SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO : New City Attorney to Start March 23

Richard K. Denhalter, city attorney of Santa Clara, on Tuesday was named the new city attorney for San Juan Capistrano, effective March 23.

Denhalter, an Orange County native, succeeds Thomas P. Clark Jr., an associate with a law firm that provided legal services to the city on a contract basis. Clark will finish work on the city’s outstanding legal cases and continue as Community Redevelopment Agency attorney and city bond counselor.

Before taking the Santa Clara post, Denhalter served as county counsel for Placer and Mariposa counties. His hiring makes San Juan Capistrano one of only nine county cities that retain a staff city attorney. Legal services for the remaining 22 cities are performed under contracts with law firms.

Denhalter was hired from a field of about 60 applicants, said George Scarborough, assistant city manager. The four finalists were all interviewed by the City Council, Scarborough said.

“He came highly recommended by his own council,” Mayor Gil Jones said. “We believe it’s best to have our own attorney, right in City Hall when we need him. We’ve been trying to get away from consultants and contract labor doing the work of the city.”

Under the terms of his employment agreement, Denhalter will be paid $90,000 a year plus benefits and a $400 monthly car allowance. He will also receive up to $10,000 in moving costs and will be eligible for an annual bonus equal to 10% of his salary, as are all of the city’s executive employees.

While the council vote for Denhalter was unanimous, City Councilman Jeff Vasquez said he did not support the car allowance or the bonus. Vasquez has consistently voted against annual bonuses for city employees.

“I think we will see some savings by hiring an in-house attorney,” Vasquez said. “But I did object to the car allowance. In light of the fact we are paying for his moving costs and he will likely live in San Juan Capistrano, a very small city, I think $400 a month is excessive.”