New City Attorney Could Shift Local Policy

Palo Alto has a new city attorney, and Chris Jensen now holds one of the city’s four council-appointed jobs, with authority over the legal advice behind council votes, enforcement actions and court fights. (paloalto.gov) The City Council unanimously appointed Jensen on March 16, 2026, and his contract set a March 30, 2026 start date. He succeeded Molly Stump, who had served as city attorney for 15 years. (paloaltoonline.com) (paloalto.gov) In Palo Alto, the city attorney is not a prosecutor or a judge. The office drafts ordinances and contracts, negotiates for the city, advises officials on legal risk, enforces the municipal code and defends the city and its employees when they are sued. (paloalto.gov) Jensen arrives from Berkeley, where he served as assistant city attorney, and he previously served as Cupertino’s city attorney after 14 years in private practice. Palo Alto said he will advise on land use and environmental law, public contracting, litigation, utilities, labor and the Brown Act and Public Records Act rules that govern local government. (paloalto.gov) That portfolio reaches into several of Palo Alto’s live disputes. The Planning and Development Services Department handles land-use policy, permit review and code enforcement, while the police department’s policy manual covers issues including use of force, body cameras and automated license plate readers. (paloalto.gov 1) (paloalto.gov 2) (paloalto.gov 3) Housing is one pressure point. Palo Alto says housing production is a current council priority, and city staff pledged in 2024 to speed reviews for residential projects as the city worked to secure state approval of its housing plan. (paloalto.gov) (paloaltoonline.com) Police technology is another. In March, Palo Alto officials moved toward an audit of Flock Safety license-plate cameras after reports that other agencies had gained unauthorized access to data in nearby Mountain View, though a separate auditor conflict delayed that review. (paloaltoonline.com 1) (paloaltoonline.com 2) Jensen’s record helps explain the attention. Palo Alto cited his role in Cupertino in resolving a developer dispute expected to bring in about $40 million and a tax settlement that avoided an estimated $75 million in liability, and it highlighted his work in Berkeley defending restrictions on natural gas in new construction in federal court. (paloalto.gov) His office is also large enough to matter day to day. Palo Alto says Jensen leads a 13-person legal team with a $5 million annual budget, giving him direct influence over how quickly the city responds to records requests, drafts ordinances and backs staff decisions at hearings and in court. (paloalto.gov) The first tests are likely to come quietly, in agenda packets, permit appeals, enforcement letters and closed-session litigation updates rather than in speeches. In Palo Alto, those legal calls often shape what the council can approve, what staff can enforce and what opponents can challenge next. (paloalto.gov)