Longtime Napa City Attorney Announces Plans To Leave

NAPA, CA — Napa City Attorney Michael Barrett announced his plans to leave the city soon and pursue the next chapter of his professional life in the private sector.

He was worked for the city of Napa for 18 years. He began his career in municipal government in the City of Oceanside as a law clerk. He then began practicing law in a private firm in San Diego representing public and private clients.

Barrett went on to hold in-house deputy and assistant city attorney positions in Tracy and Fremont before joining the city of Napa as city attorney in 2005.

"Michael's contributions to the Napa community have been invaluable and his strong leadership and guidance over all City legal activities," Mayor Scott Sedgley said. "We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Michael for his many years of service and loyalty to Napa."

During Barrett’s tenure with the city of Napa, he has provided legal guidance to the City Council, and appointed officials and staff through notable milestones, including many multi-agency flood control and park projects around the Napa River and Napa Creek (such as the Oxbow Commons); a City Charter amendment to expand the rural-urban limit line for the Napa Pipe Project; a ballot measure for a transient occupancy tax to fund affordable and workforce housing; key policy changes such as the conversion to district-based elections of councilmembers; recent updates to the General Plan and Housing Element; and countless ordinances, resolutions, policies and administrative regulations.

Barrett served the city through nine municipal elections during the tenure of 13 different City Council members. As city attorney, he also advised city officials through challenging local emergencies including the 2005 flood, the 2014 earthquake, the 2017 wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic. He also managed lawyers representing the city’s interests in litigation.

City Manager Steve Potter said the city was fortunate to have Barrett serving the community for 18 years.

“I have worked with Michael for many years, and he has always demonstrated his commitment to ensuring the stability of this organization throughout his career here,” Potter said. “He is well known and respected here at the City, and within municipal legal circles and professional legal associations; we have been lucky to have him serve our community these past 18 years. We wish Michael a happy and healthy retirement, offer our most sincere gratitude for his many years of service to our City and extend our best wishes in his future ventures.”

Barrett will continue his role at the city through the end of April.

The city will immediately launch the process to hire a new city attorney.