City Attorney Performance Evaluation Questionnaire

Instructions: The response to each question provides a linear scale ranging from 1 to 5 between two opposing responses. The lower the number, the closer the respondent agrees with the response on the left. The higher the number, the closer the respondent agrees with the response on the right. A response of "0" indicates that the respondent is declining to answer the question, for whatever reason. Each respondent should choose the number that most closely agrees with the respondent’s own response.

Council should add additional comments on a separate sheet. If you are making clarifying comments for the questions below, reference specific question numbers before the clarifying comments.

Provision of Major Legal Services

(Attorney, advocate and litigator functions – litigation, special projects and specific major ongoing responsibilities relative to City Council)

  1. Is the legal advice provided by the City Attorney to Council objective/unbiased, professional, and adequate for your use in formulating legislative policies and projects?

    2. Not objective or biased

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Objective/unbiased
  2. Does the City Attorney initiate legal actions, as appropriate, and provide legal defense, as needed?

    3. Does not initiate appropriate actions

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Does initiate appropriate actions
  3. How effectively does the City Attorney represent the City’s interests in litigation, administrative hearings, negotiations and similar proceedings, in accordance with Council direction, given the strengths and weaknesses of the City’s position in each situation?

    4. Not Effective

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very Effective
  4. How effective is the City Attorney at implementing Council’s decisions and enforcing City ordinances and codes in a cost-effective manner and in accordance with the City’s stated objectives?

    5. Not Effective

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very Effective
  5. Are the City Attorney’s legal services provided in a timely fashion to permit City Council and staff to meet established deadlines?

    6. Not timely

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Timely

    Comments:

     

    Provision of Legal Services – Routine Internal Activities

    (Lawyer, counselor, scrivener functions)

  6. How effectively does the City Attorney provide legal analysis which facilitates legally sound policy/program implementation?

    7. Not Effective

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very Effective
  7. Does the City Attorney effectively evaluate results of actions from a legal perspective?

    8. Not Effective

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very Effective
  8. Is the legal advice provided by the City Attorney competent and presented in a constructive, results-oriented and usable manner?

    9. Not Effective

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very Effective
  9. Do the legal documents prepared (ordinances, resolutions, contracts, etc.) clearly reflect and implement the purposes for which they are prepared?

    10. Done Poorly

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Done Well
  10. How effective is the City Attorney at keeping City Council and staff apprised of court rulings and administrative decisions affecting the legal interests of the City?

    11. Not Effective

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very Effective
  11. How effectively does the City Attorney coordinate work with staff from other departments in order to accomplish goals? Is interdepartmental work performed in a collaborative manner?

    12. Not Effective

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very Effective

    Comments:

     

    Management

    Leadership:

  12. How effective has the City Attorney been in communicating the organizational values, philosophy and vision so that employees throughout the department are energized and motivated and able to focus their efforts to maximize department-wise synergy?

    13. Not Effective

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very Effective

    Communication:

  13. How effectively does the City Attorney communicate Council policy to various constituencies, i.e., the media, the public, City Council, the City Manager, employees and employee representatives?

    14. Not Effective

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very Effective
  14. Are verbal communications open, responsive, courteous, yet protective of the City’s legal position?

    15. Poor

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Excellent
  15. Are written communications understandable, succinct and appropriate for the audience and purpose intended?

    16. Poor

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Excellent
  16. Does the City Attorney’s communication effectively inform and educate citizens and constituencies affected by issues being addressed by the Council, consistent with the need to avoid jeopardizing the City’s legal position?

    17. Not Effective

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very Effective

    Staff Development:

  17. How effective is the City Attorney at selecting, leading, and developing the professional and support staff within the Office of the City Attorney?

    18. Not Effective

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very Effective
  18. Is the City Attorney effective and appropriate in delegating authority and responsibility to subordinates?

    19. Not Effective

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very Effective
  19. Has the City Attorney taken effective actions to assure a highly motivated, quality professional and support staff capable of providing excellent customer and client services? Consider those actions that have been effective in this regard.

    20. Not Effective

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very Effective

    Organizational/Managerial Effectiveness:

  20. How effectively does the City Attorney foster cooperation and coordination within the Office of the City Attorney and between this department and other City departments?

    21. Not Effective

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very Effective
  21. Has the City Attorney created an effective organizational structure and environment that maximizes the effective provision of legal services?

    22. Not Effective

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very Effective
  22. Does the City Attorney anticipate future departmental needs and Citywide legal needs and position the department so that it is ready to meet those needs?

