New lawyer fitting in

Elia Powers

Kimberly Barlow likens the role of a city attorney to that of a

general practitioner.

“In this job, you need to know about the Constitution; you need to

learn police issues; you need to learn environmental issues; you have

to know a lot of information,” Barlow said.

She has honed her skills as assistant city attorney for the cities

of Westminster, Whittier, La Habra and Fullerton.

Now, more than three months into her tenure as Costa Mesa city

attorney, she is testing her management abilities.

A senior associate at Jones & Mayer law firm in Fullerton, Barlow

has at her disposal more than a dozen full-time attorneys who work at

the firm.

And thanks to a decision reached in the last year, so does the

city of Costa Mesa.

The City Council voted 3 to 2 on Sept. 7 to do away with its

existing attorney’s office, reaching the conclusion that an outside

firm would be better equipped to handle increasingly difficult cases,

while keeping costs down.

Jones & Mayer charges the city of Costa Mesa a flat rate of $160

per hour, no matter the attorney.

Barlow has an office at Costa Mesa City Hall that she visits every

day. She attends city meetings, mulls legal issues and directs

questions to attorneys at her firm if she feels they doesn’t fall

into her domain.

With a full array of communication devices -- cellular phone,

e-mail, pager, Palm Pilot -- Barlow prides herself on being readily

available to city officials.

But she said she is careful not to micromanage or work unnecessary

hours.

“I’m only here when I need to be here,” Barlow said. “I received

clear direction from the council that they wanted a more efficient

city attorney’s office.

“They didn’t always get answers as quickly as they would have

liked,” she said. “We have a group of experts who can make decisions

in a timely manner.”

Barlow said she is still in a transitional stage. She works in

conjunction with two city attorneys and a paralegal who are easing

her into the job. By early April, Barlow said, she will take over all

responsibilities.

City officials are already noticing her presence.

“We are getting a more immediate response,” assistant city manager

Steve Hayman said. “There are an unlimited number of specialties in

the legal field. We tend to have generalists. Working with her firm,

there is a greater level of specialty.”

Added council member Katrina Foley: “It’s too early to tell how

[the arrangement] will work out.... So far, she has been attentive

and conscientious.”

At Jones & Mayer, Barlow focused much of her time on conducting

personnel training in discrimination and harassment prevention. She

often investigates complaints made against cities.

Her practice is devoted largely to municipal law and litigation.

Barlow said she enjoys working with government agencies.

“There’s a perception that cities don’t always know how to behave

properly,” Barlow said. “Instead of criticizing them, I figured the

best way to ensure government protects the rights of its citizens is

to get involved myself.”

A graduate of UCLA Law School, Barlow has lived in Orange County

since 1977.

She is familiarizing herself with Costa Mesa, and city officials

are getting to know her as well.

“I’m hoping that soon we’ll know exactly how we can best use her

time,” Hayman said.

* ELIA POWERS is the enterprise and general assignment reporter.

He may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or by e-mail at

[email protected].