New City Attorney for South Lake Tahoe

The City of South Lake Tahoe did not have to look far in finding a replacement for outgoing City Attorney Tom Watson, who left the position to take the same job for the City of Tracy.

Deputy City Attorney Nira F. Doherty has been retained to fill them job on an at least interim basis.

Her services will be contracted through her current employer, Burke, Williams and Sorenson, LLP, will provide up to 80 hours of general legal services at a cost of $19,500 per month, or $234,000 annually. Should the City need her services, or specialty services from the law firm for more than the 80 hours per month, they will bill hourly between $265 per hour for an associate of the firm up to $375 for a partner.

In the City's FY 2017/2018 adopted budget there was $227,000 for the
City Attorney in salary and benefits along with $97,000 for Deputy City Attorney services. There will now be a transfer in budgeted funds for the City Attorney in various salary and benefit accounts to the professional services account in the City Attorney's budget to cover the estimated costs associated with this Agreement.

Doherty and her husband both currently travels between South Lake Tahoe and Marin County. She said it is unknown where they will make their permanent residence now that the oldest of their two daughters is almost school age.