City Attorney, Rob Epstein
Assistant City Attorney, Clark E. (Gus) Guinan
Deputy City Attorney, Eric T. Davis
Legal Assistant, Marilyn H. Pecunia
1400 Fifth Avenue, Room 202
San Rafael, CA 94901-1943
Phone: (415) 485-3080
Facsimile: (415) 485-3109
Mission Statement
As a support department, the primary role of the City Attorney’s office is to provide legal assistance, advice, and defense to all branches of San Rafael City Government, including the attendance and representation of staff at all City Council meetings.
Client Relationship
The City Attorney’s client and the nature of the City Attorney’s work is not well understood by the community-at-large. Many citizens believe that the City Attorney serves as the attorney for the community rather than for a Municipal corporation. The City Attorney is the attorney for the City of San Rafael, as an entity. Because of the nature of the City Attorney’s role, we cannot represent or provide legal advice to individual citizens, groups or other entities. We are therefore unable to respond to individual requests for legal advice or representation.
Office and Staff Functions
The office is comprised of the elected part-time City Attorney, an Assistant City Attorney, a Deputy City Attorney, and a Legal Assistant.
City Attorney, Rob Epstein, is a San Rafael native and graduate of San Rafael High School ('80), UC Berkeley ('85), and UC Hastings College of Law ('91). He was elected to office in November 2007. The City Attorney advises City staff and officials on land use, planning and development, conflict of interest issues, and major litigation. The City Attorney attends all City Council meetings and is the primary legal advisor to the City Manager and City Council.
Assistant City Attorney, Gus Guinan, handles all personnel matters (including administrative hearings); labor relations; administration of the risk management program, including supervision of claims and tort litigation; legal review of Public Works projects and City facilities; drafting of and review of leases, agreements, insurance, ordinances and resolutions; Municipal Code revisions; defense of Pitchess motions in court on behalf of the Police Department; and advises and renders legal opinions to all departments on any/and all municipal issues.
Deputy City Attorney, Eric T. Davis, handles code enforcement matters, prosecuting violators of the City’s Municipal Code in administrative and judicial proceedings; provides research, review and drafting of resolutions, ordinances, and agreements; responds to subpoenas and public records requests; appears in Court on Police Department weapons confiscation petitions; and provides legal opinions and staff assistance on various municipal law issues.
Legal Assistant, Marilyn H. Pecunia, is dedicated to office management and administration, including responsibility for developing and tracking the annual office budget. The Legal Assistant provides paralegal and clerical support for the City Attorney’s staff, maintains the office library and research materials, and files legal documents with the Courts.