    23. Doesn’t anticipate needs

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Anticipates needs
  23. How effectively does the City Attorney visualize implications of various approaches in solving problems and seeing opportunities?

    24. Not Effective

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very Effective
  24. Is the City Attorney willing to take initiative and do what’s necessary to get the job done?

    25. Not willing to take initiative

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very willing to take initiative
  25. Is the City Attorney decisive in reaching timely decisions and initiating action?

    26. Not decisive

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very Decisive
  26. Is the City Attorney flexible, enthusiastic, and cooperative in approaching issues and individuals within and outside of the organization?

    27. Not flexible, enthusiastic

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very flexible, enthusiastic
  27. Does the City Attorney demonstrate openness to alternative approaches and generate enthusiasm for attaining challenges/goals through cooperation?

    28. Not Effective

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very effective
  28. Is the City Attorney able and willing to work cooperatively with Council, City Manager and staff to achieve results in the best interest of the City?

    29. Not willing

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very willing
  29. Is the City Attorney honest, sincere, and upright in his/her professional interactions with others?

    30. Not honest or sincere

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very honest and sincere
  30. Does the City Attorney effectively display the courage of his/her convictions in a constructive manner?

    31. Not Effective

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very Effective

    Budget:

  31. Were services satisfactorily provided consistent with the outcomes specified in the budget?

    32. Not Satisfactory

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very Satisfactory
  32. Were expenditures within budget constraints?

    33. Not within constraints

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Well within constraints
  33. Were savings effectively attempted without service reductions?

    34. Not Effective

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very Effective
  34. Was the budget performance monitored and was corrective action taken as necessary?

    35. Not Satisfactory

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very Satisfactory
  35. Were service delivery methods effectively evaluated and improved, as appropriate?

    36. Not Effective

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very Effective
  36. Did the City Attorney effectively alert Council to changes needed in the departmental budget due to unpredictable occurrences?

    37. Not Effective

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Very Effective

    Comments:

     

    Professional and Career Development:

  37. Has the City Attorney attained the personal targets and/or Council defined targets for professional and career development that link to areas for growth identified in the current performance plan?

    38. Did Not Attain Targets

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Exceeded Targets
  38. Have the training, formal education and/or professional activities planned been accomplished?

    39. Strongly Disagree

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Strongly Agree

    Comments:

     

    Guiding Principals

    RESPECT AND RECOGNITION

  39. Do you feel he/she treats people with dignity and courtesy?

    40. Strongly Disagree

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Strongly Agree
  40. Does he/she value diversity of opinion, ideas and views?

    41. Strongly Disagree

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Strongly Agree
  41. Does he/she provide support employees need to succeed?

    42. Strongly Disagree

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Strongly Agree
  42. Does he/she trust the employees to know best how to do their job?

    43. Strongly Disagree

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Strongly Agree
  43. Does he/she honor individual and team achievements, celebrate successes and allow employees to learn from mistakes?

    44. Strongly Disagree

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Strongly Agree
  44. Does he/she ensure that employees are acknowledged and fairly compensated for their contribution?

    45. Strongly Disagree

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Strongly Agree
  45. Does he/she hold employees responsible for creating and maintaining a comfortable and safe working environment?

    46. Strongly Disagree

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Strongly Agree

    LEADERSHIP:

  46. Does he/she work with employees to maintain the commitment to achieve the established shared vision?

    47. Strongly Disagree

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Strongly Agree
  47. Does he/she lead by example?

    48. Strongly Disagree

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Strongly Agree
  48. Does he/she recognize that every employee has a leadership role and the authority to act?

    49. Strongly Disagree

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Strongly Agree
  49. Does he/she foster a safe environment for responsible risk-taking and creativity?

    50. Strongly Disagree

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Strongly Agree
  50. Does he/she communicate complete information and use facts in decision- making?

    51. Strongly Disagree

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Strongly Agree

    HONESTY AND INTEGRITY:

  51. Is he/she truthful and trustworthy?

    52. Strongly Disagree

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Strongly Agree
  52. Is he/she responsible and accountable?

    53. Strongly Disagree

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Strongly Agree
  53. Does he/she keep his/her word and honor his/her commitments?

    54. Strongly Disagree

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Strongly Agree
  54. Does he/she raise and discuss difficult issues?

    55. Strongly Disagree

    0

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    Strongly Agree
  55. Does he/she continuously assess performance and consistently apply policies?

Strongly Disagree

0

1

2

3

4

5

Strongly Agree

Comments:

 

Return to RTC# 02-381