Government
Government
Representing general and special purpose public agencies has been a principal strength of our firm for more than 60 years. Our deep understanding of our public agency clients’ business helps us find ways to cost-effectively achieve their objectives on a sound legal basis.
As general counsel and special counsel, we represent transportation districts, cities, water districts, community service districts, fire districts, hospital districts, joint powers authorities, local governmental agency associations, and sanitation districts.
Whether on individual assignments or as ongoing counsel, our experience also includes labor and employment law, municipal finance and rate-setting, including Prop 218, litigation, environmental laws, water supply, including water rights, transfers, recycled water and SGMA, solid waste management, real estate and land use, government reorganization, complex technology procurements, alternative project delivery, public works construction, long term operating and revenue sharing agreements, and contract negotiations.
Experience
- Administrative law
- Appellate advocacy
- Code enforcement
- Conflicts of interest
- Elections
- Eminent domain and inverse condemnation
- Employee benefits
- Environmental law
- Financial and rate setting
- Insurance recovery
- Joint powers agreements
- Labor and employment
- LAFCO issues
- Land use
- Legislation
- Litigation
- Open government laws
- Ordinances and resolutions
- Privacy, data security and information control
- Public private partnerships
- Public procurement
- Public works and infrastructure
- Real property acquisition, management and disposition
- Taxes, assessments and fees
- Technology procurements
Key Contacts
News & Resources
Governor Signs Three New Laws Protecting Water Agencies and their Customers From Higher Costs
In the past week, California's Governor signed into law three bills to ensure fair water rates across California. 1) SB 1072 requires that any surplus funds collected from water & wastewater customers be used to reduce future fees. 2) AB 1827 confirms that meter charges and peak usage associated with higher costs of water service are appropriate components of water fees. 3) and, AB 2257 provides a framework for an administrative exhaustion procedure that will create more protections from Prop. 218 lawsuits for water, sewer, and solid waste agencies in the future.
What Recent Supreme Court Rulings Mean for Environmental Laws in California
Recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings will not directly affect facial challenges to void a California regulation, nor will they affect whether and how courts defer to California agencies' interpretations of California statutes.
Supreme Court Blocks Taxpayer Initiative from November Ballot
On June 20, 2024, the California Supreme Court ruled that the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act cannot appear on the general election ballot in November.
California Expands Progressive Design-Build Authority to Most Public Agencies
More flexibility presents new challenges. Agencies can simplify contracting for complex projects, but face challenging negotiations and price uncertainty.
DOJ Mandates Website Standards: Justice Department Sets New Technical Requirements for State and Local Entity Websites and Deadlines for Compliance
On April 24, 2024, the DOJ published a Final Rule establishing technical requirements for web accessibility by public agencies. The Final Rule goes into effect on June 24, 2024 and applies to public entities, including special districts.
The EPA Designates Two PFAS Compounds as “Hazardous Substances” Under CERCLA, Triggering Potential Cleanup Liabilities for Private and Public Entities
CERCLA now requires that owners and operators clean up PFOA or PFOS contamination on their properties.
The EPA Finalizes PFAS Drinking Water Limits While California Adopts Public Health Goals for PFOA & PFOS, Which Will Have Wide Ranging Effects
The US EPA moves ahead with new PFAS regulations, which affect public water systems, wastewater treatment operators, and contaminated site cleanups.
Keeping Up With California Public Records Act Decisions
Two recent decisions out of the Sixth Appellate District and one out of the First Appellate District provide helpful guidance for public agencies when responding to California Public Records Act (PRA) requests for investigative records, preparing for potential PRA litigation, and maintaining records responsive to PRA requests.
AB 1287 Makes Technical Changes to State Density Bonus Law to Maximize Housing Production
In 2023, Governor Newsom signed more than 50 housing-related bills intended to address California’s housing crisis. One of those bills, AB 1287 (Alvarez), promotes housing production by amending state density bonus law to enable developers to double the allowable density increase on an eligible site.
California’s Top Three Housing Bills to Track for 2024
Among the 50-plus housing bills enacted in California in 2023, three bills extending SB 35, allowing housing on lands owned by religious and educational institutions, and imposing CEQA reform, may be the most consequential.
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