City of Sacramento
Personnel and Public Employees Committee Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2025-01081 7/22/2025
Annual Report and Performance Evaluation for City Council Appointive Officer - City Attorney File ID: 2025-01081
Location: Citywide
Recommendation: Receive annual report and pass a Motion forwarding to the City Council for review.
Contact: Susana Alcala Wood, City Attorney, (916) 808-5346, [email protected], Office of the City Attorney
Presenter: Susana Alcala Wood, City Attorney, (916) 808-5346, [email protected], Office of the City Attorney
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-City Attorney’s Office 2024-2025 Annual Report
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: The mayor and city council are committed to performing regular annual reviews of its appointive officers.
The annual report and appointed officer evaluation process is intended to move forward to the city council. As appropriate, the city council will meet in closed session, per Government Code section 54957(b), to provide feedback on past accomplishments and to give direction on the workplan for the upcoming year.
Overview
City of Sacramento Charter § 72 City Attorney
The city council shall appoint a city attorney and shall prescribe the qualifications, duties and compensation of such officer. The city attorney shall serve as legal counsel to the city government and all officers, departments, boards, commissions and agencies thereof and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by state law and by ordinance or resolution of the city council. In situations where the city attorney determines there is a conflict in representation by that office, the city council may authorize the retention or other
File ID: 2025-01081 7/22/2025
legal counsel to represent one of the conflicting parties. The city attorney shall appoint all other members of the city attorney’s office.
The City Attorney serves as legal counsel to the City Council, City Officers and Department staff, boards, and commissions as well as the Administration, Investment and Fiscal Management Board, Sacramento City Financing Authority, and Sacramento Regional Arts Facilities Financing Authority.
The Office provides legal representation in criminal, civil and administrative litigation, renders advice and counsel, and prepares ordinances, resolutions, contracts, opinions, and other legal documents for the City and its related entities. The City Attorney’s Office is organized into four operational divisions and an administration division.
· Administration: Develops and implements office policies and procedures; monitors overall office performance; prepares and administers the office budget; develops and implements education and training; handles all personnel hiring, evaluation, and other personnel matters; assembles and analyzes office productivity data, including the production of an annual report; and engages in long-range planning.
· General Counsel & Advisory Division: Provides advisory and transactional advice and support to charter offices and city departments on all aspects of municipal law including: Brown Act; Public Records Act; CEQA and NEPA; water law; propositions 26 and 218; public bidding, construction and procurement; contract negotiation, drafting and review; prevailing wages; transportation modes; real estate procurement, conveyance and leasing; solid waste disposal; landfill regulation; and various other areas of municipal law. · Litigation Division: Defends and prosecutes civil litigation cases on behalf of the City and its officers and employees acting in the course and scope of employment; and provides legal support to Risk Management.
· Community Advocacy & Public Safety Division: Works collaboratively with City departments on code enforcement, social nuisance abatement, public safety issues, including prosecuting code violations through administrative, civil, or criminal proceedings, and social nuisances through civil litigation and training, and advising staff on enforcement matters. · Strategic Projects & Research Division: Provides strategic support to the City Council’s policymaking function by providing legal advice and response on multi-departmental projects and Council initiatives, including issues of homelessness, economic development, cannabis regulations, and emergency management.
Policy Considerations: Council Rules of Procedure, Chapter 18.
Economic Impacts: Not applicable.
File ID: 2025-01081 7/22/2025
Environmental Considerations: Not applicable.
Sustainability: Not applicable.
Commission/Committee Action: Not applicable.
Rationale for Recommendation: Clear communication and performance metrics are at the core of the work of the council and the city. To evaluate council appointive officers on a consistent basis, the Personnel and Public Employee (P&PE) Committee has the role and responsibility of developing and leading annual performance metrics and evaluations.
Financial Considerations: Not applicable.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
CITY OF SACRAMENTO
ANNUAL REPORT
2024-2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS
City Attorney’s Message .........................................................................1 City Attorney’s Office Administration Team ..........................................2 Office Overview Operations and Objectives .......................................3 Department Efficiencies ...................................................................4 Service-Delivery Priorities Achieved in 2024.....................................4 Legislation Highlights ........................................................................5 Notable Ordinances ...........................................................................5 Litigation Division ..................................................................................7 Notable Achievements ...................................................................... 7 Strategic Projects and Research .......................................................... 11 Notable Achievements ..................................................................... 11 General Counsel and Advisory ..............................................................13 Notable Achievements .....................................................................13 Community Advocacy & Public Safety Division (“CAPS”) ....................15 Notable Achievements .....................................................................18 Office Programs ................................................................................... 21 CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
ORGANIZATION CHART
COMMUNITY
ADVOCACY & PUBLIC
SAFETY DIVISION
Division Chief
Michael Benner
DEPUTY
