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ADOPTED | BUDGET

Legal

Who we are

The City Attorney’s Office focuses on providing excellent, consistent legal support and quality customer
service to the City Council, City Manager’s Office, City departments and Boards and Commissions of the City
of North Richland Hills. The City Attorney’s office strives to be a well‐managed and efficient office that is
proactive and integrated into the day‐to‐day activities of the City, works to find innovative legal solutions to
assist the City in accomplishing its goals, and is recognized for exemplary professionalism and ethical behavior
that reflects the values of the residents and the City Council of North Richland Hills.

What do we do

1 Legal Advisor to City Council and City Staff 5 Draft and Review all Legal Documents
2 Represent the City in Litigation and all Hearings 6 Training of All City Staff and Policy Review
3 Legal Support of Code Enforcement Activities 7 Community Engagement
4 Prosecutor for Municipal Court

Council Priorities

x Quality Community Development & Revitalization x Sense of Community
Efficient & Effective Transportation System x Targeted Economic Development
x Safety and Security x Local & Regional Leadership
Financial Stability x Efficient & Effective Delivery of City Services
x Positive City Image

FY 2021‐22 Top Accomplishments Goals & Measures

 Successfully guided the City Council and all city staff on executive orders, emergency declarations,
ordinance moratoriums, resolutions, employment regulations, federal aid process, and other policies for
operations and staffing during the COVID‐19 pandemic

 Worked closely with attorneys throughout the state, specifically Texas Municipal League, the Texas
Attorney’s General Office, the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, and City Attorney’s Offices from
Fort Worth and Arlington in drafting, providing input, and legal interpretation of local, state and federal
orders and disaster declarations related to COVID‐19

 Implemented and streamlined contract review process for 22 City departments

Secured judgment dismissing all claims on appeal by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in federal lawsuit
against the City and 16 city detention officers alleging civil rights violations under 42 USC Sec. 1983, the
 14th Amendment and the Americans with Disabilities Act

 Guest speaker or panelists on various legal topics, regularly engaging with the legal community as subject
matter experts. (1) City Attorney: Texas City Attorney's Association ‐ Municipal Employment Law, Austin,
TX; Tarrant County Bar Association – Planning Committee and Roundtable Moderator for the annual
Women in the Law Luncheon; International Municipal Lawyer's Association ‐ Comparative Employment
Law, Seville, Spain (2) Assistant City Attorney: Speaker, Amarillo Area Young Lawyers Association, Las
Vegas, NV ‐ The Tragedy Behind the Michael Morton Act; Texas Police Chief’s Association Legal Advisor
Conference, Galveston, TX ‐ Brady, The Michael Morton Act, and Disclosure.

221 NRH | TEXAS