CITY OF CONCORD, CA CITY ATTORNEY

CITY OF
CONCORD, CA
INVITES YOUR
INTEREST IN
THE POSITION OF
CITY
ATTORNEY

Concord, California
is located 29 miles east
THE COMMUNITY
of San Francisco, adjacent
Concord, California is located 29 miles to beautiful Mt. Diablo.
east of San Francisco, adjacent to beautiful
Mt. Diablo. With 122,000 residents, it
is the largest city in Contra Costa County
and covers 31.13 square miles. Concord offers
a range of housing options and prices, from apartments
to executive residences. Neighborhoods are important to the city’s
family-oriented lifestyle, which balances Concord’s gracious early
California heritage with well-planned development. Quiet neighborhoods,
numerous parks and large preserves of open space add to the
quality of life for all residents.
Concord’s central location east of the San Francisco Bay offers easy
access to many of Northern California’s most scenic and desirable areas
including the coastal redwood forests of Marin County, the wineries of
Napa and Sonoma Valley, the rugged coastlines of Monterey and Sonoma
County, and the astonishing beauty of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) high-speed trains, local bus services, and
ferries provide important links to San Francisco, the peninsula, Oakland,
East Bay, and the Silicon Valley. Amtrak and international airports provide
convenient transportation options beyond the local area. A dynamic, high-rise
business core, regional shopping centers, and a vibrant, entertainment-driven
downtown have created a growing and sustainable economy. Downtown
Concord offers many opportunities for dining, shopping and entertainment,
as well as a thriving environment for business. A significant number of major
corporations and technology-based companies have chosen to locate in
Concord, citing a well-educated workforce, convenient location, and
employee amenities as driving factors.
Concord is one of America’s top 20 “Kid Friendly” suburban cities, with
nationally-recognized youth swimming, gymnastics, baseball, boxing,
wrestling, softball and soccer programs and a Recreation After-School
Program (RAP) for middle school students. Families enjoy
a wealth of recreational options,
from golfing and hiking to
youth and adult sports
leagues. Named “Tree
City USA” for 29 years,
the City of Concord
has long been known
for its extensive park
system that offers something for
everyone, from toddlers to active
seniors. The City has 31 parks consisting
of 367 acres of developed
parkland, and Concord and the
surrounding Mt. Diablo foothills
boast 685 acres of open space for
residents and visitors to enjoy. Trails
for hiking, biking, and equestrian
uses wind through Concord and
connect to existing regional trail
networks, including those in Mt.
Diablo State Park.
In 2005, the U.S. Navy announced
the closure of the inland portion of
the former Concord Naval Weapons
Station, consisting of over 5,000
acres of mostly undeveloped land.
In 2010, Concord’s City Council
approved a plan for the future civilian
reuse of this site for a variety of land
uses, including transit-oriented development,
residential neighborhoods,
commercial development, parks,
and open spaces. The City is moving
forward with consideration of an Area
Plan that would incorporate the community’s
vision for this property into
the Concord General Plan; ultimately,
the City expects to collaborate with
the Navy in formulating a plan for
property disposition.
THE
ORGANIZATION
Concord is a General Law city and
operates under a Council/Manager
form of government. The five-member
City Council appoints the City Manager
and City Attorney; the City Treasurer
is directly elected. Through long-range
planning including development and

