Request for Proposals for City Attorney Services

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
FOR CITY ATTORNEY
SERVICES
FOR THE
CITY OF MOORPARK
Proposal Submittals Due By:
May 1, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.
City of Moorpark
City Manager's Office
323 Science Drive
Moorpark, California 93021
Attn: Jonathan Royas, Assistant City Manager
(805) 517-6213

City of Moorpark - RFP for City Attorney Services
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction and Overview
2. Background
3. Scope of Services
4. Proposal Contents and Submittal Requirements
5. Evaluation and Selection Process
6. Anticipated Schedule
7. Inquiries
8. Other Considerations and Reservations of Rights
Appendix A - Sample Agreement
Appendix B - Certification Statement
Appendix C - Disqualification Questionnaire
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City of Moorpark - RFP for City Attorney Services
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
CITY ATTORNEY SERVICES
FOR THE CITY OF MOORPARK
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Moorpark ("City") is requesting proposals from qualified
attorneys or law firms to provide City Attorney Services. Proposals must be received by 3:00 p.m. on May 1,
2026, by the City Clerk's Office at: City of Moorpark, City Clerk's Office, 323 Science Drive, Moorpark, CA 93021,
or via cityclerk@moorparkca.gov. Submissions received after this deadline will not be considered. Fax
submittals will not be accepted.
The Technical Proposal and Cost Proposal must be submitted separately and clearly labeled. Electronic
submissions shall be provided as separate PDF documents. Questions regarding this RFP shall be directed in
writing to Jonathan Royas, Assistant City Manager, at jroyas@moorparkca.gov no later than April 20, 2026.
1. Introduction and Overview
The City of Moorpark is issuing this Request for Proposals ("RFP") to solicit proposals from qualified California
attorneys or law firms to provide comprehensive City Attorney Services. The selected City Attorney will serve at
the pleasure of the City Council and act as the City's chief legal advisor, working closely with the City Council,
City Manager, Assistant City Manager, department directors, commissions, committees, and staff.
The City seeks a responsive, practical, and solutions-oriented legal partner with demonstrated municipal law
experience in California and the capacity to provide both day-to-day advice and specialized support as needed.
The City values clear communication, sound judgment, timely turnaround, strong public meeting presence, and
a collaborative approach that supports effective local government operations.
This RFP is intended to identify a qualified provider for a broad range of legal services, while recognizing that the
City may continue to use or retain outside special counsel for certain matters where specialized expertise,
insurance panel counsel, or conflicts considerations make that approach appropriate.
2. Background
Moorpark is a general law city located in Ventura County, California and operates under the council-manager
form of government with a population of approximately 36,000. The City Council consists of five members and
appoints the City Attorney and City Manager. The City provides a full range of municipal services and works
closely with appointed bodies, including the Planning Commission and other boards, committees, and ad hoc
bodies established from time to time.
The City Attorney is expected to be an integral part of the City's leadership and management support structure.
In addition to serving as legal counsel to the City Council and staff, the City Attorney will be expected to provide
practical legal guidance that helps the City operate efficiently, maintain compliance, manage risk, and advance
City priorities.
The City desires to enter into an agreement for City Attorney Services beginning July 1, 2026, unless otherwise
adjusted by the City Council.
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City of Moorpark - RFP for City Attorney Services
3. Scope of Services
The following scope is intended to describe the general nature of services anticipated under this RFP. Proposers
may recommend refinements they believe would improve service delivery, provided any suggested
modifications are clearly identified.
3.1 General Legal Services
* Serve as chief legal advisor to the City Council, City Manager, Assistant City Manager, departments, officers,
commissions, committees, and staff on matters relating to City business.
* Provide timely oral and written legal advice, opinions, and interpretations of applicable laws, regulations,
ordinances, policies, and court decisions.
* Review, revise, and/or prepare ordinances, resolutions, agreements, contracts, memoranda, staff reports,
deeds, easements, notices, leases, and other legal documents.
* Advise the City regarding the Brown Act, Public Records Act, Political Reform Act, Government Code section
1090, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Elections Code, labor and employment law, due
process, risk management, and other municipal law requirements.
* Monitor significant legislative, regulatory, and case law developments affecting California municipalities and
advise the City regarding needed operational, policy, or procedural changes.
* Provide legal training to the City Council, commissions, and staff as requested.
3.2 Meeting Attendance, Availability, and Presence
* Attend all regular and special City Council meetings, including closed sessions, study sessions, and special
meetings as requested.
* Attend Planning Commission meetings and serve as legal counsel to the Planning Commission.
* Attend meetings of the Administration, Finance, and Public Safety Committee and other standing
committees, boards, commissions, or ad hoc bodies as requested.
* Participate in executive staff meetings, agenda review meetings, and other staff meetings as requested.
* Maintain bi-weekly in-office hours on Council and Planning Commission meeting days, or as otherwise
coordinated with the City Manager's Office.
* Remain readily accessible by telephone, e-mail, and virtual meeting, and be available for same-day or next-
day advice when circumstances reasonably require a prompt response.
