Pursuant to the City Charter for the City of Sterling, the Council appoints a City Attorney who shall serve at the pleasure of the Council. The City Attorney performs all the functions assigned by general law to municipal attorneys, including the institution or defense of actions or proceedings on behalf of the City when so directed by the Council. The functions of the City Attorney’s office include prosecution of violations of municipal ordinances in municipal court and the drafting of ordinances, contracts, legal memos and any and all other legal documents which may be required by the City. 

The City Attorney advises City Council on the employment of outside counsel in the event that such counsel may be required and the city attorney’s office is unable to handle such matters in-house.

The City Attorney works with the City Manager and department heads in ensuring that goals and projects instituted by the City Council, City Manager and/or department heads comply with federal, state, and local statutes.

It is the City Attorney’s responsibility to keep abreast of pending or recent legislation, to make recommendations to staff and City Council concerning efforts which should be taken by the City concerning pending legislation and to advise City Council and staff of current legislation which affects the City in changes and/or traditional duties or responsibilities by virtue of such legislation. Further, it is the responsibility of the City Attorney to keep informed on recent case law, which affects the operations of the City of Sterling, and advise City Council and staff as to the implications of the decisions made in those cases.

When time and scheduling permits, the City Attorney’s office is happy to speak to school classes or civic groups about the City or the legal process.

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