CITY ATTORNEY & CODES

204 E. Cook Street
Santa Maria, CA 93454

The City Attorney's Office provides a wide range of legal services for the City Council, City boards and commissions, and operating departments. Major activities include: day-to-day legal advice for City officials and employees; drafting contracts, opinions, resolutions and ordinances; defending the City, its officers and employees in civil litigation; coordinating and monitoring the investigation, settlement, and litigation arising out of personal injury claims; defending minor personal injury suits against the City; handling minor collection cases in the City's behalf; providing staff support to the City's administrative code compliance program, including the Code Compliance Board; prosecuting criminal and civil violations of the City's Municipal Code; representing the City in discovery matters initiated by third parties; representing the Redevelopment Agency in routine matters; negotiating civil settlements, franchises, and agreements on behalf of the City; assisting in Municipal Code updates; maintaining a law library; performing liaison activities with media and the local bar; and networking with other cities through the League of California Cities.

photo of Gilbert Trujillo GILBERT A. TRUJILLO
City Attorney

City Phone: 925-0951 ext. 310
City Fax: (805) 928-1275
204 E. Cook Street

E-mail

EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT:

  • B.A., Cal Poly Pomona
  • J.D., Boalt Hall School of Law, U.C. Berkeley
  • City Attorney, City of Santa Maria
  • Assistant City Attorney, City of San Luis Obispo
  • Deputy City Attorney, City of Santa Barbara
  • Deputy City Attorney, City of Santa Maria
  • Associate Attorney, Burke, Williams & Sorensen

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

  • National Management Association
  • Boys & Girls Club of Santa Maria Valley
  • Tailwinds Bicycle Club
  • League of California Cities
  • Various community based organizations

PERSONAL:

  • Marital status: Married
  • Children: Two
  • General interests: Camping, fishing, bicycling and tennis

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

Manage the legal and code compliance divisions of the City. Manage the litigation and claims filed against and by the City. Give day-to-day advice to City officials and employees. Draft ordinances, rules, resolutions, contracts, and policies.

Mission Statement
To provide effective representation in the public interest.

2010-11 Goals/Objectives

  1. Present for Council's consideration an ordinance to allow recording of a notice of nuisance for abandoned and foreclosure properties that are in disarray.
  2. Assist the Utilities and Recreation and Parks Departments in obtaining permits to maximize the municipal uses made of the City's property at Los Flores Ranch.
  3. Research, assist other departments and propose, as appropriate, new ordinances, resolutions and policies to address quality of life and health and safety issues, for Council's consideration.
  4. Coordinate with the Special Projects Division in order to assist qualified owners of nuisance properties to bring their properties into compliance with the City's Municipal Code.
  5. Assist the Building Division by bringing forward for Council's consideration, updates to the 2010 Building Codes.
  6. Assist the Utilities Department in implementing year-two requirements of the Stormwater Management Plan that will fulfill the City's obligations as identified by regional, State and Federal governments for the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System.
  7. Continue to promote accessibility for persons with disabilities at City facilities by coordinating efforts to obtain and use grant funding and other resources for accessibility upgrades.
  8. Assist Community Development, Public Works, Utilities and Recreation and Parks departments as needed to update the City's General Plan.
  9. Prepare and present an ordinance to the City Council making technical amendments to the Municipal Code to update for changes in State law, new cases, and to clarify existing ordinances as required.
  10. Provide periodic litigation, code compliance, and liability claim reports to the City Manager and City Council in an ongoing effort to keep them informed about the issues and activities in these areas.