A. The City may choose to employ an in-house City Attorney or contract with an outside lawyer or law firm to provide City Attorney services. The City Attorney is hired by and reports to the City Manager.

B. An in-house City Attorney may employ Assistant City Attorneys. The City Attorney may delegate responsibilities under this chapter to Assistant City Attorneys, provided the City Attorney retains supervisory control.

C. The City Attorney may retain additional outside counsel to provide legal services on matters requiring specialized legal knowledge or training or if the resources of the City Attorney’s office are not sufficient to timely provide all legal services needed by the City. In most cases, retention of outside counsel should be through the City Attorney’s office, although outside counsel may be retained and budgeted by City departments with the approval of the City Manager and City Attorney.

D. The City Attorney’s client is the City of Bend as an entity. The City Attorney may provide legal advice to (1) the City Council as a body, (2) the City Manager, (3) department heads and management personnel, and (4) individual staff members in connection with their work responsibilities. The City Attorney may independently review legal issues affecting the City that come to the attention of the City Attorney.

E. All ordinances and resolutions must be reviewed by the City Attorney before being presented to the City Council. As needed, the City Attorney shall provide an explanation to the City Council of support of or objections to an ordinance or resolution.

F. No City contract or intergovernmental agreement may be entered into without City Attorney review and approval. A contract using a form approved by the City Attorney is considered to have been approved by the City Attorney. The City Attorney may provide blanket approvals of contracts below a certain cost amount. [Ord. NS-2159, 2011]