City Attorney
Mission Statement
The City Attorney's Office mission is to provide legal advice and support to the Mayor and City Council, City departments, and City boards and commissions; represent the City before judicial and administrative agencies in civil litigation proceedings; and prosecute misdemeanor violations of the Vista Municipal Code.
- Click here to view a presentation that gives an overview of the City Attorney's Office.
Overview
In accordance with the City Charter, the City Attorney is appointed by the City Council to act as the City's general counsel. As the City's general counsel, the City Attorney provides a full range of legal services to the City and is the chief legal advisor to the City Council, City Manager, Redevelopment Agency, City departments, and all appointed boards and commissions. While performing his duties as the City's chief legal advisor, the City Attorney, among other responsibilities, manages all outside counsel, reviews and negotiates City and Redevelopment Agency agreements, proffers advice on labor and employment issues, helps draft and review legislation, litigates civil cases, and prosecutes a limited number of Municipal Code violations.
Darold Pieper is the City Attorney of Vista, California. Formerly a partner and senior counsel of the California law firm of Richards, Watson & Gershon, Mr. Pieper also acted as the City Attorney for the cities of Carson and Monrovia, as well as special counsel for numerous cities, school districts and other public agencies throughout California, including the Port of San Diego. He has served as General Counsel for Foothill Transit, Tri-City Mental Health Center and the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District as well as many other public agencies. Additionally, he was special counsel to the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission (now the Los Angeles County MTA) and oversaw all legal matters relating to the successful development, construction and completion of the Metro Blue Line rail transit project between downtown Los Angeles and Long Beach.
A graduate of the USC Gould School of Law, Mr. Pieper is past President of the City Attorneys’ Association of San Diego. He is also a regular lecturer for the League of California Cities and a member of its Transportation, Communications & Public Works Policy Committee; in addition, he is also a Trustee of the California City Management Foundation, a member of the Executive Board and Board of Directors and the Council Commissioner of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Boy Scouts of America. He was a former Reserve Commander in the Pasadena Police Department, past President of the Los Angeles County Delinquency and Crime Commission, and Chairman of the Board of Youth Opportunities United, Inc.
In addition to the City Attorney, the City Attorney's office is staffed by two full-time attorneys.
The City Attorney's Office does not provide private legal advice to citizens nor does it prosecute violations of the California Penal Code, California Vehicle Code, or other violations of State law.
If you are seeking legal representation, links to referral services are listed below. If you wish to report a violation of State law, you should contact the San Diego Sheriff’s Office or the San Diego County District Attorney's Office. Information on contacting those agencies is listed below.
Location City Attorney's Office :
600 Eucalyptus Avenue
Vista, CA 92084
Office Hours: 7:30 am - 5:30 pm (*closed every other Friday)
Telephone: (760) 639-6119
Helpful Links
For information on the San Diego Sheriff’s Office in Vista, contact (760) 940-4551 or go to
325 S Melrose Drive # 210 in Vista or vist their website (www.sdsheriff.net/Vista/index.html).
For information on prosecuting violations of State law, contact the San Diego County – North County District Attorney's Office at (760)806-4004 or visit their website (www.sdcda.org/contact/locations.php).
To retain a private attorney or a legal clinic, contact the North County San Diego County Bar Association at (760) 758-5833 or visit their website (www.bansdc.org).
If you are a criminal defendant and unable to afford a private attorney contact the San Diego County Public Defender (North County Office) at (760) 945-4000 (400 S. Melrose Dr, Suite 200, Vista).