Municipal Law 

The Firm's municipal practice includes extensive practical experience with the daily operations of municipal government such as drafting city ordinances and resolutions, preparing and/or reviewing professional services agreements, negotiating municipal facility leases, monitoring the preparation of federal block grant applications by city staff,  approving staff reports and agendas as to form, providing advice on public works issues, advising and assisting in code enforcement matters, and providing representation on police and fire department issues.  The Firm's municipal practice also includes providing accurate and timely advice and responses to the public, planning commission and city council at public meetings and hearings on matters including, but not limited to, the Political Reform Act, the Ralph M. Brown Act, the Permit Streamlining Act, the Subdivision Map Act, and the California Environmental Quality Act.  With respect to specialized municipal projects, the Firm's municipal attorneys have a broad range of experience which includes preparing a newly incorporated city's first municipal code, monitoring the legislative process surrounding the adoption of a city's first general plan, negotiating and drafting statutory development agreements, directing the administrative and legislative review process for proposed annexations and special assessment districts, and appearing and/or testifying on behalf of its clients before the State Legislature, County Boards of Supervisors, the California Coastal Commission and other regulatory agency boards and/or commissions. 

 The Firm's municipal practice is supported by the experience of attorneys who presently serve, or have recently served, as the City Attorney for the Cities of Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Desert Hot Springs and Coachella.  These individuals possess a wide range of experience in municipal law matters and are supported by a staff of well-qualified attorneys and paralegals.  The Firm prides itself on the breadth and scope of the services which it can provide as City Attorney.  As is discussed in later sections, the Firm possesses substantial expertise and experience in providing services to municipalities in redevelopment, public finance, litigation matters, solid waste, environmental matters, condemnation, code enforcement, employment matters and various other areas. The ability to provide services in a  wide array of the matters which cities encounter in the ordinary course of their functions is important to the Firm's clients, inasmuch as it centralizes accountability, results in a reduction in legal costs and reduces delay. 

The Firm has been successful in developing code enforcement programs and procedures which, over the long term, have resulted in the reduction of unsightly and blighting conditions in a cost effective manner. 

The Firm prides itself on working with its city clients to fashion a system which provides the level of service which each client desires and creating an effective way for the elected officials and city staff to interact with the city attorney's office.  Its experience over the years of representing numerous public bodies has demonstrated that no one method of providing legal services can be adapted to all clients.  The Firm works with its clients to identify areas which each client considers to be of particular focus or concern, and develops ways in which those areas can be best addressed, consistent with providing the necessary level of service in other areas and with the city's budgetary directions.