City Attorney

Manages and directs the City of Caldwell City Attorney's Office. Provides expert legal counsel, services, and strategic advice to the Mayor, City Council, Appointed Officials, city departments, various boards, and commissions on a myriad of issues, including contract review, real estate transactions, land use planning, and risk management. Oversees all legal matters affecting the city, represents the city in legal proceedings, and provides proactive legal solutions to minimize risk and protect the city's interests. Conducts long-term planning in support of the city strategic plan. Establishes and ensures department goals and objectives are accomplished. Proactively educates and provides information on impending legal and legislative changes; ensures compliance with state and federal laws, creating or modifying city ordinances as necessary. As an Appointed Official under general direction from the Mayor and City Council, work is performed within policies and administrative regulations with wide latitude for exercise of independent judgment.

Advises the Mayor, City Council, Boards and Commissions, city departments, and city staff in all legal matters that pertain to their role within the City. Provides a wide range of legal advice and counsel on a wide range of municipal issues, including governance, contracts, land use, public safety, labor laws, and personnel matters in accordance with federal, state, and city code. Attends and represents the city's legal interests at all City Council meetings and workshops; Identifies potential legal risks and develop strategies to mitigate or eliminate exposure to legal liability. 

Provides a range of services routinely in the following areas of municipal law: Public Records Act; conflicts of interest; collections law; election laws; contracts; real estate law and property transactions; land use and environmental law, including land leasing, cell towers, and naming rights; Public Works contracting and capital projects; American with Disabilities Act (ADA); Labor negotiations; Code Enforcement; Tort liability and risk management; fees, taxes, and assessments; water rights; ordinances and resolutions; State of Emergency declarations and powers; municipal financing, bonding, enterprise funds, etc.; continually updates city ordinances, policies, and procedures.

Represents, advises, and closes agreements with respect to the acquisition and disposition of city real property, including drafting and negotiating leases, agreements, easements, annexations, maintenance, and operations agreements and on any other city real property. Provides advice and representation on all aspects of construction law, including bidding, tendering, negotiating, drafting contracts, contract disputes, lien matters, and administrative hearings before the occupational licensing board.

Plans, organizes, evaluates, and represents the city in complex litigation and administrative hearings held by local, state, and federal agencies, and defends the city in suits brought before it. Analyzes existing and new cases, legislation, legal briefs, court rulings, and legal publications affecting the city. Develops litigation strategies and alternatives, prepares briefs, drafts pleadings, motions, and arguments, and conducts discovery and depositions. Recommend, manage, and monitor the performance of selected outside independent counsel that is responsible for providing litigation or other special services contracted on behalf of the city.

Takes part in strategic planning and works closely with the city’s elected leadership in setting and carrying out the city’s vision, mission, goals, and objectives. Models behavior that supports city values. Researches, evaluates, and approves recommendations regarding department programs. Demonstrates continuous efforts to improve operations and provide quality, seamless service to the public. Ensures the department and employees are meeting established goals and objectives.

Provides a wide range of legal-related advice, support, and information to the Mayor, City Council, city departments, various boards and commissions in accordance with federal, state, and city code legislation. Negotiates and resolves sensitive, significant, controversial, and complex legal matters. Renders advice and opinions. Ensures city compliance with legal and ethical requirements of city employment. Drafts, reviews, and interprets opinions, resolutions, ordinances, contracts, and other legal documents and instruments. Drafts and reviews recommended changes to proposed legislation.

Serves as spokesperson to the media on controversial cases and other legal-related areas of interest. Directs the development and implementation of initiatives, policies, and programs to strengthen community partnerships, public awareness and support for department programs and policies. Maintains good public relations through courteous and prompt attention to questions, conflicts, and complaints regarding department actions, policies or procedures. Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with the Mayor, City Council, Appointed Officials, general public, local businesses, inter-governmental agencies, news media, elected officials, city departments and employees. Represents the city on various committees.

Oversees preparation of the department budget. Administers, directs, and participates in the development of the department operating and capital projects budget. Analyzes budget data to identify and project resource needs. Monitors and approves budget expenditures, including the procurement of need resources. Presents the annual operating budget for approval by Mayor and City Council.

Ensures compliance with Idaho's public records and open meeting laws. Responds to public records requests and provides guidance on the legal requirements for transparency in government operations. Provides legal counsel on employment matters, collective bargaining, disciplinary actions, and employee relations, ensuring compliance with state and federal labor laws.

Manages the legal department staff, includes hiring, performance evaluations, assigning of significant duties, rewarding and disciplining department employees; exercises independent judgment to direct others work and have the authority to take corrective action; and, fosters a collaborative and professional work environment that ensures high-quality legal services.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Education, Training, and/or Experience Required:

• Must have a Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school.
• Member of the Idaho State Bar or a state bar with reciprocity in Idaho and currently licensed to practice law in the State of Idaho.
• Seven years experience in the practice of civil law, civil litigation defense, and five years experience managing both professional and support staff positions.

• Must successfully pass a pre-employment drug test, credit check, and background check.

Advanced knowledge of court administration; current principles and applications of civil and administrative law that impact municipal corporation legal activities; state and federal court procedures and rules of evidence; interview techniques, methods, and strategies used for case preparation; pleadings and effective practices and techniques in the presentation of court cases; principles, methods, and techniques of legal research and investigation; principles and practices of legal communication methods; management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, and leadership techniques; the principles and practices of effective supervision and performance management techniques.

Ability to define and analyze complex legal issues and problems; research and organize facts; evaluate alternatives and develop sound conclusions and recommendations; present statements of fact, law, and argument clearly, logically, and persuasively; exercise sound, independent judgment within general policy guidelines and legal parameters under pressure; interpret and explain state and federal law, regulations, legislation and constitutional provisions; develop sound litigation strategy and represent the city effectively in hearings, courts of law, and meetings; use a high degree of tact, discretion, and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive situations and concerned or upset individuals; determine long range needs for development of the department; display an attitude of cooperation and work harmoniously with all levels of city employees, the general public, and other organizations; complete assignments in a timely fashion; understand and comply with all rules, policies, and regulations; maintain prompt and regular attendance; perform all essential and marginal functions as assigned by an authorized employee, supervisor, and/or manager with or without reasonable accommodation.

Individuals must be capable of operating vehicles safely and have an acceptable driving record.

Physical Demands: