREASE 111 422 City Attorney $50,980 THAT account titles and numbers requiring adjustments by this Resolution are as follows: USE SOURCE OF FUNDS OF FUNDS Decrease (Increase) Beginning Balance 111-427-01-0001-01 Beginning Balance 50,980$ Increase(Decrease) Expenditures 111-422-0111-01 Full Time Regular 41,040$ 111-422-0171-01 Worker's Comp 290 111-422-0173-01 Group Insurance 5,070 111-422-0175-01 Retirement Program 3,990 111-422-0177-01 Medicare 590 Total 50,980$ 50,980$ PERSONNEL FY 2022-23 Assistant City Attorney 1 FTE THAT the purpose is to appropriate $50,980 for fiscal year 2022-23 for a full-time assistant City Attorney position in the City Attorney’s Office. I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing resolution was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Redding on the 17th day of January, 2023, and was duly adopted at said meeting by the following vote: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS: MICHAEL DACQUISTO, Mayor ATTEST: FORM APPROVAL: PAMELA MIZE, City Clerk BARRY E. DeWALT, City Attorney