Saratoga News Council proceeding slowly in hunt for new attorney Timetable, enlarged prospect list advised By Steve Enders The search for a new city attorney took a small step forward at the Jan. 6 City Council meeting, as councilmembers agreed on a draft solicitation for attorney services. City manager Larry Perlin is leading the hunt for a new attorney to possibly replace Michael Riback of the Meyers, Nave, Riback, Silver and Wilson law firm, located in San Leandro. Perlin presented the council with a draft request for qualifications that will be sent out to potential applicants. The proposal also included five possible replacement firms recommended by Mayor Jim Shaw. The list includes Michael Riback as one possibility. The remaining prospects are three firms from San Francisco, and one--Berliner Cohen--from San Jose. Shaw said that people familiar with law firms around town suggested the firms to him, and the list is just a suggestion. The request for qualifications gives a profile of the city, the duties asked of the city attorney and lists the requirements to apply. Interested firms will have to provide information on how they monitor legal costs, current fee schedules and a list of references as well as background information. According to the request, Saratoga has an annual budget of $150,000 for the city attorney, which includes $100,000 for general services, such as drafting ordinances and attending meetings and $50,000 for litigation services. Not all the councilmembers were satisfied with the few possibilities, however. Councilmember Nick Streit said, "I'd like to see the list include some more Silicon Valley firms. I think we need to expand this list." With current city attorney Michael Riback looking on, the City Council pushed Perlin to come up with more options, as well as a possible time frame to begin a recruiting process. Perlin told the council that he would contact other cities that hire city attorneys on a contract basis, as well as the League of California Cities, which keeps a directory of attorneys qualified for civic duties. Vice mayor Stan Bogosian said he'd like to see a timetable better defined. "We agree to expand the list; let's get this down to when we're going to get this going," he said. Perlin responded, saying he could have a better idea at the council's next meeting, to be held Jan. 20. Vice mayor Stan Bogosian has been the driving force behind the city's quest for a new attorney. Since being elected vice mayor, he has said that the city may be able to contract another attorney "cheaper and more efficiently." Riback's firm has represented the city for eight years, and was there was speculation last month that the council was dissatisfied with his handling of the Saratoga Creek case, which is now moving into its fourth year of litigation. According to Riback, his firm provides attorney services to 16 cities around the Bay Area. Riback said, "I think that as the council has indicated, they are new. A majority of the council is brand-new and they simply want to see what's in the marketplace. I don't believe this is a reflection of my performance or that of my firm." Bogosian has also said that the eight-year contract has been long enough, and that the time has come to find different, cheaper services. In the creek case, Friends of Santa Clara County Creeks and San Francisco BayKeeper sued the city in 1995 over the condition of the creek. During his eight-year contract with Saratoga, Riback's firm has seen about 18 cases through, which, Riback said, were all either won outright or settled in the city's favor. [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Saratoga News, January 13, 1999. ©1999 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.