Christina M. Trujillo Proposal - Redacted
Christina M. Trujillo Proposal - Redacted
Christina M. Trujillo Proposal - Redacted
TRUJILLO
ATTORNEY AT LAW Telephone: 831-920-0652
700 Cass St. Ste.202
Monterey. CA 9940
March 10,2017
1. Qualifications.
c. I have no specialization.
2. Legal Experience.
'n the last couple of months I have not taken on any new Family Law cases due to
~ increase work at City of Del Rey Oaks. The percentage of work attributable to Del
Rey Oaks currently is approximately 90% of my practice and the remainder is working
on my Family Law matters. The increase in work for the City of Del Rey Oaks is
temporary and will decline in the coming months. Generally depending on the issues
before City Council the percentage of my practice devoted to Del Rey Oaks averaged
about 10- 25% ( average of 10- 40 hours a month) in comparison to my Family Law
practice. My Family Law practice included representing individuals going through
divorce, custody battles, temporary restraining orders and Paternity matters. This past
year I did represent some criminal defendants for violations of Driving Under the
Influence in misdemeanor court, but this probably equated to about 5% of my work for
2016.
My experience in litigation started at the City of Salinas as the City Prosecutor for
violations of the municipal code, involved in unlawful detainer action and worked on the
final stages of the Gang Injunction. I have defended criminal defense attorneys in
Monterey County Superior Court since the opening of my practice in 2010. In addition, I
have litigated Family Law matters for the same period of time.
As the Planning Commission legal advisor for both City of Salinas and City of Del Rey
Oaks I am familiar with land use matters, however, evaluation and review of such matters
had previously been vetted by experienced planners that had prepared the staff reports
and review of issues related to legal compliance to all matters related to land use.
I have had more opportunity to review many contracts and fewer that I actually had to
draft. I have reviewed franchise agreements as they have come through from time to time
before they go before city council for adoption.
I have drafted many ordinances in my tenure. I was responsible for drafting the City of
Salinas Administrative Ordinance and implementing that program. More recently, I have
been busy introducing ordinances at the City of Del Rey Oaks covering issues from
trespassing, off street public right away parking, the Cannabis Business Tax and the RV
User Fee. Pursuant to council's request I have been investigating an Exterior Paint
Ordinance. I review and draft resolutions alongside my review of staff reports.
As the City Attorney for Del Rey Oaks I am constantly dealing with Public Records Act
requests the community. Brown Act issues come up on a fairly regular basis at a
minimum to remind council of the boundaries when communicating with each other and
1eeting out in the community. My experience with the Political Reform Act as it relates
councilmembers' conflict of interests comes up occasionally when a member lives to
closed to a particular project and has to remove themselves from being part of the
decision making body.
I have some experience negotiating contractual terms in public employment contracts and
settlement agreements with higher level management and their departure from public
employment. I also have had to resolve threats of litigation where there were allegations
of improper procedure implemented by staff. In my Family Law Practice I am always
negotiating resolutions in custody and property settlement issues involved in divorce and
paternity actions.
I have never been sued for malpractice, subject to any complaints filed with the State Bar,
or had any discipline imposed by the State Bar.
1. I have not made any political contributions of money, in-kind services, or loans
to any member of Carmel City Council.
2. My only public client is City of Del Rey Oaks. In the last five years City of Del
Rey Oaks has been my only public client.
3. I am currently the City Attorney for Del Rey Oaks and do not currently have
any plans for any future public clients other than City of Del Rey Oaks.
C. Cost Proposal.
General legal services provide routine legal advice to the City Council, the City Manager
and staff. Attendance at meetings. Preparing and/or review of agenda, ordinances,
staff reports, resolutions, agreements, contracts, forms, notices, deeds, leases and similar
legal documents. Assist with Public Records Act requests. Advise on labor and
employment matters not included in special services. Advise on conflicts of interest.
Coordinate with City staff and provide advice on code compliance issues. Monitor new
legislative developments and provide updates on new legislation and case law.
D. Other Expenses.
Mileage at IRS rates per year. Photocopying at $0.25 per page. Postage at current USPS
rate. Third party expenses at actual costs.
City of Del Rey Oaks currently pays for my malpractice insurance, conferences and
educational opportunities. I would request that these items be paid by City of Carmel if it
was the only pubic agency I represented.
