I have come to realize how very important the position of City Attorney is in the well being of every California City. We are most fortunate in Foster City to have a city attorney who fully understands these duties and is diligent in the exercise of those responsibilities.
Throughout my career as a navy officer and in civilian corporate management I developed a deep appreciation of the protection law provides to an organization, either military or civilian. The Uniform Code of Military Justice assures good order and discipline in the military services while ensuring fair treatment to all persons subject to the UCMJ. The popular JAG television series is a little dramatic, but is a fair representation of the duties of the Navy or Marine Corps JAG officer.
Corporate attorneys are often seen only in defense of their client ? the corporation that employs them. Corporate attorneys assure that their employer remains in compliance with all applicable laws. The corporate attorney?s client is always the corporation.
As a city council member, I have come to appreciate that the role of a city attorney is significantly different than that of either a JAG or corporate lawyer. The city attorney doesn?t work for the city council. The city attorney?s client is the Public! Section 41801 of the California Government Code states ?The city attorney shall advise the city officials in all legal matters pertaining to city business.? But what is city business? City business is serving the residents of the city. This includes our public safety, our public works, our parks and recreation, our health and our general well being. The role of the city attorney is further defined in Chapter 2.20 of the Foster City Municipal Code, sections 2.20.010 through 2.20.050. Careful reading confirms that the client is the Public.
When a City Council member asks a question of our City Attorney, the attorney is providing information to their client ? the Public. The council member is the elected representative of the client ? the Public. The council member may not like the city attorney?s advice, but the advice will be in the best interest of the city attorney?s client ? the Public. Therefore the city council member must receive the city attorney?s advice on behalf of the public.
Municipal law may not be as dramatic and colorful as military or corporate law, but municipal law serves the most important client of all ? the Public.
Your City Council is served by a most competent and capable City Attorney, Jean Savaree, who never forgets that her client is the Public.
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