HomeMy WebLinkAboutresolution.council.108-23RESOLUTION NO.108
(Series of 2023)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASPEN,
COLORADO, AFFIRMING THE APPOINTMENT AND HIRING OF LUISA
VIOLET BERNE AS ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 7.1 of the Charter of the City of Aspen, the City
Council "may provide the city attorney such assistants as council may deem necessary;"
and,
WHEREAS, in the 2023 budget, the City Council of the City of Aspen
authorized the budget necessary to expand the Office of the City Attorney by adding an
additional Assistant City Attorney; and,
WHEREAS, pursuant to standard hiring procedures utilized by the City of Aspen
and by the City Attorney's office for hiring assistant city attorneys, the City Attorney's
Office with the assistance of the Human Resources Department solicited applications for
the position; and,
WHEREAS, twenty individuals submitted applications for the position. The City
Attorney and Assistant City Attorney Katharine A. Johnson reviewed all applications and
interviewed numerous candidates. Following the initial interviews, a panel of staff
members who work closely with the City Attorney's office was assembled to interview
candidates recommended by the City Attorney; and,
WHEREAS, the panel endorsed Luisa Violet Berne to be recommended to the
City Council as a new Assistant City Attorney; and,
WHEREAS, Ms. Berne has lived in the Roaring Fork Valley since 2016 and has
served as a Deputy District Attorney for the Ninth Judicial District since 2018. Prior to
that time, she worked in private practice in and out of the Roaring Fork Valley. Ms.
Berne earned her law degree from Lewis & Clark Law School, Portland, and attended the
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, for her undergraduate degree. Ms. Berne's
experience in court in both public and private practice will bring significant expertise to
the City in the numerous areas of the law that the City Attorney addresses on a daily
basis; and,
WHEREAS, when advised of Ms. Berne's potential appointment to this position,
former County Court Judge Erin Fernandez Ely stated: "Ms. Berne is an outstanding
attorney who will serve our community with professionalism, dedication, hard work and
integrity;" and,
WHEREAS, Ms. Berne is a great fit for this position, and will be an invaluable
resource to the City's legal team. Her application stood out for her great intelligence and
integrity.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO, THAT:
The City Council hereby affirms the appointment and hiring of Luisa Violet Berne
as Assistant City Attorney on such terms and conditions as are standard upon the hiring of a
City employee and/or as may be set by the City Attorney.
INTRODUCED, READ AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Aspen
on the 11t' day of July 2023.
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Torre, Mayor
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I, Nicole Henning, duly appointed and acting City Clerk do certify that the foregoing
is a true and accurate copy of that resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of
Aspen, Colorado, at a meeting held on the day h��aACIerk
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