2025-08 Contract City Attorney Services
| Location: | California |
|---|---|
| Posted: | Nov 5, 2025 |
| Due: | Dec 5, 2025 |
| Agency: | City of Del Mar |
| Type of Government: | State & Local |
| Category: |
|
| Solicitation No: | 2025-08 |
| Publication URL: | To access bid details, please log in. |
| Bid Number: |
2025-08
|
| Bid Title: |
2025-08 Contract City Attorney Services
|
| Category: | Professional Services |
| Status: | Open |
|
Attachment Preview
CITY OF DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
No. 2025-08
CONTRACT CITY ATTORNEY SERVICES
I.
INTRODUCTION
A. General Information
The City of Del Mar (“City”) is seeking Statements of Qualifications (SOQ/proposals)
from qualified attorneys and/or legal firms to provide municipal legal services to the
City as its designated contract “City Attorney”. The focus of this solicitation is to engage
the services of an outside City Attorney to oversee and manage the legal affairs of the
City and ensure the policies, procedures, and activities of the City are carried out in
compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. The City Attorney reports directly
to the City Council.
B. About the City
Incorporated in 1959, the City of Del Mar is a Charter Law City with a Council-Manager
form of government. The Del Mar City Council consists of five at-large seats (currently
only four members due to a Council vacancy), one of whom is chosen on a rotating
annual basis to serve a one-year term as mayor.
Del Mar is located just 20 minutes north of downtown San Diego on the southern
California coast. Approximately 3,900 residents call this 2.2 square mile city their home.
The famed horse racing and annual County Fair that take place at the Del Mar
Fairgrounds and over two miles of white sandy beaches make Del Mar an inviting
tourist destination for upwards of 3 million visitors annually. Residents and visitors
enjoy excellent weather and a variety of outdoor activities at the City's parks and
Downtown Village.
A wide range of services are provided by the City, through departments that include
Administrative Services, City Manager, Community Services, Fire Services, Planning
& Community Development, and Public Works. The City currently has eight Council
appointed advisory committees and two quasi-judicial bodies including the Planning
Commission and Design Review Board. The City Attorney or their designated staff
attends City Council and Planning Commission meetings.
The City employs approximately 66 full-time employees and 44 part-time employees.
The City’s total budget for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 is $48.4 million. The Fiscal Year
2025-2026 budget for legal services is $316,000, which is based on general retainer
costs. Legal services beyond the base services provided under the general retainer
City of Del Mar - RFQ 2025-08
Contract City Attorney Services
Page 2 of 9
are billed separately, along with costs for special projects and claims/litigation. Annual
budget documents and prior year Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports are
available online via the City’s website: https://www.delmar.ca.us/132/Budget-Financial-
Reports.
C. Inquiries
Questions and inquiries regarding this RFQ must be received by 4:30 p.m. PST on
Friday, November 14, 2025, and directed in writing by email to Ashlea Houston,
Management Analyst, at ahouston@delmar.ca.us. All inquiries must reference “RFQ
2025-08 Contract City Attorney Services” in the title or subject line. Questions and
inquiries submitted over the telephone will not be accepted.
D. Submittal Requirements
Proposals are due on or before Friday, December 5, 2025, no later than 4:30 p.m.
PST. Your proposal should be submitted via email to Ashlea Houston, Management
Analyst, at ahouston@delmar.ca.us.The submittal must reference “RFQ 2025-08
Contract City Attorney Services” in the title or subject line. Facsimile submittals will not
be accepted.
II. ANTICIPATED TIMELINE
Anticipated timeline for RFQ process is outlined below and is subject to change without notice:
Action
Issue Notice of RFQ
Tentative Timeline/Deadline
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Questions Due from Respondents
Friday, November 14, 2025 (4:30 PM)
City Responses to Questions Posted Friday, November 21, 2025 (4:30 PM)
Deadline to Submit Proposals
Friday, December 5, 2025 (4:30 PM)
Review of Proposals Received
Monday, December 8, 2025 - Friday,
December 19, 2025
Interviews
Week of January 5, 2025
City Council Award of Agreement
February 2025
III. SCOPE OF SERVICES
A. Essential Attributes and Qualifications
The City Council and City administration expect the City Attorney to be service-oriented,
actively involved in the business of the City, creative in finding solutions and pro-active in
helping City officials and staff avoid legal pitfalls, as well as having experience and expertise
in the following areas:
1. Land Use, Planning and Development Regulations, CEQA, NEPA, code enforcement,
California Coastal Act, NPDES, and Regional Water Quality Board issues
City of Del Mar - RFQ 2025-08
Contract City Attorney Services
Page 3 of 9
2. Affordable Housing
3. Zoning, Development processes, Building and Housing Codes
4. Municipal Corporations in California
5. Rules of public meetings, decorum, open meeting laws, Brown Act, Conflict of Interest
(AB 1234), Political Reform Act, Public Records Act, due process and other legal
requirements imposed by statute and common law
6. Ethics
7. Elections
8. Public Personnel, employee discipline, labor relations, Fair Labor Standards Act
(FLSA)
9. Taxes and fees, Proposition 218, assessments, franchise agreements
10. Contracting Law, contracts and transactions
11. Construction Law, claims, public contracting requirements
12. Laws pertaining to Public Utilities (water, sewer and clean water)
Additional requirements include the following:
a) It is expected that there will be one individual designated to serve as the City Attorney from
within the chosen firm. For the purpose of this RFQ, a “firm” is defined as a firm or a sole
proprietor. The City Attorney will be the primary contact except when unavailable due to
vacation or illness. The designated individual must have a college degree, a law degree (J.D.)
