PRESENTER: Presenter
Nathan Brown, City Attorney’s Office
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of Natalie Thamm and Daniel Jones as contract municipal prosecutors under the existing contract with Denton Navarro Rodriguez Bernal Santee & Zech, P.C
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DEPARTMENT: City Attorney’s Office
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City has a full-time municipal court Prosecutor/Assistant City Attorney who has handled all cases in addition to open records and ordinance training responsibilities. Due to the number of vacancies within the City Attorney’s Office, the City Attorney’s Office needs the full-time prosecutor to handle other attorney duties and it has been necessary for the City to contract for assistance with municipal court prosecutions. On June 8, 2026, City Council approved the retention of Justin Plescha as a contract prosecutor.
In order to meet the legal needs of the municipal court and city staff, the City Attorney’s Office is recommending the approval of Ms. Thamm and Mr. Jones as added prosecutorial capacity for Mr. Plescha. Ms. Thamm, Mr. Jones and Mr. Plescha are with the law firm of Denton Navarro Rodriguez Bernal Santee & Zech, P.C. These attorneys serve as contract prosecutors and not full-time or part-time employees. They will provide assistance on an as-needed basis to help ensure that the City Attorney’s Office can continue to provide the legal services that the City needs. These are professional services requiring a higher level of knowledge and therefore are competitively exempt. Selection is solely based on qualifications and knowledge.
ISSUE:
Additional prosecutorial services are needed for Municipal Court. The City Charter delegates the hiring of attorneys to the City Attorney with final approval resting with the City Council.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☐Economic Mobility ☐Enhanced Connectivity ☐Community Identity
☒Organizational Excellence ☐Community Well-Being ☐N/A
Maintenance of efficient, effective, and high-quality services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No new fiscal impact on the City.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
The City Attorney’s Office recommends approval of Ms. Thamm and Mr. Jones as additional prosecutors.