City Attorney's Office FY 2014 Budget PresentationCity Attorney's Office
Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Crenna Brumwell, Assistant City Attorney
Maureen Quann, Assistant City Attorney
Tracey Stecklein, Paralegal
Jenny Griffin, Legal Assistant
Department Mission /Goal
To provide legal counsel to the City Council, City
Manager, and all officials and departments of the City in
matters relating to their official duties, to review
necessary legal documents, and to prosecute and defend
all suits for, and on behalf of, the City.
General Counsel - Attend meetings with and provide legal advice to
Mayor /City Council, City Manager, and Department /Division Managers
on all municipal law issues.
Document Development - Prepare and /or review contracts and leases,
conduct legal research, and prepare Memoranda on legal issues.
Litigation - Prosecute and defend lawsuits by and against the City and its
officers and employees in federal and state court and before
administrative agencies.
Code Enforcement - Prosecute ordinance violations and civil infractions in
state court and monitor compliance with City Code.
Property Acquisition - Negotiate property acquisition documents and
conduct closing of transactions.
Community Outreach /Partnerships - Participate in a wide variety of
community activities.
Staff Development - Participate in continuing legal education and conduct
staff development and training sessions on intercultural competency
and leadership.
• General Counsel
— Boards and Commissions (27)
— Meetings
• City Council (31)
• Work Session (17)
• City Manager /Department (1,322)
— Communication /Information Requests (325 /week)
• Document Development
— Ordinances (65) and Resolutions (50)
— Legal Research (20 hours /week)
• Staff Development
—135 hours of continuing legal education
• International Municipal Lawyers Association -
Annual Conference and Mid -Year Seminar
• Iowa Municipal Attorneys Association - Annual
Seminar and New City Attorney Institute
• Large Iowa Cities City Attorneys Meeting
• Document Development
— Walter Development, LLC and TM Logistics, Inc.
— Flexsteel
— Green Industrial Supply
— Faley Properties
— Nutri -Ject Systems, Inc.
— The Rose of Dubuque L.P.
• Litigation
— Board of Review Tax Appeals
— Franchise Fee Litigation
— Water Et Resource Recovery Center Arbitration
— Bee Branch /Tschiggfrie Arbitration
— Mediacom Litigation
— North Grandview Estates LLC
• Property Acquisition
— DMASWA
City Attorney Barry Lindahl
• Document Development
— Caradco
— Engine House #1 LLC
— Eagle Point Energy
— Eagle Point Solar (Lease and Power Purchase
Agreement)
— Fed -Ex (Hunter Equity)
• Litigation
— Claims (82)
— EPA/ Department of Justice Consent Decree
Compliance
• Community Outreach /Partnerships
— Co -Chair of the Iowa Supreme Court Advisory
Committee on the Rules of Civil Procedure
— Iowa League of Cities Environmental Coordinating
Committee
— Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Iowa College of
Law
Assistant City Attorney Maureen Quann
• Document Development
— Routley Construction LLC
— Truck Country of Iowa
— Timber -Hyrst Park
— Bowling a Beyond
• Litigation
— Board of Review Tax Appeals (11)
— Civil Service Appeals
— Mortgage Foreclosures and Bankruptcies
• Property Acquisitions
— Bee Branch Acquisition and Resale
— Washington Neighborhood Redevelopment / Resale
— Southwest Arterial Condemnation Appeals
—Mines of Spain
— FEMA Buyout Properties on Miller Road
• Community Outreach /Partnerships
— Iowa Municipal Attorneys Association Executive Board
(District 1 Representative)
— Mentor for Multicultural Family Center
— Riverview Center Board of Directors
— Young Lawyers Division
— Dancing with the Stars
Assistant City Attorney Crenna Brumwell
• Document Development
— Dubuque Regional Airport
— Bishop Block
• Litigation
— Human Rights Investigations (22)
— Defending the City in Civil Rights complaints which
are filed against the City (4)
— Klein Supreme Court Appeal
— Hoffman District Court Appeal
• Staff Development
— Training Team Member for Intercultural Competency
Training
• Code Enforcement
— Criminal Court Appearances (1,270)
— Civil Infraction Court Appearances (466)
— Administrative Search Warrants
— Landlord Meetings
— Crime Free Multi - Housing /Tenant Criminal
Background Check Programs
— Problem Properties
— Historic Preservation Commission Enforcement
— Alcohol and Tobacco Compliance
• Community Outreach /Partnerships
— Big Brothers Big Sisters Board of Managers and "Big
Sister"
— Dubuque Arts Council Board Member
— Every Child /Every Promise
— Prescott School Partnership Committee
— Member of Hillcrest Board of Trustees
— Riverview Center Crisis Hotline Volunteer
— Dubuque Young Professionals
— Dubuque Community School Foundation
— Judicial Nominating Commission
— Dancing with the Stars
Administrative Assistants
Prepare legal documents, including pleadings, contracts,
deeds, and other legal forms, edit correspondence and
documents, handle a variety of administrative matters,
maintain records, and process citizen claims
Paralegal
Tracey Stecklein
• Claims
• Property Tax Appeals
• Garnishments
• Real Estate Documents for
Property Acquisitions /Sales
• Appeals and Briefs
• Budget (Maintain /Monitor)
• Accounts Payables/
Purchase Orders
• Payroll
Legal Assistant
Jenny Griffin
• Simple Misdemeanor
Court
• Human Rights
Investigations
• Laserfiche
• Alcohol /Tobacco
Compliance
• Foreclosures
• Appeals and Briefs