CITY OF DEL REY 0 A KS
650 CANYON DEL REY RD. DEL REY OAKS, CALIFORNIA 93940
PHONE (831) 394-8511 FAX (831) 394-6421
Office of the Mayor
1. Ms. Christina Trujillo, Esq. has served as the City Attorney for the City of Del
Rey Oaks for the past 4 years and she continues to serve in that position.
2. During that time, I served as Mayor and worked with Ms. Trujillo very closely
and on numerous occasions.
3. Ms. Trujillo is a team player and takes her membership in our city team very
seriously. She offers extremely sound legal advice and is constantly on the lookout
for any legal issues that may impact our city in a negative way.
4. She has attended all of our day-long strategic planning sessions and has made
numerous valuable contributions during these meetings. During City Council
Meetings, Ms. Trujillo sits to my right and offers me sound legal advice concerning
the numerous issues our City Council discusses.
5. Recently, with the numerous personnel issues confronting my city, Ms.
Trujillo has truly been an outstanding asset. To her credit, whenever there is some
obscure legal issue that she isn't totally familiar about, she will recommend another
attorney be brought into deliberations to insure my city has the best possible legal
advice.
6. I give Ms. Trujillo my highest recommendation.
7. Whichever organization is fortunate enough to hire Ms. Trujillo in any legal
position, including City Attorney, will quickly discover they have hired a highly
experienced, knowledgeable, team player who will quickly become indispensable to
their organization.
(signed)
City of Carmel
P.O. Box CC
Carmel, CA 93923
Attn: Personnel Department
I am happy to write this letter of reference on behalf of Christina Gonzales. Christina 'Tina' has offered
legal advice to me for personal legal matters as weU as business matters.
With each interaction I have had with Tina regarding business matters, she patiently listen, seek
clarification where needed and then respond based on current law. Further, during my interactions with
Ms. Gonzales, she has been open about what she does not know, but follows up with doing the research
and then getting back to me in a timely manner.
She is a constant professional and always works hard to complete the work on behalf of her client. Over
the years, I have witnessed Tina's transformation from a novice Attorney to an experienced Attorney
who is confident, poised and champions on behalf of her clients.
Therefore, I highly recommend Ms. Christina Gonzales for the position of City Attorney for the City of
Carmel.
If you should have any questions, feel free to direct them to me at (831)595-4823.
Sincerely,
Mary E. Dawson, JD
Client
CITY OF DEL REY 0 A KS
650 CANYON DEL REY RD. DEL REY OAKS. CALIFORNIA 93940
P.HONE {831) 394-8S11 FAX )831) 3946421
March 9, 2017
City of Carmel-by-the-sea
Monte Verde Street
Carmel-by-the-sea, CA 93923
Christina Trujillo has been our City Attorney since 2014 and has been a valuable part of our city's
management team. She embraces every challenge we've given her and does extensive research
whenever needed to give the City the best possible legal advice. She is not afraid of any task and
works well with our city council as well as staff.
Christina is very responsive to all email, phone and written inquiries. She is especially excellent at
handling multiple projects at one time. She has literally worked on three public records act
requests, multiple personnel issues and her regular duties all at the same time and has yet to miss
a deadline. She is extremely dedicated to her clients and goes the extra mile whenever necessary.
I would highly recommend her as your city attorney. Please feel free to contact me with any
questions you might have.
.. . ~
T.
~~ ....".
Assistant to the City Manager/
Deputy City Clerk
City of D.el Rey Oaks
Christina Gonzales Trujillo
14 Santa Teresa Cir.
Salinas, CA 93906
Cell:83!-235-9995
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Cunently solo practitioner with law office in Monterey, California, providing legal
services in the areas of Criminal Defense and Family Law. In addition, I have been the
City Attorney for Del Rey Oaks for the last two years. Previously employed as an
associate attorney for Johnson & Moncrief, PLC, a law firm handling issues related to
land use and real estate. Worked for the Salinas City Attorney's Office for six years first
as a paralegal and then Deputy City Attorney II involved in code enforcement and
municipal law transactional work. Seven years experience as a law clerk in criminal
defense practice providing assistance in research, trial preparation, case management,
discovery compliance and investigation. Energetic, hard working, self-confidant, team
player with good time management and organizational skills. Experienced in
coordinating, prioritizing and meeting deadlines. Work well with senior management.