3.3 Specialized Areas of Service Expected Within General Municipal Practice
* Advise on land use, planning, zoning, subdivisions, housing law, development agreements, easements,
rights-of-way, public improvements, and related real property matters.
* Provide legal support on personnel and labor matters, including investigations, discipline, grievances, labor
relations, and compliance with the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act.
* Advise on municipal finance issues, including taxes, fees, assessments, Proposition 218 matters, and
related public finance questions.
* Support code enforcement efforts, including administrative enforcement, nuisance abatement, and
prosecution of municipal code, misdemeanor, and infraction violations, as applicable.
* Provide election law advice and support to the City on ballot measures, election procedures, and related
matters.
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City of Moorpark - RFP for City Attorney Services
* Serve as legal counsel to the City's Successor Agency and other affiliated entities or bodies as directed by
the City.
3.4 Litigation, Claims, and Outside Counsel Coordination
* Advise the City regarding claims, disputes, and litigation strategy.
* Represent the City directly in matters within the agreed scope and qualifications of the selected proposer,
where appropriate.
* Coordinate with, supervise, and manage outside counsel retained by the City, where requested by the City.
* Provide periodic updates regarding material litigation and claim matters as requested by the City Council or
City Manager.
3.5 Potential Special Counsel / Carve-Out Matters
The City anticipates that certain matters may remain outside the base scope of services or may be assigned to
outside special counsel, including but not limited to:
* Litigation handled by pooled risk, self-insurance, or panel counsel;
* Bond counsel and specialized public finance matters;
* Specialized labor negotiations or labor litigation;
* Specialized CEQA, environmental, natural resources, stormwater, or regulatory matters;
* Water, wastewater, utility, or other highly specialized infrastructure law matters;
* Conflict counsel and any matter where the City determines outside special counsel is appropriate.
Nothing in this RFP obligates the City to assign all legal work to the selected proposer. The City reserves the right
to retain separate counsel for any matter in its sole discretion.
4. Proposal Contents and Submittal Requirements
Proposals shall be clear, concise, well organized, and tailored to this RFP. The Technical Proposal shall not
exceed 25 pages, excluding resumes, rate sheets, dividers, and required exhibits/forms. The City reserves the
right to request supplemental information from any proposer.
4.1 Submittal Format
* Technical Proposal and Cost Proposal must be submitted separately.
* Electronic submissions are preferred and shall be sent as separate PDF files to cityclerk@moorparkca.gov.
* Physical submissions, if provided, shall be clearly labeled "Technical Proposal - City Attorney Services" and
"Cost Proposal - City Attorney Services."
* Proposals must be received no later than 3:00 p.m. on May 1, 2026.
4.2 Technical Proposal Content
At a minimum, the Technical Proposal should include the following information in the order shown below:
Section Required Content
Signed by an authorized representative and summarizing
A. Cover Letter the proposer's interest, qualifications, availability, office
location, and overall approach.
Legal name, business form, headquarters address, local
B. Firm Information
office handling the work, staffing capacity,
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City of Moorpark - RFP for City Attorney Services
clerical/paralegal support, and any subcontractors or
specialty affiliates anticipated.
Description of the firm's philosophy and approach to
municipal legal services, responsiveness expectations,
C. Proposed Service Approach
communication protocols, issue spotting, meeting
support, and integration with City staff.
Identify the proposed City Attorney, Planning Commission
attorney/deputy, and all other key attorneys or staff who
D. Designated City Attorney and Key Team
may support the City. Include resumes and bar admission
dates.
Describe municipal law experience in California and
specific experience in Brown Act, Public Records Act,
Political Reform Act, elections, land use/planning, CEQA,
E. Qualifications and Relevant Experience
code enforcement, labor and employment, contracts,
public works, real property, risk management, and related
areas.
Describe the team's capacity to attend regular meetings,
special meetings, in-office hours, agenda reviews, and
F. Availability and Meeting Attendance
urgent matters, including backup coverage when the
designated City Attorney is unavailable.
Disclose current public agency clients, significant private
clients creating potential conflicts, any adverse
representation against public entities within the last ten
G. Conflicts and Disclosures
years, any relevant FPPC or State Bar history, and any
past or current business or personal relationships with
City officials or employees.
Provide at least five recent municipal references,
including jurisdiction, contact person, title, phone/email,
H. References
scope of work, and names of attorneys who performed
the work.
4.3 Cost Proposal Content
The Cost Proposal shall be provided separately and should clearly describe the proposed compensation
structure. The City prefers a monthly retainer model, with hourly rates for work outside the base scope, but is
open to alternative compensation structures.
* State the proposed monthly retainer amount and clearly identify the services included within the retainer.
* Identify any assumptions regarding number of hours, meetings, or categories of services included in the
retainer.
* Provide hourly rates for attorneys, paralegals, and other billable personnel for services outside the retainer.
* Identify any alternative fee structures the proposer wishes the City to consider.
* Describe how travel time, routine communications, training, litigation oversight, and attendance at meetings
are billed.