from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association and must be a licensed and
active member of the California State Bar.
b) Both the firm representing this RFQ, and the individual proposed to serve as the City
Attorney must describe the circumstances surrounding any malpractice lawsuit or legal
services contract termination during the past five (5) years.
c) The City Attorney must have served as a City Attorney for at least five (5) years in a
California municipality or as a Deputy City Attorney for a minimum of seven (7) years.
d) The City Attorney must be able to demonstrate an on-going commitment to receive training
on contemporary issues affecting local government.
e) The City Attorney must be an articulate, decisive, and highly motivated leader who
possesses excellent political acumen and awareness.
f) Written and oral communications by the City Attorney must be clear, concise, well-organized
and intelligently explain legal concepts to different levels of audiences in a clear and direct
manner.
g) The City Attorney shares the vision of the Council and community, and can advocate,
articulate and implement that vision. The City Attorney must be able to blend innovation and
City of Del Mar - RFQ 2025-08
Contract City Attorney Services
Page 4 of 9
creativity, think outside the box, acknowledge the challenges of the City and address those
challenges in a strategic manner.
h) Both the firm responding to this RFQ, and the individual proposed to serve as the City
Attorney must demonstrate the capacity to effectively deal with any existing or future time
commitment conflicts.
i) The firm responding to this RFQ must provide evidence, if selected, of Commercial General
Liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 annual aggregate), Commercial
Automobile Liability ($300,000 per occurrence), Workers’ Compensation ($1,000,000
minimum employers’ liability coverage) and Consulting Liability (Errors and Omission)
($1,000,000 per claim and $2,000,000 annual aggregate) coverage in force and acceptable to
the City.
A. Scope of Services Requested
The City Attorney shall provide the following services to the City:
1. Represent and advise the City Council and all City Officers in all matters of law
pertaining to their offices.
2. Keep the City Council informed of legislation or judicial opinions that have potential
impact to the City.
3. Represent the City before other governmental bodies and agencies to promote the
interests of the City.
4. Oversee and manage the legal affairs of the City and to ensure the policies, programs,
and activities of the City and its employees and agents are carried out in compliance
with all applicable law and that the best interests of the City are otherwise protected to
the fullest extent possible.
5. Attendance at City Council (open and closed sessions) and Planning Commission
meetings are expected.
6. Attend Executive Team meetings or other City meetings at the request of the City
Manager.
7. Be promptly available in person and/or by telephone, e-mail or other forms of electronic
consultation and render written opinions on given issues related to City business in a
timely manner. Same day response for items designated as urgent is expected.
8. Approve the form and content of all performance bonds, insurance certificates and like
documents tendered to the City.
9. Prepare/review all Ordinances, Resolutions, Contracts, Memorandums with Public
Agencies, Deeds, Leases, Staff Reports, and all other legal documents as requested
by the City Council, City Manager or staff designee. Review of routine items is generally
expected to be completed within five (5) to seven (7) business days of submittals. For
more complex items, the City Attorney is expected to provide regular reports to the City
Council, City Manager, or staff designee on the status of completion and anticipated
completion dates.
City of Del Mar - RFQ 2025-08
Contract City Attorney Services
Page 5 of 9
10. Provide recommendation and advice when requested by the City Council or City
Manager pertaining to the retention of and employment of outside special counsel in
complex and important cases in which the City may be involved.
11. Coordinate with City Manager or designee for the management of services and costs
of all outside legal counsel within budgetary limits as approved by the City Council.
12. Perform legal work pertaining to land use issues including but not limited to property
acquisitions, property disposals, public improvements, economic revitalization,
easements, dedications, and right-of-way vacations.
13. Review Environmental Impact Reports/Environmental Impact Statements for adequacy
with CEQA and NEPA.
14. Provide consultation on claims and complaints by or against the City and prepare civil
cases and act as trial counsel, as requested by City Manager or designee, and make
recommendations to the City Council in consultation with the City Manager.
15. Aid with the City’s Administrative Services Department electronic and digital records
for the California Public Records Act (PRA). A plan identifying how the City Attorney
can assist with digital records for PRA’s is desirable. E-Discovery and Legal Holds
Software for use in gathering records is highly desirable, but not mandatory.
16. Review citations for violations of City ordinances in accordance with criminal/civil law
and procedures, prepare and try infractions, misdemeanors, and ordinance violations
as required and requested by the City Council, City Manager or designee.
17. Assist the City in enforcing codes, zoning regulations, and building standards through
administrative and judicial actions.
18. Provide conflict of interest assistance to City Council and staff and assist members and
staff in seeking advice from the Fair Political Practices Commission.
19. Be available on agenda meeting day to provide full range of normal City Attorney
services to City Manager, staff, and the City Council.
20. Quarterly Reports. To keep the Council and City Manager informed of the status of
litigation involving the City, the City Attorney will submit a quarterly status report briefly
outlining the status of each litigation matter, including code enforcement litigation
matters. The City Attorney shall advise City Council and City Manager of significant
developments in litigation involving the City as they occur. The status report shall be
submitted between the first and fifteenth of the following months (April, July, October
and January).
21. Provide advice regarding responses to media requests related to litigation or
anticipated litigation matters when requested.
22. Provide written legal opinions and advise the City Council and management staff on
legal matters pertaining to City operations.
23. Maintain legal files and provide the City Clerk copies of pertinent pleadings and orders
in all litigation the City Attorney is handling for the City.
This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.
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