CITY ATTORNEYS
Emilio Camacho
Jordan Lowery
Andre Martin
Maxwell Nelson
Beau Parkhurst
Tamara Sowles
Kara Weatherby
LITIGATION
DIVISION
Division Chief
Andrea Velasquez
DEPUTY
CITY ATTORNEYS
Kate Brosseau
Sean Danmolé
David Gibson
Gökalp Gürer
Elizabeth Hawkins
David Kim
Sean Richmond
Scott Thorne
Katherine Underwood
PARALEGALS
Ana Duran
Kirk Guthrie
Matthew Hartman
PARALEGALS
Gail Hunnicutt
PARALEGALS
Cleo Morris
PARALEGAL/
TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT
Cindy Head
ASSISTANT
CITY ATTORNEY
Brett Witter
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO
THE CITY ATTORNEY
Jenny Manzer Beck
LAW OFFICE
ADMINISTRATOR
Jamie Gifford
CHIEF ASSISTANT
CITY ATTORNEY
Gustavo Martinez
CITY ATTORNEY
Susana Alcala Wood
ASSISTANT
CITY ATTORNEY
Matthew Ruyak
STRATEGIC PROJECTS
& RESEARCH DIVISION
Division Chief
Steve Itagaki
DEPUTY
CITY ATTORNEYS
Audreyell Anderson-White
Maila Hansen
Arvinder Kaur
Gary Lindsey
Jeffrey Massey
Ryan Meyerhoff
Angel Solis
GENERAL COUNSEL
& ADVISORY DIVISION
Division Chief
Kourtney C. Burdick
DEPUTY
CITY ATTORNEYS
Michael Fry
Paul Gale
Harveen Gill
Jennifer Gore
Kathleen Rogan
Michael Sparks
Michael Voss
Leslie Walker
LEGAL
SECRETARIES
Phyllis Zakrajsek
Jennifer Anthony
Erica Anyanwu
Tami Cheung
Suzanne MacDonald
Juli Maddox
Kathleen Monks
Marissa Nevarez
Sylvia Sandoval
Christina Will
LEGAL STAFF
ASSISTANTS
VACANT
Rose Giardino
Tina Gibbons
City of Sacramento Office of the City Attorney [1] 2024-2025 Annual Report CITY ATTORNEY’S MESSAGE
MESSAGE FROM CITY ATTORNEY SUSANA ALCALA WOOD
I am pleased to provide the City Attorney’s Annual Report for Fiscal Y ear (“FY”) 2024-2025. Every year the Office of the City Attorney publishes an annual report to provide the council and the City with an overview and accounting of the work we have performed on behalf of the City.
This report outlines the legal matters our office has handled—including litigation, legal advice, ordinances, transactional work, and key strategic initiatives—all while navigating a more constrained budget environment.
Executive Summary
The office’s annual budget for FY 24-25 was $14,771,281, supporting a staff of 64 dedicated employees.
This budget required careful prioritization to ensure the continued delivery of core legal services to the city council, charter offices, departments, boards, and commissions.
Legal Advice and Counsel: On a daily basis, we conduct in-depth legal research to provide expert legal advice and counsel regarding the application of federal, state, and local law to all City operations. More specifically, we provide legal advice and counsel on all of the City’s policies, ordinances, agreements, programs, projects, services, and organizational/operational matters.
Representation of the City and its Officers and Employees in Litigation: We continued to zealously and expertly defend the City against all claims and lawsuits. To control costs, we handle the litigation in-house. This strategy not only preserves taxpayer dollars but also leverages the specialized knowledge of our team, which is deeply familiar with the City’s legal and operational landscape.
Community Advocacy and Public Safety: Through our department enforcement support, criminal prosecution, and Justice for Neighbors program, we diligently work throughout the City to address physical and social nuisances that create significant health and safety concerns for businesses, neighborhoods, and the community. We continually seek opportunities to collaborate with City departments and other public agencies to address and resolve these community challenges together.
Strategic Projects: We work hand-in-hand with council members and City staff on high- priority projects to advance efforts to create more economic opportunities, enhance amenities and services for residents, and respond to high-profile and sensitive matters.
In a year when we had to do more with less, I am especially proud of the office’s Gold Seal award from the California State Bar Association for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within our office.
Our strategic objective remains steadfast: to fundamentally implement processes that seek to grow our talented team through more inclusionary employment practices. We firmly believe that diversity improves and informs our advice and enhances the legal counsel we provide to the City.
It remains a privilege to serve as City Attorney for Sacramento. In a difficult fiscal year, our Office stayed focused on the core mission— to uphold and advance constitutional rights, legal rights, economic interests, and the quality of life important to all residents and persons who work and do business in this great City.
Susana Alcala Wood
City of Sacramento Office of the City Attorney [2] 2024-2025 Annual Report The administration and general support functions of the office are performed under the direction of the City Attorney. The Administration Team is City Attorney Susana Alcala Wood; Chief Assistant City Attorney Gustavo L. Martinez; Assistant City Attorneys Matthew D. Ruyak and Brett M. Witter; Supervising Deputy City Attorneys Kourtney C. Burdick, Steve Y. Itagaki, Michael J. Benner, and Andrea M. Velasquez; Law Office Administrator Jamie Gifford; and Special Assistant to the City Attorney Jenny Manzer Beck.
The Administration Team strives to maintain a work environment that inspires excellence and creativity, while rewarding productivity. We promote career enhancement with ongoing training and staff development. The office provides staff the opportunity to obtain needed credits for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE), as well as other professional-association seminars.
The Administration Team develops and implements office policies and procedures; monitors overall office performance and individual performance; prepares and administers the office budget; handles all personnel hiring and other personnel matters; assembles and analyzes office productivity data, including production of an annual report; and engages in long-range and succession planning. Together the team prioritizes the establishment and maintenance of relationships and trust with the City Council and their staff, public commissions, and valued City departments, officers, and city staff.
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
ADMINISTRATION TEAM
City of Sacramento Office of the City Attorney [3] 2024-2025 Annual Report
OFFICE OVERVIEW OPERATIONS AND OBJECTIVES
The office’s annual budget for FY 24-25 was $14,771,281 and funded a staff of 64 employees who provide critical legal advice and counsel to the city council, charter offices, departments, boards, and commissions. The office also
handles the bulk of litigation matters involving the city and prosecute violations of the Sacramento City Code.
