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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, 4 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.