San Luis council engages Pierce Coleman for interim city-attorney services, authorizes up to $100,000

The San Luis City Council voted Feb. 20 to engage the municipal law firm Pierce Coleman to serve as interim city attorney, waiving the procurement code and authorizing expenditures not to exceed $100,000 through the end of the fiscal year.

Acting City Manager Jenny Torres explained that the previous in-house attorney had retired and the city is recruiting a replacement; Pierce Coleman was offered as a temporary option while recruitment continues. Joe Estes, introduced by counsel as the assigned attorney from Pierce Coleman, told the council he has extensive municipal-law experience and represents multiple Arizona cities and towns, including other border communities.

Torres asked the council to approve the engagement, the procurement-waiver and the $100,000 cap to cover services through the fiscal year. A council member moved and the council approved the motion by voice vote; the clerk recorded "motion carries." No roll-call tally was given in the transcript.

The contract authorization is temporary and council members were told staff will return if an in-house attorney is recruited prior to the fiscal-year end. The city did not publish contract language in the meeting minutes beyond the expenditure cap and the name of the appointed firm.

Next steps: staff to continue the recruitment for an in-house city attorney and to return to council if the interim arrangement changes.