The City Attorney’s budget includes a fixed annual revenue amount of $52,000. That budgeted amount is recovered
primarily from services billed to the Sacramento Public Library Authority, as well as other fees and charges
recoverable to the City Attorney from the Citywide Fee and Charge Schedule.
The City Attorney also received an additional $14,600
for services rendered to the Sacramento Public Library
Authority in excess of the services delivered as part of the fixed annual amount. Pursuant to Council Resolution No. 2020-0227, these funds were set aside in the City Attorney’s technology capital improvement project (CIP), which is
used as the primary source for new computer hardware
when end-of-lifecycle equipment is replaced.
In addition to the revenue figures above, the City Attorney recognized a total of $20,789 in revenue under Council
Resolution No. 2009-164 (Justice for Neighbors Multi-
Y ear Operating Project). Those funds were set aside in the JFN MYOP , which is used to provide resources to the City to combat quality-of life-issues under the City’s social nuisance code.
Objectives for FY2025/26
• Inform and advise the council and City departments
regarding Presidential actions, including Executive
Orders, and Memorandums, and commencing
litigation to protect the City from the federal
government’s threat to terminate federal funding of
existing grants.
• Assist the council and city manager with budget savings through increased efficiencies in the City Attorney’s
Office.
• Provide citywide training through CityYOU courses to
include Public Records Act, public contracting, First
Amendment issues, and the Brown Act.
Operating Budget for FY 2024-2025
Total: $14,771,281
$11,520,990 General Fund
$2,652,049 Interdepartmental Funds
$598,242 Enterprise or other funding
City of Sacramento Office of the City Attorney [4] 2024-2025 Annual Report • Carried through with process put in place to enhance
the office diversity, equity, and inclusion goals designed to improve internal commitment for recruitment and
hiring, outreach to the community, and operations
within the City Attorney’s Office.
• Proceeded with advising the council, and city
departments regarding recent changes to cannabis
laws and regulations, and the ongoing development of
the Cannabis Opportunity Reinvestment and Equity
program.
• Assisted the council, city auditor, and city manager
with interpretation and implementation of Measure L
(Sacramento Children & Y outh Health and Safety Act).
• Continued to defend the City’s legal interests in court and in administrative proceedings and initiate legal
action and other initiatives to protect and advance the rights, interests, and quality of life of our community, and to ensure justice and equity.
• Provided citywide training through CityYOU on the
Public Records Act.
• Continued supporting the City’s pursuit of racial
and social justice and racial equity through ongoing
support for the Police Department and the Office of
Public Safety Accountability, by working to increase
the public’s oversight of its Police Department, and by helping to reimagine and retool the City’s delivery of
public safety services.
• Retained a staff of highly qualified and dedicated
attorneys and support staff with extensive knowledge
of the City of Sacramento and municipal law, to deliver high-quality legal services and advice more efficiently and effectively.
SERVICE-DELIVERY PRIORITIES ACHIEVED IN 2024
• Optimized budget savings by keeping vacant
positions open.
• Conducted trials of legal research tools that would
provide significant savings over current platform to
address ongoing budget reductions for FY25-26.
• Contracted for the destruction of over 2,140 cubic
feet of case files and other office records that were past retention, creating a net savings of $70,000 over the
next 7 years.
DEPARTMENT EFFICIENCIES
City of Sacramento Office of the City Attorney [5] 2024-2025 Annual Report Each year the Sacramento City Council adopts dozens
of ordinances, most of which get incorporated into the
published Sacramento City Code (SCC). Not only are
ordinances fundamental statements of public policy, they create the legal framework for city government operations, economic activity in the city, the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and promote the public health, safety, and welfare.
To ensure the council’s ordinances are constitutional,
enforceable, consistent with state law and the rest of the Sacramento City Code, understandable, and accurate
reflections of the council’s public policy intentions, the City Attorney’s Office has a process for the drafting and vetting of proposed ordinances. Key to that process is thorough review by a small group of seasoned attorneys who meet frequently for that vetting.
That group, the Draft Ordinance Review Committee, met 26 times in fiscal year 2023/2024. Among the notable ordinances drafted and reviewed are the following:
LEGISLATION HIGHLIGHTS
NOTABLE ORDINANCES
• The “Missing Middle Housing Interim Ordinance, ”
which updated the City’s planning and development
standards to broaden the range of housing types
allowed by-right within the single-unit and duplex
dwelling residential zones.
• A major overhaul of various board and commission
chapters in SCC title 2, to create consistency across
boards and commissions regarding their scope, duties,
member qualifications and appointment, and meeting
protocols.
• Several cannabis-related ordinances, including
regulation of consumption lounges, storefront cannabis
dispensaries, and land-use regulations.
• Amending SCC chapter 5.108, to allow for “limited
entertainment permits, ” providing an alternative for
smaller businesses to provide entertainment without
extensive costs, application process, and other
requirements.
• Amending various sections of SCC chapter 15.154,
relating to universal design (accessibility standards) for residential dwellings.
• Amending various provisions of SCC title 17 (Planning and Development Code), including streamlining the
approval process for review of lots with less than ten
dwellings, encouraging special needs housing, and
eliminating off-street vehicle parking requirements for new and existing developments.
