Switzer, Donna
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Friday, June 2, 2023 2:28 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: NO to parts of Agenda Item 23/24 Proposed Budget From: Paula Schaefer <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, June 2, 2023 2:04 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL < [email protected]>
Subject: NO to parts of Agenda Item 23/24 Proposed Budget Dear City Council Members:
I urge you to vote NO to increasing the number of additional employees to supplement the City Attorney's office.
It is not cost-efficient to hire three (3) full-time attorneys at a cost of $590,000 annually. For that significant annual commitment of funds, I believe that the City would be able to procure outside counsel legal services with the requisite expertise.
I believe this is true based upon the following factors:
1) the unpredictable path that litigation has may lead to an excessive amount of unused staff time 2) the need for specific expertise that may be necessary in any individual case that may result in the City hiring outside counsel to supplement where the City Attorney's office does not have the expertise, thus resulting in duplication of payment
3) my own experience working in City Government with two other OC cities that had a combination of city attorney employees appropriately supplemented by outside counsel.
Again, I urge you to vote NO to supplement the City Attorney's office with 3 new employees.
Paula Schaefer
SUPPLEMENTAL
COMMUNICATION
Mesting Date:.. 6/6/23
Agenda Item No. 24(23-481)
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