City Attorney

City Attorney Location: City of New Braunfels, TX Download: City of New Braunfels, TX - City Attorney - Brochure The Community Nestled at the edge of the Texas Hill Country along the I-35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio, New Braunfels is a vibrant and rapidly growing community with a projected population of approximately 128,000. Founded in 1845 and shaped by its rich German and Hispanic heritage, New Braunfels has maintained a distinctive sense of history and community while emerging as one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. The Comal and Guadalupe rivers run through the heart of the city, and residents enjoy an exceptional quality of life with 41 local parks, nearby Canyon Lake, a historic downtown, and celebrated destinations including Gruene Hall, Schlitterbahn Waterpark, and the annual Wurstfest. New Braunfels' desirable location and quality of life continue to attract new residents, businesses, investment, and visitors, creating both tremendous opportunity and the challenges that accompany sustained growth. The community offers highly regarded public, private, and charter schools, a diverse economy, and a strong tradition of civic engagement. As New Braunfels continues to evolve, City leaders remain focused on thoughtful planning, responsible stewardship, strong public services, and preserving the character and quality of life that have made the community such a desirable place to live, work, and visit. Government The City of New Braunfels operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The City Council consists of a Mayor, elected at large, and six Council Members elected by district, each serving three-year terms. The City Council is responsible for establishing policy, enacting ordinances and resolutions, adopting the City’s budget, and setting priorities that guide the organization and community. The City Manager is appointed by the City Council and serves as the City’s chief executive officer, responsible for implementing Council policies, overseeing daily operations, managing City staff, and ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of municipal services. The City Attorney is also appointed by and reports directly to the City Council, serving as the City’s chief legal advisor and providing legal counsel and representation to the City Council, City Manager, executive leadership, City departments, boards and commissions, and other City officials. The City Attorney’s Office The City Attorney’s Office serves as the primary legal advisor to the City Council, City Manager, executive leadership team, City departments, the New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation, and approximately 35 boards and commissions. The Office provides legal counsel across all areas of municipal operations and oversees municipal court prosecution functions. The legal team includes the City Attorney, First Assistant City Attorney (currently vacant), Senior Assistant City Attorney, Assistant City Attorney/Prosecutor, and Senior Paralegal. The Office maintains a broad and diverse municipal law practice encompassing municipal governance and ethics; open meetings and public information compliance; economic development; land use, planning and development; procurement and contract negotiation; employment and labor law; civil service matters involving Fire and Police; real estate and property transactions; risk management and litigation oversight; ordinance drafting and policy development; municipal court prosecution oversight; and public infrastructure. The next City Attorney will lead and mentor this team while helping shape the future of the department and ensuring responsive, practical legal support for the organization as New Braunfels continues to grow and evolve. The Position Under the direction of the City Council, the City Attorney serves as the chief legal advisor for the City of New Braunfels and a key member of the City's leadership team. The City Attorney provides strategic legal counsel, advice, and representation to the City Council, City Manager, executive leadership, City departments, boards and commissions, and other City officials while overseeing the operations and staff of the City Attorney's Office. This highly visible leadership role calls for a trusted advisor and strategic partner who can help City leaders navigate complex legal, policy, governance, and organizational issues. As New Braunfels continues to grow and evolve, the City Attorney will be expected to anticipate emerging issues, provide practical and legally sound guidance, and help advance City priorities while supporting effective governance, sound decision-making, and appropriate management of legal and organizational risk. Essential Functions and Responsibilities Serves as the chief legal advisor to the City Council, City Manager, executive leadership team, City departments, boards, commissions, and other City officials on a wide range of municipal legal matters. Provides strategic legal guidance regarding municipal governance, ethics, open government requirements, policy development, and organizational risk management. Oversees the operations and services of the City Attorney’s Office, including the supervision, direction, and development of legal staff and coordination with outside counsel as needed. Provides legal advice, both verbally and in writing, regarding the application and legality of ordinances, policies, procedures, regulations, contracts, and governmental practices. Performs and oversees legal research and the drafting, review, and negotiation of ordinances, resolutions, contracts, agreements, leases, easements, deeds, memoranda, correspondence, legal opinions, and other legal documents. Oversees legal support related to civil litigation, claims, administrative proceedings, negotiations, and other legal matters involving the City. Provides counsel related to municipal operations, including economic development, land use, planning and development, procurement, employment and labor mat