City of Sacramento Office of the City Attorney [6] 2024-2025 Annual Report CAO Legal Assignments by Department
Total: 8,977 Assignments
1,525 16% Public Works
1,157 12% Utilities
1,119 12% City Manager
1,048 11% Police
966 10% Criminal Prosecution
529 6% Parks & Recreation
489 5% Convention and Cultural Services
375 4% Community Development
366 4% Finance
318 3% Other
283 3% Fire
262 3% Human Resources
251 3% City Clerk
158 2% City Attorney
131 1% Committee and Commission Assignments
97 1% Library Authority
50 1% City Treasurer
46 <1% Labor Relations
45 <1% IT
42 <1% Community Response
30 <1% All Council
25 <1% YPCE
21 <1% City Auditor
17 <1% Ethics
10 <1% Economic Development
8 <1% Mayor
3 <1% Ann Land/Bertha Henschel Memorial Fund
City of Sacramento Office of the City Attorney [7] 2024-2025 Annual Report Case No. 1
The City initiated litigation against A. Teichert and
Sons, Inc. for non-compliant and deficient work on the
Accelerated Water Meter Program concerning water meter
retrofit work and water main installations. The parties reached a settlement agreement allowing the Department
of Utilities to collect $13.4 million.
Case No. 2
This inverse condemnation matter involved a property
owner who filed litigation against the City claiming that the West Broadway Specific Plan adopted by the City in
2020 required him to complete a roadway dedication for
a portion of his property and caused him to reduce the
price of his property in a sale to a housing developer to account for the loss of 25% of the building area. We filed a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction as plaintiff ’s developmental application is still pending. The Court granted the motion to dismiss.
Case No. 3
Plaintiff alleged an equal rights violation and law
enforcement interference when his access to public baseball fields were infringed. The City successfully moved to have plaintiff deemed a vexatious litigant in the US District Court Eastern District of California, and his case was dismissed.
The Litigation Division defends and prosecutes civil litigation cases on behalf of the City and its officers and employees acting in the course and scope of employment; and provides legal support to Risk Management. Division attorneys work in all areas of municipal law including civil rights, personal injury, property damage, construction defect, eminent domain, breach of contract, employment, and CEQA.
Division attorneys provide litigation services in arbitration, civil and administrative proceedings in both state and federal courts.
The City benefits from a robust litigation division comprised of nine deputy city attorneys and the division Chief. During this time period, the division opened 174 new cases and sent only 4 to outside counsel. Keeping the vast majority of cases in house provides millions of dollars in savings to the City.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
LITIGATION DIVISION
0 200 400100 300 500
Litigation Total Cases
Total
Cases Closed 81
Total
New Cases 174
New Cases Sent to
Outside Counsel 4
Total
Open Cases 457
City of Sacramento Office of the City Attorney [8] 2024-2025 Annual Report Case No. 4
This matter involved a fatal officer-involved shooting in a parking garage where the decedent refused to put down a firearm and was brandishing it at officers. The City filed a demurrer to the complaint on standing issues and the case was dismissed.
Case No. 5
This matter involved a commercial cannabis business
alleging the City was improperly denying their building permits. The City negotiated a dismissal of the case by coordinating with staff to facilitate resolution for the outstanding building permit disputes.
Presentations
IMLA Annual Conference – Recovery of Attorney’s Fees
in Civil Rights Litigation, presented by Andrea Velasquez Cal Cities Annual Conference – Public Entity Litigation Update, presented by Sean Richmond
Cal Cities Mid-Y ear Conference – Public Entity Litigation Update, presented by Andrea Velasquez and Sean
Richmond
Officer Involved Shootings and Death in Custody
Response Team
Pursuant to direction of the City Manager and City
Attorney, the City Attorney’s Office is one of the teams that is notified and responds to officer-involved shootings, and in custody death incidents. The City Attorney’s Office Response Team is comprised of Deputy City Attorneys and supervised by the Litigation Division Chief. The purpose of the CAO Response Team is to provide the City Attorney with real-time information on these critical incidents and an immediate liability analysis for the Police Department, City Attorney, Mayor, and Council.
Creation of CAO Justice League
In response to the federal administration’s threats to cut finding to sanctuary jurisdictions, the Litigation Division created a sub-division dubbed the Justice League to
organize and defend the City against all threats to City’s funding from the Trump Administration.
City of Sacramento Office of the City Attorney [9] 2024-2025 Annual Report Litigation Total Cases by Department
Total: 457 Total Cases
Litigation Total Cases by Matter Type
Total: 457 New Cases
139 30% Public Works
135 30% Police
35 8% City Manager
28 6% Community Development
26 6% Human Resources
25 5% YPCE
21 5% Utilities
20 5% Labor Relations
9 2% Fire
5 1% Convention Cultural Services
4 1% City Clerk
4 1% Finance
3 1% All Council Districts
2 <1% Community Response
1 <1% IT
166 36% Tort
91 20% Litigation Review
54 12% Civil Rights
41 9% Writ
17 4% Discipline
14 3% EEO
12 3% Lien
11 2% Appeals
7 2% Retirement
6 1% Contract
6 1% Subpoena
6 1% Subrogation
5 1% Eminent Domain
4 1% Grievance
3 1% PRA
3 1% TRO
2 <1% Inverse
Condemnation
2 <1% Unfair Labor
Practice
2 <1% Unlawful Detainer
1 <1% Bankruptcy
1 <1% Code Enforcement
1 <1% Collections
1 <1% Environmental
1 <1% Injunctions
City of Sacramento Office of the City Attorney [10] 2024-2025 Annual Report Litigation New Cases by Department
Total: 174 New Cases
Litigation New Cases by Matter Type
Total: 174 New Cases
49 28% Public Works
43 25% Police
20 11% Human Resources
13 7% Human Resources - Discipline
10 6% Utilities
8 5% Parks and Recreation
6 3% Labor Relations
5 3% Community Development
5 3% Fire
4 2% City Clerk’s Office
3 2% Other
3 2% City Manager’s Office
3 2% Convention and Cultural Services
2 1% Finance
53 30% Tort/Appeal
36 21% Litigation Monitoring
21 12% Discipline Review
19 11% Civil Rights
13 7% Employment
9 5% Discipline
8 5% Subrogation-Collection
3 2% PRA
3 2% Writ
2 1% Property
2 1% Subpoena
2 1% TRO/Injunction
1 1% Code Enforcement Litigation
1 1% Contract
1 1% Eminent Domain
City of Sacramento Office of the City Attorney [11] 2024-2025 Annual Report
STRATEGIC PROJECTS AND RESEARCH
Affordable Housing
Assisted the Office of Innovation and Economic
Development in establishing the City’s new street-to-
housing program, which utilized $5 million in state funding to house 100 homeless households currently residing along the Sacramento Northern Parkway in Council District 2.
