City Attorney

• Plans, directs, reviews, and evaluates the staff and functions of the City Attorney's Office/Legal Department (CAO), including professional civil and criminal legal work, legal counsel and education, technical and legal documents, legislative assistance, and representation before courts, boards, and administrative hearings; assures the legality of City operations, protects the legal rights of the City, and reduces liability risk.
• Serves as chief legal advisor to the Mayor, City Council and City Manager; attends public meetings to provide legal advice and information, and presents findings, recommendations, and effective solutions.
• Exercises independent judgment within broad policy guidelines; evaluates complex legal issues, and recommends and implements solutions to minimize risk and safeguard the City's operations.
• Reviews, approves, and negotiates legal issues; assures that legal issues are resolved within City policy; reviews and evaluates City decisions, policies, regulations, claims, civil actions, and other legal matters; assures effective communication of legal issues and strategies with the City's core management team.
• Manages the case preparation and resolution of litigation, negotiations, settlements, prosecutions, and other municipal legal proceedings; develops legal assessments and strategies; conducts factual and legal analysis to determine whether legal issues should be prosecuted or defended, based on the facts of law and evidence; conducts conferences with opposing parties concerning settlement of cases.
• Manages civil and criminal proceedings and work products from CAO and contracted legal professionals.
• Develops, renders, and reviews verbal and written opinions, legal positions, and ordinances for the City.
• Monitors changes in state and federal regulations, standards, and legislation governing municipalities.
• Directs, coaches, and trains staff, and evaluates performance; conducts and encourages interactive dialogue throughout the organization, and effectively addresses personnel issues in order to promote a productive and healthy work environment.
• Meets regularly with staff to discuss and resolve assignments, priorities, workload, technical issues, and quality standards; provides leadership, direction, and guidance in legal strategies and priorities; assures that quality standards are met, and appropriate services are provided.
• Maintains the integrity, professionalism, values, and goals of the City management team, by assuring that all rules and regulations are followed, and that accountability and public trust are preserved.
• Must have and maintain a cell phone for City use to hold this position.
• Supports the departmental operations with regular and timely attendance.
• Supports the relationship between the City of Odessa and the general public by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with visitors and City staff; maintains confidentiality of work-related issues and City information; performs other duties as required or assigned.

• Duties, powers, authorities, and limitations of a City Attorney.
• State of Texas criminal and civil statutes, rules, administrative orders, policies and procedures, and applicable Federal rules and regulations.
• Texas judicial procedures and rules of evidence.
• Legal precedents and court decisions impacting municipal government.
• Principles and protocols for the evidentiary gathering of information, documents, financial records and other data that may be used in court and legal hearings.
• Legal case management procedures, ethics, and techniques.
• Principles and practices of administrative management, including personnel rules, cost accounting, budgeting, procurement, contract management, performance management, and employee supervision.
• Principles and practices of legal, ethical, and professional rules of conduct.
• Current political and economic trends in municipal, state, and federal government.
• Local community issues and regional community resources available to citizens.

• Assuming executive-level responsibilities, projecting consequences of proposed actions, and making appropriate decisions, while assuring compliance with City goals and objectives.
• Directing and coordinating the operations of the City Attorney's Office.
• Analyzing complex legal and administrative issues, interpreting laws and regulations, evaluating alternatives, and developing recommendations, strategies, and operational improvements.
• Litigating cases in legal hearings and courtrooms, negotiating agreements, and mediating complex issues.
• Interpreting and applying criminal and civil laws to information, evidence, and other data compiled.
• Investigating, analyzing, and resolving complex and sensitive issues and complaints.
• Reviewing and assessing legal issues and documents.
• Using initiative and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines.
• Assessing and prioritizing multiple tasks, projects and demands.
• Managing and leading staff, and delegating tasks and authority.
• Establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships and open communications with City employees, law enforcement agencies, court and justice system representatives, and advocate groups.
• Operating a personal computer utilizing a variety of business and specialized software.
• Communicating effectively verbally and in writing.

• Advises the City Council, City Manager's Office, boards, commissions, and committees of the City Council, and department heads on legal matters.
• Advises on matters of municipal liability and risk management, and coordinates with insurers and department heads to minimize legal exposure.
• Prepares ordinances, resolutions, contracts, development agreements, and other legal instruments considered by the City Council.
• Prepares interlocal agreements.
• Supervises and is ultimately responsible for the prosecution of traffic and criminal cases in the City of Odessa Municipal Court, which is a court of record.
• Supervises 2 full time prosecutors.
• Reviews the claims filed against the City, hires, and supervises outside legal counsel.
• Represents the City in state and federal courts.
• Represents the City in bankruptcy court by filing claims.
• Prepares the response by the City when an employee files a claim with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the Texas Human Rights Commission.
• Handles the requests under the Texas Public Information Act. - 4500 requests in 2024
• Serves as legal counsel for the Odessa Development Corporation which is a Type A Economic Development Corporation governed by Chapter 504 of the Texas Local Government Code.
• Keeps the City Council updated on what projects can be funded by the Odessa Development Corporation.
• Drafts Economic Development agreements and other legal instruments for the Odessa Development Corporation.
• Drafts Chapter 380 economic development agreements, Hotel Occupancy Tax agreements.
• Provides updated information on what Hotel Occupancy Tax funds can be used for.
• Conducts research and keeps informed of state and federal legislation and judicial decisions affecting operation of the City.
• Provides legal training to city departments on compliance with applicable local, state, and federal laws.
• Coordinates the representation of the City in the Texas Legislature.
• Testifies in front of various committees in the Texas Legislature.
• Provides a summary of Legislation impacting municipalities after the Texas Legislature adjourns.
• Works with City Council to set legislative priorities.
• The City Attorney will be required to execute an employment agreement.
• The City Attorney has the opportunity to hire his or her legal staff in the Civil Division.
• The Council is committed to funding at least two assistant attorney positions. There are currently no assistant city attorneys in the Civil Division.
• Develops and implements succession planning and mentoring for legal staff to ensure continuity of legal operations.
• Knowledge and examples of working with the Texas Open Meetings Act.
• Attends all City Council Meeting and provides real-time legal counsel to ensure compliance with open meeting laws, parliamentary procedure, and city code.
• Express an understanding and knowledge of Chapter 271 of the Texas Local Government Code.

City of Odessa