use of a ten-year financial
plan, the City has the ability
to project and plan for its
financial needs and responds
quickly to new
challenges. Concord is a
full-service city providing
police, community development,
public works, and
parks and recreation services
along with internal management
support services.
ISSUES AND
OPPORTUNITIES
As the reuse of the Naval Weapons Station development project continues
to proceed, land use and development review related to this project will
require significant attention for the City in the coming years.
Like many California cities, Concord has experienced reductions in revenues
as well as the loss of redevelopment agency funds. The City has recently
faced lawsuits in regard to employee issues. It is expected that employee
relations and risk management will be areas that will require the new City
Attorney’s attention for resolution and on-going training of City staff.
THE DEPARTMENT
The City Attorney’s Office provides high-quality legal
representation to Council members, appointees to
City Boards and Commissions, and City staff, as well
as implements the City’s policy objectives and administrative
programs to promote the economic and social
wellbeing of the Concord community in a manner
consistent with applicable legal requirements. The City
Attorney is appointed by the City Council and is supported
by a full-time staff of three: one Senior Assistant City
Attorney, one Assistant City Attorney, and one Paralegal.
Operating with a FY 2011-12 budget of $970,000, the City
Attorney’s Office provides legal services in the areas of claims
processing; liability defense; management of the Risk Management/
General Liability Internal Service Fund; municipal code violation
prosecution; ordinance, resolution, and contract preparation;
local reuse authority representation; and redevelopment
agency representation. Select, significant litigation and
The ideal candidate
will demonstrate a commitment
to defending the City in a wide
variety of litigation matters,
with responsibilities including
management, oversight, and
coordination of outside
counsel when necessary.
other matters requiring specialized
legal expertise are referred to outside
counsel operating under the supervision
of the City Attorney’s Office.
THE IDEAL
CANDIDATE
The Concord City Council seeks
an exceptional attorney with demonstrated
expertise in municipal
law, particularly in the areas of land
use, development, personnel law,
risk management, litigation, contract
development and review, and open
meetings law. Candidates for this
position should be willing to exercise
independent judgment and initiative,
always keeping the best interests of
Concord, its residents, and the organization
paramount. The City Council
seeks an advisor and partner with
an aptitude for strategic planning,
forecasting, and creative problemsolving.
The ability to effectively
and sensitively communicate
in a political context is
of particular desirability,
especially in circumstances
where the
legality of planned
action is in question.
The Council seeks an
open, transparent, and
collaborative individual who
will work closely with the
Council, City Manager, and department
heads to proactively address
challenges and opportunities city-wide
and to guide City personnel regarding
pertinent legal issues. As a member
of the City’s Executive Team, the
ideal candidate will work closely on

a day-to-day basis with the City Manager and other
department heads to advance the Council’s work plan and
goals. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a commitment
to defending the City in a wide variety of litigation matters,
with responsibilities including management, oversight, and
coordination of outside counsel when necessary. The successful
candidate will have a demonstrated background in mentoring and
managing staff and be skilled at creating and maintaining a team
oriented, problem solving environment.
THE COMPENSATION
The salary for the City Attorney is open and dependent upon qualifications.
The City also offers an attractive benefits package including:
Retirement – CalPERS 2% @ 55 formula based on final years’ compensation;
employee contribution is currently 5%. The City also offers
Employer Paid Member Contribution (EPMC) as part of final retirement
compensation and participates in Social Security and Medicare.
Health Insurance – Concord provides PERS Health that includes a
variety of plans from which to choose. The City currently pays up to 94%
of the Kaiser rate for employees and their eligible dependents; employees will
contribute 50% of future adjustments in the Kaiser rate. A cash benefit may
be paid in lieu of coverage if the candidate has coverage from another source.
Dental and Vision Insurance – Employees and eligible dependents
are covered by a dental plan that includes orthodontics. The City pays
premiums for employees and their eligible dependents. An optional,
employee-paid vision plan is also available.
Other Insurance – City-paid Life Insurance benefit with coverage at
twice the employee’s annual salary up to $400,000; City-paid Shortand
Long-Term Disability insurance coverage at two-thirds of monthly
salary up to $5,000.
Vacation Leave – Initial bank and accrual of vacation leave is negotiable.
Administrative Leave – 80
hours per fiscal year.
The City also offers
an Employee Assistance
Program.
TO APPLY
If you are interested in this outstanding
opportunity, please visit our website
at www.bobmurrayassoc.com to apply
online.
Filing Deadline:
April 27, 2012
Following the closing date, resumes
will be screened according to the
qualifications outlined above. The most
qualified candidates will be invited
to personal interviews with Bob
Murray and Associates. A select
group of candidates will be asked to
provide references once it is anticipated
that they may be recommended as
finalists. References will be contacted
only following candidate approval.
Finalist interviews will be held with
the City of Concord. Candidates
will be advised of the status of the
recruitment following selection of
the City Attorney.
If you have any questions, please do
not hesitate to call Mr. Bob Murray
at:
(916) 784-9080