Greenbriar Community Facilities District
Special Tax Bonds
Advised the City Treasurer on the $36 million bond
issuance to finance the costs of acquisition and construction of public facilities in Council District 1, including
improvements for schools, utilities, roadways, landscaping, and parks.
Cannabis Consumption Lounges
Advised the Office of Cannabis Management on the
development of regulations for smoking and non-smoking
cannabis consumption lounges at storefront cannabis
dispensary sites.
Limited Entertainment Permits
Assisted the Office of Nighttime Economy on amending
the Sacramento City Code to create a new limited
entertainment permit that will enable small businesses
to provide entertainment, increase the vibrancy of
our commercial corridors citywide, and create more
opportunities for local musicians and other entertainers.
EMS Corps
Assisted the Fire Department in establishing an Emergency Medical Services Corps program at McClellan Park. The
program provides at-risk youth with training to become
emergency medical technicians.
Reparations Engagement Plan for Action, Investment,
and Redress (REP AIR) Initiative
Assisted in execution of a $119,999 agreement with the
Greater Sacramento Urban League to lead a community-
centered engagement process that develops an action plan for the creation of a municipal reparations commission, task force, or committee that will build on the relationships, research, and momentum of the reparative work the Council began in 2021.
Delta Shores Community Facilities District
Special Tax Bonds
Advised the City Treasurer on the $14 million bond issuance to finance the costs of acquisition and construction of public facilities in Council District 8, including improvements to water and storm drains, traffic, landscaping, and parks.
The Strategic Projects and Research Division provides legal advice on projects initiated by the City Council or that require multi-departmental coordination. SPR attorneys also provide legal advice to the City Council, charter offices, and city departments.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
2000 600 1000400 800 1200
SPR Total Advisory Assignments and Matters
Total: 2,424
Total Advisory
Assignments 792
Total
Staff Reports 613
Ordinances 3
Total
Subpoenas 2
Total
Contracts 1,014
City of Sacramento Office of the City Attorney [12] 2024-2025 Annual Report SPR Advisory & Matters by Department
Total: 2,424 Advisory & Matters
SPR Staffed Board & Commission Meetings
Total: 80 Meetings
809 33% City Manager
353 15% Convention and Cultural Services
305 13% Finance
269 11% Fire
158 7% City Clerk
131 5% Committee and Commission Assignments
53 2% Public Works
50 2% City Treasurer
48 2% Police
44 2% IT
43 2% Parks and Recreation
40 2% Community Response
38 2% Community Development
30 1% Human Resources
17 1% Ethics
11 <1% City Attorney
10 <1% Mayor and City Council
10 <1% Economic Development
3 <1% Ann Land/Bertha Henschel Memorial Fund
2 <1% Utilities
12 15% Community Police Review Commission
12 15% Ethics Commission
11 14% Law and Legislation Committee
9 12% Arts, Culture, Creative Economy Commission
9 11% Civil Service Board
9 11% HCAAB
9 11% Measure U Commission
3 4% AIFM
3 4% Defined Contributions Plans Committee
2 3% Ethel MacLeod Committee
City of Sacramento Office of the City Attorney [13] 2024-2025 Annual Report
GENERAL COUNSEL AND ADVISORY
Worked with Procurement staff to update and consolidate the City’s contracting rules to ease implementation while also maintaining transparency and fairness in the City’s contracting process. This project involved updates to the city code, procurement policies, and the city’s contract templates for the purchase of goods, non-professional
services, professional services, and public projects
Assisted staff and the Sacramento Children’s Fund
Planning and Oversight Commission with the development
and approval of the City’s first Strategic Investment Plan, consistent with Measure L.
Advised DOU staff on updated development fees for water, separated sewer, combined sewer, and a new storm drainage fee. Drafted an authorizing ordinance for the storm
drainage fee. Reviewed nexus studies and compliance with authorizing statutes and advised staff on the fee adoption process and requested exemptions. Despite significant
developer opposition, litigation threats, and headwinds presented by state housing laws, DOU successfully obtained the requested fee levels.
Successfully defended several lawsuits, including a
challenge to an 800-residential-unit project on Bercut Drive and a preliminary lawsuit challenging the Airport South Industrial project.
Assisted in the drafting of the City’s Missing Middle
Housing Interim Ordinance. By adopting this ordinance,
the City became the first jurisdiction in the state to allow multi-unit housing in every neighborhood.
Advised the Department of Public Works on the creation
of a new Transportation Safety Team that increases the
City’s ability to install improvements to the transportation network more rapidly.
