10/12/2022
1 RiversideCA.gov
1 RiversideCA.gov
DEPARTMENT UPDATE AND
EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
City Attorney’s Office
City Council
October 25, 2022
RiversideCA.gov
2 Risk Management
Specialist (2)
Phaedra Norton
City Attorney
MISSION STATEMENT
The Riverside City Attorney’s Office is
dedicated to providing professional, ethical,
high-quality legal services to the City
Council, Boards and Commissions, and City
staff for the benefit of all. Working as a team
with individual strengths and collaborative
efforts, we strive to achieve our united goal
of serving our community and making the
City of Riverside a better place to live, work
and play.
1 2
10/12/2022
2 RiversideCA.gov
3 Risk Management
Specialist (2)
Phaedra Norton
City Attorney
VISION STATEMENT
Our vision is to be the
preeminent City Attorney’s
Office in the region with a
talented team committed
to public service and an
engaged office
environment.
RiversideCA.gov
4 Risk Management
Specialist (2)
Phaedra Norton
City Attorney
OUR VALUES: TACT & PRIDE
3 4
10/12/2022
3 RiversideCA.gov
5 DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office is comprised of three divisions:
• Litigation Division
Includes Civil Litigation, Workers Compensation
Defense, and Liability Tort Claims Processing
• Public Safety Division
Includes Public Safety Department Representation,
Measure Z and Community Livability Programs
• Municipal Services Division
Representation of all Departments except Public
Safety Departments
RiversideCA.gov
6 ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
Litigation
DCA (5)
Paralegal (2)
Workers Comp
DCA (1)
Paralegal (1)
Alissa Castillo
Risk Supervisor
Liability Claims
Risk Management
Specialist (2)
DCA (5)
Paralegal (1.25)
DCA (4)
Paralegal (1.25)
Legal Secretary (7)
Legal Support
Specialist (2)
Susan Wilson
Assistant City Attorney
Municipal Services Division
Rebecca McKee
Assistant City Attorney
Litigation Division
Aaron Chandler
Interim Assistant City Attorney
Public Safety Division
Hector Villegas
Administrative Services Mgr.
Vacant
Chief Assistant City Attorney
Phaedra Norton
City Attorney
Law Clerk (.5)
The CAO has 39 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions.
5 6
10/12/2022
4 RiversideCA.gov
7 Risk Management
Specialist (2)
Phaedra Norton
City Attorney
RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
$1.2 Million
Saved in Outside Counsel
Fees Compared to FY
2020/21 (38% Reduction)
90%
Of Lawsuits Received
During FY 2021/22
Handled In-House
20 Lawsuits Resolved for $0
Total Potential Exposure
$152,691,955.83
Completed
Officewide Strategic
Planning Seminar
$287,000
Cost Recovery
In Quality-of-Life
Program
2,779
No. of Requests for
Legal Services
Completed
92%
Of Tort Claims
Reported During FY
2021/22 Resolved
with Zero Payout
RiversideCA.gov
8 Risk Management
Specialist (2)
Phaedra Norton
City Attorney
DEPARTMENT SUCCESSES
Housing Element - Staff provided legal advice and prepared 12 ordinances and resolutions as well as environmental documents to ensure that the City acted to meet its state housing obligations by the State’s deadlines.
New Sidewalk Vendor Ordinance – After months-long legal research and drafting a new ordinance, it is now easier for people to sell food and other items on sidewalks in their city, while limiting how late they may operate and restricting operations near large community events.
Seirafi v. City – High exposure federal court case; the City successfully moved for summary judgment and dismissal of the lawsuit. 7 8
10/12/2022
5 RiversideCA.gov
9 Risk Management
Specialist (2)
Phaedra Norton
City Attorney
KEY STATISTICS
MUNICIPAL & PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES
63 Covenants
208
Formal Legal
Opinions
250
Ordinances and
Resolutions
1,127
Contracts
Prepared
$412,866.49
Recovery From Subrogation /
Collections / Breach of
Contract Cases
CLAIMS & LITIGATION SERVICES
493
Tort Claims
Processed
43 Lawsuits
Served
65 Open Litigation
Cases
89 Open Workers
Comp. Cases
10 Litigation Cases Scheduled
for Trial From Oct 2022
Through Jan 2023
ADVISORY SERVICES
17 City Departments
Advised
139
Volunteer Board and
Commission Meetings Attended
18 Boards, Commissions,
and Committees Advised
RiversideCA.gov
10 Risk Management
Specialist (2)
Phaedra Norton
City Attorney
GOALS FOR FY 2022/23
• Acquire the physical and technological resources
necessary to provide exceptional, effective,
efficient in-house legal services.
• Appropriately resource our office from a personnel
perspective.
• Succession Planning to ensure that we have an
engaged and cross-trained workforce.
• Strategic Planning Goal Setting - Formulate action
plan to serve our mission, realize our vision, and
accomplish our goals.
• Launch RFP to create a panel of outside counsel
service providers.
9 10
10/12/2022
6 RiversideCA.gov
11 FY 2021/22 City Attorney’s Office Annual Report
COMING SOON…
RiversideCA.gov
12 Risk Management
Specialist (2)
Phaedra Norton
City Attorney
MEET OUR NEWEST TEAM MEMBERS
CAO Employees Hired Since 2021
• Sean Murphy
• Cecilia Rojas
• Layla Sarwari
• Judith Gallardo
• Maggie Wilkerson
• Christina Perez-Cota
11 12
10/12/2022
7 RiversideCA.gov
13 Risk Management
Specialist (2)
EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION
• Tom Chisum
• Chris Houk
• Hector Villegas
• Aaron Chandler
• Debra Cook
• Michael Verska
• Alissa Castillo
• Brandon Mercer (15)
• Aaron Chandler (5)
• Chris Houk (5)
• Ruthann Salera (5)
• Anelle Snowball (5)
Celebrating Milestones
Reached in 2021
Employees Promoted
Since 2021
RiversideCA.gov
14 CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
2021 EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
Tiffany Burton
Legal Support Specialist
Tiffany is a stellar employee and is an essential part of the City Attorney’s Office. She takes initiative in her work and does a great job to make sure that our office is fully stocked with supplies, that our bills are paid on time, and that there is always someone available to help at the front desk. She is a team player who is always willing to lend a helping hand.
Her tremendous contribution to the office is recognized and appreciated. It is with great pride that we announce Tiffany Burton as the 2021 City Attorney’s Office Employee of the Year.
13 14
10/12/2022
8 RiversideCA.gov
15 CITY OF RIVERSIDE
RiversideCA.gov
16 CONCLUSION
Discussion, Questions,
& Answers
15 16