Includes former City Attorney Galstan

By Allen Payton

Lynn Tracy Nerland, Antioch’s City Attorney since January, 2006, is resigning her position, effective May 15, 2015 to take the same position with the City of San Pablo.

At the City Council’s next meeting on Tuesday, they will be asked to consider hiring Derek Cole as interim City Attorney and former Antioch City Attorney William Galstan, as the Assistant City Attorney, by contracting with Cota Cole LLP, their law firm, which specializes in municipal law, for up to $150,000.

Cole would be attending Council meetings and Galstan would be attending Antioch Planning Commission meetings, and working in city hall three days during the week.

According to the staff report for the agenda item, that amount is based on a $20,000 per month retainer for 105 hours per month, for an estimated six months, for a total of $120,000. Plus, another $30,000 would be budgeted for litigation or for an unanticipated large or complicated issue, charged at $185 per hour. The staff report further states “There will be salary cost savings during this period.”

Galstan served as Antioch City Attorney from 1979 to 2006. He and Cole currently serve as City Attorneys for Oakley. The City Attorney is one of only two employees the City Council hires, in addition to the City Manager.

The council meeting begins at 7:00 p.m., following a Special Study session on parts of the budget at 6:00 p.m. Meetings are held in the Council Chambers at 200 H Street in downtown Antioch or can be viewed on Comcast Channel 24 or online via live streaming video at www.ci.antioch.ca.us.

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