The General Counsel and Advisory Division provides legal advice and support to the City Council, all City departments, and staff. The group advises on all aspects of municipal law, including the Brown Act; Public Records Act; Political Reform Act; the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); water law; Propositions 26 and 218; public bidding, construction, and procurement; contract negotiation, drafting, and review; prevailing wages; transportation; real estate procurement, conveyance, and leasing; solid waste disposal; landfill regulation; and various other areas of municipal law.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
5000 15001000 2000 2500
GC&A Total Advisory Assignments & Matters
Total: 4,019
Total
Subpoenas 19
Ordinances 27
Public
Records Acts 61
Total
Staff Reports 805
Total GC&A
Assignments 2,225
Total
Contracts 869
City of Sacramento Office of the City Attorney [14] 2024-2025 Annual Report GC&A Advisory & Matters by Department
Total: 3,137 Advisory & Matters
1,070 34% Public Works
841 27% Utilities
342 11% Parks and Recreation
201 6% Community Development
191 6% City Manager
128 4% Human Resources
97 3% Library Authority
89 3% Convention and Cultural Services
76 2% City Clerk
25 1% Finance
18 1% All Council
17 1% City Attorney
17 1% City Auditor
9 <1% Other
9 <1% Police
7 <1% Mayor
18 17% Planning and Design Commission
15 14% Library Authority
15 14% Code Enforcement Hearings
10 9% Disabilities Advisory Commission
10 9% Active Transportation Commission
9 8% Parks and Community Enrichment Commission
8 7% Sacramento Children’s Fund Commission
7 6% Youth Commission
6 5% Preservation Commission
4 4% Litigation Resolution/Workers’ Compensation
Claims Committees
4 4% Ann Land and Bertha Henschel Memorial Funds
Commission
3 4% Utilities Rate Advisory Commission
GC&A Staffed Board & Commission Meetings
Total: 109 Meetings
City of Sacramento Office of the City Attorney [15] 2024-2025 Annual Report
COMMUNITY ADVOCACY
& PUBLIC SAFETY DIVISION (“CAPS”)
This division provides advisory and enforcement support to the Sacramento Police Department (SPD) and the Neighborhood Code Compliance, Business Compliance, and Housing and Dangerous Buildings divisions of the Community Development Department (CDD). The division partners with enforcement departments to prosecute and abate physical and social nuisances. The division also includes a Criminal Prosecution Unit that prosecutes criminal violations of the City Code.
In its capacity as the general counsel for SPD and the
three divisions of CDD, CAPS advises on and helps draft ordinances, provides legal advice regarding the California Public Records Act, responds to subpoenas, and provides analysis and advice on the various provisions of state and federal law that pertain to the departments. In addition, attorneys in the division represent the city on all Pitchess motions and advise and make appearances regarding Gun
Violence Restraining Orders, and handle all weapons
destruction petitions.
In its enforcement role, the mission of the division is to fight corrosive social and criminal nuisances that degrade the quality of life in the City. The division’s aim is to identify, prioritize, and address criminal problems before they
grow into serious offenses that can lead to urban decay.
The division understands that the ability to respond to neighborhood complaints and address criminal problems
proactively is critical to improving quality of life in our neighborhoods.
Through the Justice for Neighbors (JFN) program, our office has coordinated with the City’s enforcement departments, including the Fire and Community Development
Departments, to target abandoned structures, nuisance
properties, and blight plaguing neighborhoods. The JFN
team files lawsuits seeking aggressive and specifically tailored injunctive relief, including stay-away orders, closure of properties, hiring of security guards, installation of video camera systems, and other improvements to properties.
In cases where such remedies are inadequate to abate the nuisance, CAPS attorneys have the ability to petition the court to request that a receiver be appointed to oversee the abatement of nuisances on the property.
2000 600400 800 1000
Total CAPS
Assignments 849
Contracts 148
Staff Reports 127
Criminal
Prosecution 966
CAPS Total Assignments and Matters
Total: 2,090
City of Sacramento Office of the City Attorney [16] 2024-2025 Annual Report SPD Legal Assignments & Matters
Total: 756 Assignments & Matters
612 81% SPD Assignments
57 8% Weapons
56 7% GVRO
15 2% Pitchess
14 2% SPD Subpoenas
1 <1% SPD Writs
1 <1% SPD Ordinance
20 22% Advice
16 17% Administrative Appeals
12 13% Restraining Orders
11 12% PRAs
7 8% Nuisance Abatement
6 7% Cannabis
6 6% Subpoenas
6 6% Receiverships
5 5% TROs
3 3% CARE Court
1 1% Writs
Other CAPS Assignments & Matters
Total: 93 Assignments & Matters
City of Sacramento Office of the City Attorney [17] 2024-2025 Annual Report Direct Community Benefit Projects
Total: 140 Projects
57 41% Weapons
56 40% GVROs
12 9% Restraining Orders
7 5% Nuisance Abatement
5 4% TROs
3 2% CARE Court
486 49% SCC § 9.16.140
Trespass on Private Property or Business Premises
230 23% SCC § 12.52.030
Unlawful Camping
160 16% SCC § 12.52.040 Storage of Personal Property on Public and Private Property
40 4% SCC § 8.140.030
Protection of Critical Infrastructure and Wildfire Risk Areas
36 4% SCC § 9.04.060
Public Nudity
29 3% SCC § 9.04.050
Intoxicating Beverages-Consumption on
Public Streets
15 1% SCC § 10.34.020
Spectators at Sideshows
Criminal Prosecution by Category
Total: 996 Prosecutions
City of Sacramento Office of the City Attorney [18] 2024-2025 Annual Report GVROs
The CAPS Division has initiated a full-time program
assisting the Sacramento Police Department in obtaining Gun Violence Restraining Orders. Every Friday, the division sends an attorney to court to staff the GVRO table, helping officers present their cases. Since we started running this calendar, 88 firearms have been taken out of the hands of violent offenders, including domestic abusers and others engaging in conduct which disqualifies them from gun
ownership, and placed under the protection of SPD for a period of time ordered by the Sacramento Superior Court.
