POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE CITY ATTORNEY

Colorado Springs City Code ch. 1, art. 2, pt. 4

in effect

Colorado Springs City Code § 1.2.401 OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY

1.2.401: OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY: The City Attorney shall have the power and authority to perform the duties set out in this part subject to the obligations imposed by the City Charter 1 . A. The City Attorney, with the consent of the Council, may employ assistants, both professional and nonprofessional, within and without the General Fund, for the City and its enterprises. Attorney Assistants shall receive salaries set by ordinance. Assistants and Attorneys shall be terminable at will. B. The City Attorney shall have authority to employ special counsel to assist or conduct litigation and to assist or provide advice on any legal matters arising in the course of business for the City and its enterprises. The City Attorney shall provide projected estimates related to known outside counsel expenses during Council's review of the Mayor's annual budget. C. The City Council and the Mayor shall have authority to appoint special counsel to investigate the City Attorney or to conduct litigation where the City Attorney may be personally or officially disqualified. (Ord. 11-18; Ord. 17-84) Notes 1 | 2. See City Charter section 13-80.

Colorado Springs City Code § 1.2.402 ACT AS LEGAL ADVISOR

1.2.402: ACT AS LEGAL ADVISOR: In accord with Charter section 13-80, the City Attorney is the legal advisor to the City of Colorado Springs. The City Attorney's Office provides legal service and support to the City Council in the exercise of its legislative duties and functions, and to the Mayor in the exercise of the Mayor's executive and administrative duties and functions. The City Attorney shall advise the Mayor, the Council, its committees, boards and commissions, all City enterprises and any City staff member upon legal questions arising in the conduct of City business. The City Attorney shall give an opinion upon any legal matter or question submitted by the Mayor, the Council, or any of its members, any committee, board or commission, all City enterprises or any City staff member with authority over matters of City business. When acting as legal advisor to the City, the Mayor, the Council, its committees, boards and commissions, all City enterprises and any City staff member, the City Attorney shall comply with the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct. (Ord. 11-18)

Colorado Springs City Code § 1.2.403 PREPARE AND ENFORCE ORDINANCES

1.2.403: PREPARE AND ENFORCE ORDINANCES: The City Attorney shall prepare or revise all ordinances to be codified and other ordinances when requested by the Mayor, the Council, any Council Member or City staff. The City Attorney shall institute and prosecute actions in case of violation of any Charter provision or ordinance when so directed by the Council or the Mayor. (Ord. 11-18)

Colorado Springs City Code § 1.2.404 APPROVE CONTRACTS

1.2.404: APPROVE CONTRACTS: A. The City Attorney shall approve as to form all contracts, deeds and leases to which the City or its enterprises is a party. The City Attorney shall approve as to form all surety documents and insurance policies required as a condition of approval of any development application or the issuance of any license or permit by the City. B. Upon the Mayor's report of any violation of a contract or agreement, the City Attorney shall take action necessary to enforce the contract or agreement and shall have the authority to settle these matters subject to the requirements of this part and article 5, part 5 of this chapter. (Ord. 11-18)

Colorado Springs City Code § 1.2.405 REPRESENT THE CITY

1.2.405: REPRESENT THE CITY: The City Attorney shall represent the City and its enterprises in all adversary actions in any State or Federal Court or actions before State or Federal administrative agencies in which the City or its enterprises, the City Council, Mayor or any board, commission or authority of the City is a party. When directed by the City Council, the City Attorney shall represent any Council Member, the Mayor, staff member or employee in litigation resulting from the conduct in good faith of the alleged duties and functions of that person. (Ord. 11-18)

Colorado Springs City Code § 1.2.406 SETTLE CLAIMS

1.2.406: SETTLE CLAIMS: Subject to the requirements of article 5, part 5 of this chapter, the City Attorney shall have the power to adjust, settle, compromise or submit to mediation any action, accounts, debts, claims, demands, disputes and matters in favor of or against the City or in which the City is concerned as debtor or creditor, now existing or which may later arise, not involving or requiring payment to exceed one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000.00) or for police use of force matters or claims for an amount not to exceed of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00), and, with the authorization of the Claims Review Board, may do likewise in matters not involving or requiring payment to exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00) or for police use of force matters or claims for an amount not to exceed two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00), provided the money to settle claims generally has been appropriated and is available. (Ord. 11-18; Ord. 25-48)

Colorado Springs City Code § 1.2.407 MAKE REPORTS

1.2.407: MAKE REPORTS: The City Attorney shall report quarterly to City Council, the Mayor, the Risk Manager and as appropriate, the chief executive officers of Utilities, and any other interested staff, the outcome of any litigation and similar legal matters in which the City, Utilities has an interest and shall submit recommendations as to appeal, payment or other disposition in the event of judgment adverse to the City. Quarterly, the City Attorney shall report all litigation and similar legal matters in which the City has an interest and the status of the litigation. The City Attorney shall report to the Mayor and City Council as soon as practicable, but no later than three (3) days, any settlement amounts over two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00). (Ord. 11-18; Ord. 15-62; Ord. 17-85; Ord. 19-5; Ord. 25-48)

Colorado Springs City Code § 1.2.408 KEEP RECORDS

1.2.408: KEEP RECORDS: A. The City Attorney shall keep proper records of all actions in courts of record prosecuted or defended by the City Attorney's Office, the proceedings had and all written legal opinions not subject to any attorney-client privilege. B. The City Attorney shall maintain a record of all Mayoral administrative regulations, including those which have been rescinded or are no longer effective, and shall make these records available for public inspection on the City's website. (Ord. 11-18)

Colorado Springs City Code § 1.2.409 APPOINT HEARING OFFICERS

1.2.409: APPOINT HEARING OFFICERS: The City Attorney shall appoint Hearing Officers to resolve disputes as otherwise authorized in this Code or in the tariffs of the Utilities, and for any other reason required or permitted by law. (Ord. 11-18; Ord. 25-64)

Source: City of Colorado Springs, Colorado, City Code and City Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/coloradospringsco/latest/coloradosprings_co/0-0-0-291Fetched: 11/1/2026