The Stockton City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to appoint Marci Arredondo as city attorney pending a background check.
According to a copy of the employment agreement read aloud at the meeting by Mayor Christina Fugazi, the three-year contract provides for an annual salary of $315,000, with possible cost-of-living increases consistent with those granted to the city’s unrepresented management, confidential and law employees under their compensation plans.
The agreement also includes 30 days of vacation annually, with 30 days credited upon the start of employment; 15 days of sick leave per year; $7,000 annually for professional development; a $250 monthly technology stipend; a $500 monthly vehicle allowance; and a deferred compensation contribution equal to 9% of the salary.
The Stockton city attorney serves as the city’s chief legal officer, providing legal advice to the city council, boards, commissions and departments and managing civil and criminal litigation, drafting contracts and ordinances, defending the city in lawsuits and interpreting laws to reduce risk and costs to taxpayers.
Arredondo’s start date was not provided, though her contract requires completion of a background check by March 20. The city released no information about the new city attorney’s background or qualifications, but city records identify Arredondo as a deputy city attorney for Stockton in 2011 and an assistant city attorney for Stockton in 2023.
The meeting agenda listed closed-session interviews for qualified candidates and included a contract for a new city attorney, though sections identifying the name, start date or salary were left blank, a departure from past practice.
The council appoints the city attorney, city clerk, city manager and city auditor. Historically, the council has listed information about proposed hires — including name, start date and salary — in meeting agendas. Past agendas show that this approach was used for prior appointments, including former city attorneys Lori Asuncion and John Luebberke, City Clerk Katherine Roland and former City Clerk Eliza Garza, and City Manager Johnny Ford and former Interim City Manager Steve Colangelo.
Stockton began recruiting for a new city attorney on Jan. 14 after Asuncion resigned the day prior following 18 years in the city attorney’s office. The city and Asuncion did not disclose why she left the position, but potential discipline, dismissal or release was scheduled for discussion in closed session.
The item was placed on the agenda at the request of District 1 Councilmember Michele Padilla, District 2 Councilmember Mariela Ponce and District 5 Councilmember Brando Villapudua, who asked that the clerk not disclose their request for the closed-session discussion, according to emails obtained by The Record through a California Public Records Act request.
Assistant City Attorney Taryn Jones has served as Stockton’s acting city attorney since Asuncion’s resignation. Asuncion was appointed city attorney for Antioch on Feb. 10.
City officials said the council expanded its search for a new city attorney to include advertising through professional and legal organizations, including the League of California Cities, LinkedIn, the California Lawyers Association, the San Joaquin County Bar Association, CalPELRA, CalOpps, the Municipal Management Association of Northern California and local law schools. The recruitment brochure also was emailed to more than 30 public-sector human resources departments and city attorney offices statewide.
Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Council approves Arredondo as Stockton city attorney pending background check
Reporting by Hannah Workman, The Stockton Record / The Record
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