Brief

Introduced by Monica Rodriguez and seconded by Bob Blumenfield, this motion seeks to bifurcate the Office of the City Attorney by establishing a separate Office of Legal Counsel. The file directs analysis of the cost and impact of this structural reorganization and appears aimed at charter reform. The motion was referred to the Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee, where it was scheduled for May 5, 2026, then continued to a date to be determined.

Full summary

This motion, introduced by Councilmember Monica Rodriguez and seconded by Bob Blumenfield, responds to a recommendation from the Charter Reform Commission to split the City Attorney's role into two separate positions. Under the CRC's proposed model, the City Attorney would become a nonelected mayoral appointee confirmed by the Council, similar to a department general manager, focused on providing legal counsel to the City. A new elected City Prosecutor would be created to handle criminal prosecutions. The stated goal of that split is to depoliticize legal counsel, but Rodriguez's motion explicitly acknowledges the concern that converting the City Attorney into an appointed position could undermine the independence of that legal advice. Rather than simply accepting or rejecting the CRC model, the motion asks the Council to weigh a second option: creating an Office of Legal Counsel housed within the Chief Legislative Analyst. That office would advise the City Council directly and assist with Council-initiated ordinances, giving the legislative branch its own independent legal resource. The motion directs the City Administrative Officer, with assistance from the City Attorney, to report on the costs and impacts of both approaches: the CRC's bifurcation plan and the alternative Office of Legal Counsel structure. The motion was referred to the Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee on May 1, 2026. The committee scheduled it for a May 5 hearing but continued the item to a date to be determined. No report from the City Administrative Officer has been issued and the full Council has not acted. The file remains open with an expiration date of May 5, 2028.

Activity (3)

• 2026-05-05 Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee continued item to date to be determined.
• 2026-05-04 Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on May 5, 2026.
• 2026-05-01 Motion referred to Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee.

Documents (2)

• 2026-05-05 Speaker Card(s) · speaker_card
• 2026-05-01 Motion · motion