ENCINITAS — The Encinitas City Council is charting a new course for its city attorney position.
During Wednesday’s meeting, the Encinitas City Council announced it would terminate its contract with Jones Mayer Law and City Attorney Tarquin Preziosi, a decision made earlier in closed session.
The city’s agreement with the firm was first approved in March 2022 and amended in July 2023, according to a city spokesperson.
Preziosi, a partner at Jones Mayer and general counsel to the San Dieguito Water District, has served as city attorney since March 2022. Preziosi, who was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1998, could not be reached for comment via email on Friday.
The city has 45 days from the date of the decision to appoint an interim city attorney. After that, officials will pursue a long-term contract with another attorney or firm.
According to the Oct. 20 meeting agenda, the council will discuss filling the vacancy in a closed session.
Councilmember Jim O’Hara said the timing “worked out well for creating a good culture in City Hall,” given the relatively new council and staff hires.
“We all appreciate all the hard work that Mr. Preziosi put in, but we’re just going in a different direction,” O’Hara said. “We decided the goals of the city required a change of direction in that area.”
1 comment
Very Trumpy to change lawyers when you don’t like them telling you that your proposed actions are illegal. I don’t think it will work for Luke Shaffer, either, in his felony indictment.