Enforcement post-Grants Pass
CAPS supported the Incident Management Team to
update its enforcement structure and efforts after the US Supreme Court’s decision of Grants Pass by providing
legal analysis and various legal opinions involving the impact of that court decision on all city department
operations including CMO, SPD, SFD, Code Enforcement,
DCR, and DOU, among others. CAPS also supported the
City Manager and various departments with Legal analysis and drafting documents to implement new Council
direction related to homelessness enforcement through
the adoption of a new resolution and amendments to the
Citywide homelessness response protocols.
Justice for Neighbors
Since 2011, a single-family residence on Camarillo Drive in the Natomas area created social and physical nuisances that caused serious disturbances to neighbors. After an April 2024 Justice for Neighbors (JFN) meeting with over a dozen neighbors and then-Mayor Pro Tem Talamantes, the
City Attorney’s Office acted quickly to file a public nuisance action and petition for a health and safety receivership against the property owner.
Prior to CAO intervention, this property was the site of drug, theft, and child abuse crimes, as well as numerous complaints from neighbors regarding noise, suspicious
activities and individuals, drug and property crimes, and concern for personal and familial safety.
The strength of the CAO’s filings caused sufficient
pressure upon the property owner that he decided to
sell the residence by the end of 2024 instead of going
through litigation and face receivership. As a result, the neighborhood now enjoys the peace and safety it had lost, and a reputable real estate investment firm purchased the property and returned it to the beautiful home it was once known to be.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
City of Sacramento Office of the City Attorney [19] 2024-2025 Annual Report CARE Court
CAPS advised the City’s public safety departments regarding the State of California’s new CARE Court program to
expand access to mental health court, including submitting petitions to the Sacramento Superior Court for individuals in our community suffering from severe and untreated
mental illness and other co-occurring disorders. Also, co- authored a published paper regarding CARE Court.
Camp Resolution
CAPS supported the CMO and various departments
including SPD, SFD, Code Enforcement, DCR, and DOU,
during the closure and enforcement efforts involving
Camp Resolution, by providing legal analysis regarding
constitutional issues and legal exposure involving
enforcement and closure.
Military Equipment Use Policy
CAPS assisted SPD and City Council to adopt its ordinance approving MEU, and to update the MEU annual’s report as required under AB 481.
Advising and Representing SPD’s Internal
Affairs Division
CAPS provided legal representation to SPD’s Internal
affairs unit involving officers’ personnel files, advising the department in its role as a custodian of records, and provided successful representation both at the Superior Court and Court of Appeals. Additionally, CAO provided a training session for all IA staff and prepared a legal manual for the division as a continuing legal resource.
Race Blind Charging
CAPS has taken the lead in developing new policies and
procedures in following new state laws regarding race-blind charging in its criminal prosecution practice. These new laws require substantially more staff and attorney time at intake to ensure that our charging decisions are being made in accordance with these state laws.
Tenant Protection Support to Residents of
The Grove Apartments
CAPS was able to help support the Tenant Protection
Program as it addressed the concerned residents of The
Grove at Johnston Park apartment building.
Automatic License Plate Reader Guidance
CAPS assisted SPD in allegations from the media that it was unlawfully sharing ALPR data with out-of-state agencies.
Given the ambiguous language of SB 34, CAPS attorneys
had to conduct a thorough review of the legislative history of the bill and review similar bills that were passed or rejected by the Legislature to provide guidance to the client. This guidance allowed SPD to update its policies prior to the June release of a Sacramento Grand Jury investigation that came to the same conclusion.
City of Sacramento Office of the City Attorney [20] 2024-2025 Annual Report Sideshow Ordinance
CAPS supported the council’s adoption of an emergency
ordinance on sideshows to provide additional enforcement authority to combat illegal sideshow activity in Sacramento.
Sacramento Regional Human Trafficking
Task Force (SR HTTF)
CAPS worked closely with the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, California Department of Justice, and the United States Department of Homeland Security in
implementing a regional task force targeting the disruption of human trafficking operations and protect children from criminal exploitation. The SR HTTF is now the third such regional task force in California, with the other two task forces situated in the greater areas of San Diego and Fresno.
Sacramento Police Department General Orders
and Policies
The CAPS Division worked tirelessly in assisting the
Sacramento Police Department with updating and improving critical general orders and policies. In addition, the CAPS Division has ensured that such review and analysis has been conducted in a time-efficient manner.
International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA)
Presentation Code Enforcement - Administrative
Hearings at the Local Level
CAPS was asked by IMLA to provide a legal presentation
to lawyers across the globe to present on the topic of how to implement and conduct local administrative hearings given the CAO’s extensive expertise in the subject matter.
Legal Training
As part of its efforts to effectively advise and ensure proper enforcement of the Sacramento City Code, the CAPS Division provides routine 4th Amendment training to those city
departments responsible for enforcing the city code, including Code Enforcement and Housing and Dangerous Buildings.
In 2024, the CAO provided to code enforcement officers
and housing and dangerous buildings inspectors a robust training that reviewed general constitutional principles, common scenarios, and best practices to ensure the rights of Sacramento’s residents are maintained.
