City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: March 22, 2022
Agenda Item: 8.A
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Joseph Lawrence, Interim City Attorney, City Attorney's Office, Administration Subject: Appointment of Interim City Attorney and Authorization to Negotiate and Execute Agreement
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that Council:
1. Appoint Susan Cola as Interim City Attorney commencing April 6, 2022; and,
2. Authorize the Mayor to negotiate and execute an employment agreement with Ms. Cola for her service as Interim City Attorney.
Discussion
The City Council is in the process of recruiting and hiring a new City Attorney. To fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Interim City Attorney George Cardona, effective October 1, 2021, the City Council appointed Joseph Lawrence to serve as the Interim City Attorney. Mr. Lawrence’s last day serving as Interim City Attorney is April 5, 2022. The Interim City Attorney, City Manager, and Chief People Officer jointly recommend that the City Council appoint current City of Santa Monica Deputy City Attorney and Senior Special Projects Attorney, Susan Cola to serve as Interim City Attorney pending final recruitment and hiring of a permanent City Attorney.
Ms. Cola has agreed to serve as the Interim City Attorney at an annual salary of $288.120.00, which is the salary for the City Attorney position at Step 3 on the current and previously approved City salary schedule.
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Staff recommends that the City Council appoint Susan Cola as Interim City Attorney and authorize the Mayor to negotiate and execute an employment agreement in substantially the form as is attached.
Fiscal Impacts
The additional salary to be paid to Ms. Cola during the period in which she will serve as the Interim City Attorney is already included in the FY 2021-22 budget and will have no fiscal impact.
Prepared By: Bradley Michaud, Legal Operations Coordinator Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Cola Interim City Attorney Employment Agreement 03.2022 B. Written Comment