STATE LICENSE
EDUCATION
LEGAL EXPERIENCE
I primarily practice in the areas of civil and criminal litigation. I represent individuals in
high conflict matters involving divorce, paternity, custody and restraining order
proceedings in the Family Law courts in Monterey and Santa Cruz County. In my
Family Law practice, I represent individuals from the initial filings of a petition to a final
judgment assisting them to get the best result the law will afford them under their
circumstances. This includes evaluating a case, informing client of potential risks and
benefits of a course of action, seeking interim temporary orders, exchanging discovery,
negotiations and settlement of unresolved issues to obtaining a final resolution of the
case. I practice criminal misdemeanor defense for those charged with Driving Under the
Influence (DUI) violations from the filing of the complaint to the negotiation of an
equitable resolution of the case. This can involve law and motion hearings to resolve
legal issues and discovery procedures to obtain relevant information. I appear at
administrative hearings for the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and State of
California of Board of Parole Hearings (BPH). I defend DUI client.s at the DMV
Adminstrative Per Se hearings in attempt to save their license after a DUI arrest. I
represent life term inmates at their upcoming parole hearings under Title 15 regulations
before a panel of Commissioners seated on the Board of Parole Hearings. In the practice
of municipal law I evaluate potential liabilities and advantages of particular courses of
action and provide sound legal options and solutions to the Councilmembers, Planning
Commission members and staff. I sit as the City's legal advisor at the City Council and
Planning Commission monthly meetings. I do transactional work for the City to include,
but not limited to, code enforcement, drafting ordinances, resolutions, legal memoranda,
review agreements, contracts, legal correspondence, advise Councilmembers and
Planning Commissioners on Brown Act, Robert Rules of Order, conflict laws, respond to
Public Records requests and threats of litigation. I respond to complaints against the city
and negotiate resolutions to disputes. I apprise staff and councilmembers of changes of
California law as it relates to carrying out the city's business. I advise staff of the best
legal business practices and policies in the daily operation of city business.
Assisted senior attorney, Aaron Johnson, with issues arising under and related to
development applications submission and compliance. Provided assistance with Mutual
Water Company regulatory compliance and Williamson Act application submission.
Defend and represented clients in code enforcement actions and related land use matters
involving Monterey County and City of Salinas Code violations.
*Johnson & Moncrief, PLC has dissolved. Aaron Johnson, my employer at Johnson &
Moncrief, now works at L+G, LLP Attorneys, 318 Cayuga St., Salinas, 831-754-2444
Prosecuted violators of the Salinas City Code and advised code enforcement staff
regarding code compliance, enforcement and case preparation for prosecution. Appeared
in Monterey County Superior Court on misdemeanor violations. Worked with Animal
Shelter personnel to interpret and implement city code regulations regarding animal
issues in city boundaries. Assisted the Code Enforcement Department in drafting the
administrative remedies ordinance and in implementation of the hearing procedures for
administrative remedies hearings.
Worked closely with Salinas Municipal Airport Manager regarding hanger tenant code
violations and review of some contractual matters. Reviewed public works contract
specifications, advised Public Works Department on subcontractor issues and
miscellaneous public work matters. Assisted Risk Management division in review of
Hold Harmless Agreements, advised on liability issues regarding use of city property, and
helped with collection of damages to city property. Responded to Park and Recreation
staff's inquiries regarding ADA issues, public access and other potential liability issues.
Reviewed and interpreted Personnel Manuel regarding miscellaneous employee issues.
Advised Planning Commission at land use public hearings and was the legal advisor on
the Committee for the City of Salinas Redistricting 2002. Worked on Gang Injunction
pleadings in its final stages.
Researched and prepared memorandum on municipal law issues for city attorney, city
councilmembers, city manager, and staff. Evaluated potential liabilities and advantages
of particular courses of action, and provided sound legal options and solutions.
Worked with multiple city departments addressing day to day legal issues. Analyzed and
reviewed legal documents including, but not limited to, leases, settlement agreements,
independent contractor agreements, consultant agreements, promissory notes,
professional services agreements, housing funding agreements, and joint powers
agreements.
Familiar with municipal laws relating to, but not limited to, Public Records Act, Robert
Rules of Order, Brown Act, conflict ofinterest rules, land use regulations, governmental
immunities, and public safety.
Assist with case preparation for pre-trial and trial to include, but not limited to, review of
police reports, analysis of factual and evidentiary issues, interview witnesses and experts,
investigate and obtain evidence, subpoena and coordinate witnesses for testimony, assist
with jury selection and instructions, prepared and assisted with trial exhibits. Researched
legal issues, drafted some legal memoranda for trial motions, and assisted at trial.
Supervised staff assistant. Interviewed for staffing position.
PERSONAL REFERENCES