ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: March 25, 2026 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent - Ordinances TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Virginia Gennaro, City Attorney
DATE: March 12, 2026
SUBJECT: Adoption of an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Bakersfield Adding Chapter
2.06, and Subsections to Title 2 of the Bakersfield Municipal Code to Create a New City Council Appointed Position Entitled Chief Assistant City Attorney. FR: 3/11/2026
First Reading of the attached Ordinance was approved on March 5, 2026.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance.
BACKGROUND:
The current City Attorney is expected to retire at the end of 2026 or soon thereafter. The City Council desires to begin recruitment immediately and use whatever remaining time the City Attorney has to be a mentor to the prospective new city attorney. As such, it is Council’s desire to create a new City Council position called Chief Assistant City Attorney. Based on the Charter, this must be done by ordinance. The ordinance creates the contract position and outlines the intent of the Council and contains a sunset provision.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The City Manager and Finance Director will address the how this proposed position will be paid and the compensation in ongoing budget updates as well as next Fiscal Year 2026-27.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Innovative and Efficient City Government
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 2.06_Ordinance re Chief Assist. CityAttorney2.60.Final