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City Attorney’s Office <br />www.santa-ana.org/city-attorneys-office/ <br />Item # 17 <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br /> Staff Report <br />August 29, 2023 <br />TOPIC: City Attorney Evaluation and Resolution to Reflect Positive Performance <br />AGENDA TITLE <br />City Attorney Evaluation and Resolution to Reflect Positive Performance <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />Adopt a resolution to reflect an Exceeds Expectations performance evaluation <br />conducted on August 15, 2023 and acknowledge retainer adjustment of $25,000 per the <br />existing Legal Services Agreement with Best Best and Krieger LLP for City Attorney and <br />Special Counsel Legal Services. <br />DISCUSSION <br />The Santa Ana City Charter provides that the City Council shall conduct evaluations of <br />its appointees on an annual basis. In addition, the Legal Services Agreement with Best <br />Best and Krieger LLP for City Attorney Sonia Carvalho’s services provides for an annual <br />evaluation and opportunity for consideration of adjustments based on a positive <br />evaluation. The City Council conducted the evaluation of City Attorney Carvalho on <br />August 15, 2023. The City Council agreed that Ms. Carvalho is doing an excellent job <br />as City Attorney and provided an Exceeds Expectations rating by a unanimous vote. <br />In 2021, the City Council approved a Restated Legal Services Agreement. Per that <br />agreement, the City Council agreed to an increase of $25,000 based on continued <br />positive performance. Although the City Attorney received a positive performance <br />evaluation in 2022, the City Attorney declined the automatic retainer increase. As a <br />result of the 2023 positive performance evaluation, the City Attorney requested the <br />increase approved in 2021. <br />The new annual retainer amount of $350,000 for the City Attorney provides cost savings <br />to the City as the City does not pay any additional benefits such as medical insurance, <br />car allowances, retirement health plan, or any long-term CalPERS pension <br />payments. In comparison, see total costs for a City Attorney in the following cities: