Richmond City Charter
CHAPTER 4. COUNCIL
Sec. 4.17. City Attorney.
The city attorney shall be the chief legal advisor of the council, the mayor, the chief administrative officer and all departments, boards, commissions and agencies of the city in all matters affecting the interests of the city. The city attorney shall perform particular duties and functions as assigned by the council. The city attorney shall be appointed by the council, shall serve at its pleasure, and shall devote full time and attention to the representation of the city and the protection of its legal interests. The city attorney shall have the power to appoint and remove assistants or any other employees as shall be authorized by the council and to authorize any assistant or special counsel to perform any of the duties imposed upon him/her in this charter or under general law. The city attorney may represent personally or through one of his assistants any number of city officials, departments, commissions, boards, or agencies that are parties to the same transaction or that are parties in the same civil or administrative proceeding and may represent multiple interests within the same department, commission, board, or agency. In matters where the city attorney determines that he is unable to render legal services to the mayor, chief administrative officer, or city departments or agencies under the supervision of the chief administrative officer due to a conflict of interests, the mayor, after receiving notice of such conflict, may employ special counsel to render such legal services as may be necessary for such matter.
(Acts 1998, ch. 711; Acts 2004, ch. 877, § 1; Acts 2004, ch. 898, § 1; Acts 2006, ch. 650, § 1; Acts 2006, ch. 712, § 1)
Overview
The Office of the City Attorney serves a key role in the Mayor’s vision for the City of Richmond to become a Tier One City in the areas of: 1) Timely and Accurate Legal Advice; 2) Policy and Legal Compliance; 3) Blight Removal and Neighborhood Improvement; 4) Economic Development; 5) Revenue Collection and Enhancements; 6) Policy Development; and 7) Human Services Delivery to Families.
Agency Overview – 1) Provide legal advice and services to the City Council, the Mayor, the Chief Administrative Officer and all departments, boards, commissions and agencies of the City in all matters affecting the City. 2) Accept service of legal process on behalf of the City. 3) Defend the City, the Council or any member thereof, or any officer or employee of the City, or any trustee or member of any board or commission appointed by the City Council in any legal proceeding where they may be named as a defendant. 4) Render legal opinions in writing when requested. 5) Participate in bond authorizations and bond issuances as authorized by ordinance. 6) Prepare ordinances for introduction and to render legal opinions as to the form and legality thereof.
2011 Proposed Biennial Fiscal Plan