* Clearly identify services that are excluded from the retainer and would be billed separately or referred to
outside counsel.
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City of Moorpark - RFP for City Attorney Services
4.4 Required Forms
* Appendix B - Certification Statement
* Appendix C - Disqualification Questionnaire
4.5 Proposal Validity
Proposals shall remain valid for at least 90 days following the proposal due date.
5. Evaluation and Selection Process
A review team designated by the City will evaluate proposals based on the criteria below. The City may, at its
discretion, conduct interviews with a shortlist of proposers and may request clarifying information, reference
checks, or revised fee information during the review process. The City Council will make the final selection.
Evaluation Criteria Weight
Relevant municipal law experience and qualifications of
30%
designated City Attorney and team
Approach to service delivery, responsiveness,
25%
communication, and availability
Understanding of the City's needs and ability to attend
20%
meetings/in-office support
References, conflict profile, and overall proposal quality 10%
Cost proposal and overall value to the City 15%
The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, waive immaterial irregularities, request interviews,
negotiate with one or more proposers, or cancel and reissue this solicitation at any time.
6. Anticipated Schedule
Event Date
Release of RFP April 1, 2026
Deadline for Questions April 20, 2026
Proposal Due Date May 1, 2026, by 3:00 p.m.
Proposal Review / Interviews May / June 2026
City Council Appointment June 2026
Desired Contract Start Date July 1, 2026
7. Inquiries
All questions regarding this RFP must be submitted in writing no later than April 20, 2026, to:
Jonathan Royas, Assistant City Manager
City of Moorpark
323 Science Drive, Moorpark, CA 93021
jroyas@moorparkca.gov
(805) 517-6213
The City may respond to questions and issue clarifications or addenda in writing as it deems appropriate.
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City of Moorpark - RFP for City Attorney Services
8. Other Considerations and Reservations of Rights
* The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive minor irregularities, and to request
additional information from any proposer.
* The City may investigate the qualifications, experience, and references of any proposer as part of the
evaluation process.
* Issuance of this RFP does not obligate the City to award a contract or to reimburse any costs incurred in the
preparation of a proposal.
* All proposals and materials submitted in response to this RFP may become public records subject to
applicable disclosure laws.
* The selected proposer will be required to enter into a professional services agreement in a form acceptable
to the City.
* The selected proposer will be required to maintain insurance coverage in types and amounts acceptable to
the City.
* The City reserves the right to retain outside special counsel for any matter in its sole discretion.
9. Procurement Communications / Ex Parte Contacts
From the date this RFP is issued until the City completes the selection process and, if applicable, executes an
agreement, all communications regarding this RFP shall be directed only to the City's designated contact
person identified in this RFP. Proposers, including their principals, employees, agents, lobbyists, or other
representatives, shall not contact or communicate, directly or indirectly, with any member of the City Council,
Planning Commission, Successor Agency, City staff, selection panel members, or any other City representative
regarding this RFP, the evaluation process, or the selection decision, except as expressly authorized by the City.
Unauthorized communications may, at the City's sole discretion, result in disqualification of the proposer from
further consideration.
Nothing in this section prohibits communications made at a public meeting, during a City-authorized interview
or presentation, or through other channels expressly permitted by the City in writing.
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City of Moorpark - RFP for City Attorney Services
Appendix A - Sample Agreement
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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE CITY OF MOORPARK AND
FOR
THIS AGREEMENT, made and effective as of ________________________, is
between the City of Moorpark, a municipal corporation ("City") and , a
("Consultant"). In consideration of the mutual covenants and conditions set forth herein,
the parties agree as follows:
WHEREAS, City has the need for services; and
WHEREAS, Consultant specializes in providing such services and has the proper
work experience, certifications, and background to carry out the duties involved; and
WHEREAS, Consultant has submitted to City a Proposal dated , which is
attached hereto as Exhibit .
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, benefits, and
premises herein stated, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. TERM
The term of this Agreement shall be from the date of execution to completion of
the work identified in the Scope of Services and in conformance with Exhibit ,
unless this Agreement is terminated or suspended pursuant to this Agreement.
2. SCOPE OF SERVICES
City does hereby retain Consultant, as an independent contractor, in a contractual
capacity to provide services, as set forth in Exhibit . In the event there is a
conflict between the provisions of Exhibit and this Agreement, the language
contained in this Agreement shall take precedence.
Consultant shall perform the tasks described and set forth in Exhibit .
Consultant shall complete the tasks according to the schedule of performance which is
also set forth in Exhibit .
Compensation for the services to be performed by Consultant shall be in
accordance with Exhibit . Compensation shall not exceed the rates or total contract
value of ($ ) as stated in , without a written Amendment to the
Agreement executed by both parties. Payment by City to Consultant shall be in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
3. PERFORMANCE
Consultant shall at all times faithfully, competently and to the best of their ability,
experience, standard of care, and talent, perform all tasks described herein. Consultant
shall employ, at a minimum, generally accepted standards and practices utilized by