HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES-07/08/2014-SpecialJuly 8, 2014
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO
Council -Manager Form of Government
Special Meeting - 6:00 p.m.
A special meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins was held on Tuesday, July 8, 2014,
at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the City of Fort Collins City Hall. Roll Call was
answered by the following Councilmembers: Cunniff, Horak, Overbeck, Poppaw, Troxell, and
Weitkunat.
Councilmembers Absent: Campana.
Staff Members Present: Atteberry, Nelson, Daggett.
Resolution 2014-057
Appointing an Interim City Attorney, Adopted
The following is the staff memorandum forthis item.
"EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to appoint an interim City Attorney.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
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This Resolution appoints an interim City Attorney in light of the unexpected passing last week of
Steve Roy, who has served as City Attorney for the City of Fort Collins since 1988.
Article VI of the City Charter provides that the City Council shall appoint a City Attorney who
shall be licensed to practice law in the State of Colorado, and fix the compensation of a City
Attorney. Tile City Attorney is authorized to appoint Assistant and Deputy City Attorneys, as
determined by the Council, and to assign duties to those attorneys.
Under the City Charter, the City Attorney has multiple roles. The first is to advise the officers
and employees•of the City in matters relating to their official powers and duties. This occurs in a
fast paced and rapidly changing environment and often entails researching and preparing
memoranda to offer legal opinions and advice to the City Council and a variety of other
constituents within the organization. The Charter also provides that tite City Attorney is
responsible for drafting all ordinances and other legal documents that the Ciry, needs in the
course of its operations. The Charter also assigns the City Attorney responsibility for
representing the City in all legal proceedings, including dozens of civil actions and handling the
prosecution of cases in Municipal Court. Finally, the Charter provides that the City Attorney is
responsible for attending all meetings of the. City Council. In addition to Council meetings, the
City Attorney oversees participation of legal staff in the meetings of a wide variety of Council
July 8, 2014
committees and City boards and commissions. The quality and timeliness of the legal services
provided by the City Attorney, directly and through the City Attorney's Office, are critical to
ensuring that the objectives of the City Council and City, staff are met.
The Resolution authorizes and requests that the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem discuss and work
with the appointed interim City Attorney to develop a proposal for compensation, benefits and
other terms of appointment, in consultation with the Hunan Resources Director. The proposed
terms of appointment will then be presented in Ordinance,form,for Council consideration on
First Reading on July 15, 2014. The, Resolution provider that the interim appointment continue
in effect until such time as the Council officially appoints the new City Attorney, or such earlier
time as the Council may, by resolution or motion, subsequently determine to be in the best
interests of the City. "
Mayor Weitkunat expressed condolences to City Attorney Roy's family and commended his
service to the City.
Mayor Pro Tem Horak made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Troxell, to adopt
Resolution 2014-057, appointing Carrie Daggett as interim City Attorney. Yeas: Poppaw,
Horak, Weitkunat, Overbeck, Troxell and Cunniff. Nays: none.
THE MOTION CARRIED.
Other Business
Mayor Pro Tem Horak asked when Ms. Daggett will be sworn in as interim City Attorney. City
Manager Atteberry replied the swearing in could occur immediately.
Carrie Daggett was sworn in as interim City Attorney by City Clerk Nelson.
The meeting adjourned at 6:12 p.m.
ATTEST:
City Clerk
Adjournment
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