City Attorneys

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The City Attorneys Department is comprised of the attorneys that represent Cal Cities’ member cities. The department president is generally responsible for the department’s work, assisted by the first vice president, second vice presidents, and department representative on the Cal Cities Board of Directors.

Department Goals and Activities

The Cal Cities' Legal Department staff, including the general counsel, the assistant general counsel, the senior deputy general counsel, and the executive assistant, legal services, assists the officers in implementing the department’s goals:

Advance the purposes and goals of Cal Cities;
Support and encourage high-quality legal advice to and representation of California cities by producing conferences, continuing education programs, and other works of interest in the field of municipal law;
Foster the professional development and enrichment of Department members by providing the opportunity to exchange ideas, consult with one another and meet with persons in or associated with municipal law;
Encourage the continued advancement of city attorneys by supporting professional accomplishment and adherence to high ethical standards;
Serve as a technical and advisory department to Cal Cities, including analysis of pending legislation and litigation; and
Advance the interest of cities by helping to improve, shape and develop municipal law through Cal Cities' Legal Advocacy Program and legislative advocacy efforts.

Department Executive Committee

City Attorneys Department Executive Committee Application.

President – Prasanna Rasiah, City Attorney, San Mateo
First Vice President – Roxanne Diaz, City Attorney, Maywood and South Pasadena
Second Vice President – Michael Lawson, City Attorney, Hayward
Second Vice President – Javan Rad, City Attorney, Ventura
Department Director – Eric Danly, City Attorney, Petaluma
Member-At-Large – Heather Ferbert, City Attorney, San Diego
Member-At-Large – Emilio Camacho, Sr. Deputy City Attorney, Sacramento

View the department Executive Committee roster.

Policy Committee Representatives

Appointed by the department president, the City Attorneys Department has at least one representative on each of Cal Cities' policy committees. Representatives provide technical information to the committee, ensure that the department has a voice in the decision-making process, and help make recommendations to the board of directors on legislative and policy issues.

Community Services - Elizabeth Calciano (Assistant City Attorney, Chino Hill & Delano, Deputy City Attorney, El Segundo)
Environmental Quality - Matthew Summers (City Attorney, Barstow, Calabasas & Ojai)
Governance, Transparency, and Labor Relations - Katherine Mirassou (Deputy City Attorney, Livermore)
Housing, Community, and Economic Development - Andrew Jared (City Attorney, Etna, Montague & Yreka)
Public Safety - Jack Liu (Assistant City Attorney, Riverside)
Revenue and Taxation - Derek Cole (City Attorney, Oakley & Sutter Creek)
Transportation, Communications and Public Works – Michael Barrett (Burke, Williams & Sorensen)

City Attorney Community

The California City Attorneys Community is a web-based community for the use of eligible attorneys who represent cities that are members of the League of California Cities (Cal Cities).

Eligible users can login to the Community here.
Eligible users can create an account to request access to the Community here.

To confirm eligibility, please review the User Agreement for the Community. If you have questions about the Community or your account, please send an email to communitysupport@calcities.org.

Department Resources

Search for City Attorneys Papers and Amicus Filings

City Attorney Bylaws

City Attorney Webinars

Dec. 8, 2025 SB 707 Explained: Major Changes to California's Open Meeting Law

City Attorney Continuing Legal Education – Conferences

City Attorney Continuing Legal Education

Nov. 6, 2026 Essential Hour: The Charter City Toolkit

Aug. 7, 2026 Essential Hour: Your First Claim for Damages

Nov. 7, 2025 Essential Hour: Motions, Manners, and Mayhem: Making Sense of Public Meeting Rules of Order

Aug. 8, 2025 Essential Hour: Your First Planning Commission Meeting

Nov. 15 2024 Essential Hour: Code Enforcement 101

Aug. 30, 2024 Essential Hour: Your First Peace Officer Personnel Records Request

Nov. 3, 2023 Essential Hour: Your First ‘Disastrous’ Hour

Aug. 18, 2023 Essential Hour: Your First Ordinance or Resolution

Nov. 4, 2022 Essential Hour: Conflicts of Interest 101

Aug. 5, 2022 Essential Hour: The Basics of Municipal Revenues: Taxes, Fees, and Assessments

Nov. 5, 2021 Essential Hour: Your First Public Meeting – Brown Act Basics

Aug. 13, 2021 Essential Hour: Your First Public Records Request Response

City Attorney Publications

Legal Advocacy

Laws affecting cities are made in the courts, as well as in the Legislature. Consequently, Cal Cities advocacy efforts extend to the appellate courts. The organization weighs in on legal issues where its participation is likely to help advance the legal interests of all California cities. Learn more about our Legal Advocacy efforts and committee or request amicus support.