City of Sacramento Office of the City Attorney [21] 2024-2025 Annual Report
OFFICE PROGRAMS
Career Fairs
The City Attorney’s
Office attended five
separate career fairs
throughout the
community this
year, including the
“Y ou Betta’ Work”
Sacramento
LGBTQ+ Career
Fair on September 12, 2024, the Health Education Council Career Fair on September 13, 2024, the McGeorge
Externship Fair on September 17, 2024, the 3rd Annual
Sacramento Region Diversity Career Fair on September
21, 2024, and the UC Davis School of Law’s Virtual Public Interest & Government Career Fair on November 6, 2024.
At each of these career fairs, attorneys and staff spoke directly with attendees about the office, law clerk program, the hiring process, and the office’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Law Clerk Program
Our award-winning law clerk program continues to thrive thanks to all the attorneys who work with and provide
guidance to the students. Our office has been acknowledged by McGeorge School of Law’s Public Legal Services Society as an exceptional supporter of their mission of enhancing the ability of law students to choose public interest or public-service careers.
Most of the program applicants are students from local law schools – McGeorge School of Law and UC Davis – but
we have also had applicants from various other law schools across the U.S. Our office hosts students year-round, with students clerking part-time during the school semesters and full-time during the summer.
In addition to working on various legal issues, the law clerks also accompany attorneys to meetings, arbitrations, mediations, depositions, hearings, and trials, all of
which help them utilize their newly acquired skills in a professional setting. In recent years, some of our law clerks have also been able to make supervised appearances on
behalf of the City through the State Bar’s Practical Training of Law Students certification program.
Notably, in 2024, the inaugural class of paid summer
law clerks interned in our office with great success, thus expanding the opportunity to engage in public service to students who may not otherwise be able to afford to do so.
Many of our former law clerks have later been hired into full-time attorney positions within the office.
Law Day
On May 1st, the City Attorney’s office celebrated Law Day.
The theme of this year’s program was “The Constitution’s Promise: Out of many – One, ” and was commemorated
with a panel discussion with law professors, Legislative Counsel and general counsel, Women Lawyers of
Sacramento and a Superior Court Judge.
This year we held a youth contest for grades 7 and 8.
Contestants were to submit an essay or an illustration
explaining what the Constitution means to them. Three
winners were elected and invited to a council meeting to collect their prize.
Our office also hosted it’s annual open house on the same day, providing tours, games and snacks to City employees.
City of Sacramento Office of the City Attorney [22] 2024-2025 Annual Report Fostering Growth, Building Legacy: The CAO
Mentorship Program
In the Sacramento City Attorney’s Office, we recognize
that our most valuable asset is our people. As part of
our ongoing commitment to professional development
and excellence in public service, the CAO Mentorship
Program has emerged as a vital initiative to cultivate talent, strengthen institutional knowledge, and reinforce a culture of mutual respect and growth.
Mentoring is more than guidance—it’s a partnership
grounded in a shared commitment to learn, grow, and
thrive together. The CAO Mentorship Program is designed with intention and care, offering structured opportunities for both mentors and mentees to focus on common goals,
establish clear expectations, and build relationships rooted in trust and mutual respect.
At its core, the Program is about connection and knowledge transfer. Through this process, seasoned attorneys and
staff share insights, skills, and professional wisdom with their mentees, helping to prepare the next generation of legal professionals and public servants. The one-on-one mentorship model creates a space where mentees can gain practical advice, explore new areas of interest, and navigate the unique landscape of municipal law with support and
confidence.
Beyond professional development, the CAO Mentorship
Program plays a key role in recruitment and retention.
Newer employees often cite the opportunity for mentorship as a distinguishing feature of our office culture—one that signals investment in their long-term success. Mentorship also supports internal mobility by helping mentees identify and prepare for promotion opportunities, ensuring our
office continues to grow strong leaders from within.
For mentors, the Program offers a rewarding avenue to
give back, reinforce their own learning, and help shape the future of the Office. For mentees, it opens doors to invaluable networks, guidance, and resources, including access to senior-level attorneys and leadership they may not otherwise engage with in their day-to-day work.
In addition to one-on-one mentoring, the Program
encompasses group activities, collaborative discussions, and targeted learning sessions that further enhance team building and cross-functional collaboration. These activities ensure the mentorship experience is not just beneficial at an individual level, but also contributes meaningfully to the cohesion and overall effectiveness of the CAO.
By investing in mentorship, the Sacramento City Attorney’s Office is investing in its future—building a legacy of
leadership, collaboration, and continuous learning that will serve our community for years to come.
Gold DEI Leadership Seal Recipient
In 2023, The State Bar of California started its
DEI Leadership Seal Program which recognizes legal
employers that commit to and implement research-driven
actions that further workplace diversity, equity, and
inclusion. The program is open to all legal employers with California-licensed attorneys, including private law firms, legal academia, non-profit organizations, and government agencies.
The Sacramento City Attorney’s Office enrolled
in the program’s first cohort. The office completed 9 out of the 10 action items, including creating a strategic DEI plan, collecting employment data, participating in annual implicit bias training, and integrating DEI into performance evaluations and job duties. In 2024, the Sacramento City Attorney’s Office became one of only two municipal law
offices awarded the Gold Seal for its accomplishments—the highest award possible.
City of Sacramento Office of the City Attorney [24] 2024-2025 Annual Report Susana Alcala Wood
City Attorney
Sacramento City Hall
915 I Street, Room 4006
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 808-5346
www.cityofsacramento.org/attorney