Nebb expected to receive total compensation package of $358,000 per year as Vallejo’s new city attorney

by John Glidden | Oct. 21, 2020

VALLEJO – The hunt for Vallejo’s next city attorney is over as the Vallejo City Council is expected to approve a five-year contract on Tuesday with Veronica Nebb to serve as city attorney.

Nebb will earn a starting salary of $219,760.85 annually, plus receive a $6,000 annual automobile allowance, and health benefits for a total compensation package of $358,000 per year, according to Human Resources Director Heather Ruiz in a staff report to the council.

Ruiz said Nebb’s compensation package was based on several factors “including market considerations for the position of a City Attorney in the Bay Area, the City of Vallejo’s fiscal environment, the complexity of organizational and community issues, and Ms. Nebb’s extensive skills, knowledge and abilities as a City Attorney.”

If approved, Nebb will start with Vallejo on Nov. 16.

She replaces Claudia Quintana, who retired in April, after spending eight years as the city’s top lawyer.

Randy Risner, originally hired as chief assistant city attorney, was elevated to interim city attorney in late January.

Soon after the city began its search for a new city attorney. In August, the city announced Risner, who applied for the permanent position, was not selected.

Risner will move back to the chief assistant city attorney position once Nebb begins with Vallejo.

Nebb will have multiple issues on her plate, including defending the city in at least 22 separate federal excessive force cases.

Prior to her arrival, Risner filed a gag-order and request to move the Sean Monterrosa civil lawsuit from Sacramento to Fresno, claiming the city wouldn’t get a fair hearing in the case. Monterrosa’s family filed the lawsuit after he was shot and killed by a Vallejo police officer outside a Vallejo Walgreens on June 2.

Nebb is currently employed with the law firm Walter & Pistole, serving as senior assistant city attorney for the cities of Novato and Martinez, according to her bio on the firm’s site.

The Vallejo City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday via teleconference.

The general public may provide public comments during the meeting via Zoom. (https://ZoomRegular.Cityofvallejo.net), or by phone, dialing (669) 900­6833.

There are three different ways the meeting can be viewed: Watch Vallejo local channel 28; stream from the city website: http://www.cityofvallejo.net/Streaming; join the Zoom webinar: https://ZoomRegular.Cityofvallejo.net.