1997-0204_WOODRUFF, SPRADLIN & SMART_Staff Memo MEMORANDUM: February 4, 1997
TO: Department Heads
FROM: George Scarborough, City Manager
SUBJECT: Selection of Interim City Attorney Firm
The City Council has selected the firm of Woodruff, Spradlin and Smart to provide interim City
Attorney services. A panel of three attorneys will be working to represent us: Mr. John Cavanaugh,
who currently serves as contract City Attorney for Cypress; Ms. Lois Jeffrey, who currently serves
as contract City Attorney for Laguna Hills and Tustin, and Mr. John Shaw, who currently serves as
contract City Attorney for Garden Grove. Many of you will remember John Shaw, who served as
our in-house City Attorney from 1954 to 1991. Woodruff, Spradlin and Smart were selected based
upon the qualifications and expertise of this attorney panel in areas pertinent to issues we are or may
be facing. The media release which was prepared to announce the firm's selection is attached and
provides additional information.
It is expected that John Shaw will be taking the lead for the panel. He will be attending City Council
meetings and we will be establishing in-house consultation hours when he will be available to meet
with City staff on legal issues. We do not yet know the schedule. John Cavanaugh will be taking the
lead to work on land use issues, and he will be attending the meetings of the Planning Commission.
The attorney panel anticipates they will be able to provide services to us an average of 20 hours per
week, which is less than we enjoyed with an in-house attorney. We are working out the details of
a contract, but we do anticipate that they will be on board with us by the end of this week.
At present, if you have items which will need legal review, continue to submit them to Jennifer
Murray on a City Attorney transmittal form. She and Connie Day will be coordinating review of
items with the attorney panel. This will be a time of adjustment for all of us so your patience, pre-
planning and good humor will be appreciated.
GS:JM
PRESSRELEASE
0 0 0 O hE
For Immediate Release
Date: February 3, 1997
Contact: George Scarborough, City Manager
Phone: 714-493-1171
Fax+ 714-493-1053
Firm of Woodruff, Spradlin and Smart
to Provide Interim City Attorney Services
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA-- The City Council has selected the firm of Woodruff,
Spradlin and Smart to provide legal services on an interim basis. The decision follows
the acceptance of the resignation of incumbent City Attorney Richard Denhalter, who
has accepted employment with the County of San Diego as Chief Deputy County
Counsel.
A panel of three attorneys from Woodruff, Spradlin and Smart will provide
interim legal services commencing this week, to provide for a smooth transition. The
three attorneys are Mr. John Shaw, currently contract City Attorney for the City of
Garden Grove; Mr. John Cavanaugh, currently contract City Attorney for the City of
Cypress; and Ms. Lois Jeffrey, currently contract City Attorney for the Cities of Laguna
Hills and Tustin. Mr. Shaw previously served the City of San Juan Capistrano as full-
time City Attorney from 1984 to 1991, when he joined the firm of Woodruff, Spradlin
and Smart. All three attorneys bring legal expertise in areas pertinent to issues facing the
City of San Juan Capistrano. This includes experience in special district merger issues,
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land use issues, water and environmental issues, public safety, Community
Redevelopment Agency law, housing law, and employment and labor relations.
Woodruff, Spradlin and Smart was organized in Orange County in 1976. The
firm includes eighteen attorneys in two equally staffed departments of public law and
litigation. The firm is proud of its reputation to provide competent, cost effective legal
services.
It is expected that the attorney panel will provide approximately 20 hours of legal
assistance each week to the City of San Juan Capistrano, The services will be billed at
a rate of $150 per hour. The City anticipates maintaining interim legal services for a
period of approximately 120 days. City staff have been directed to analyze whether the
City of San Juan Capistrano should continue to maintain a full-time, in-house City
Attorney or transition to a contract City Attorney position. It is estimated this analysis
will take place within this 120 day period.