Trisha Ortiz

Trisha counsels local governments on all aspects of municipal governance, including public meetings, transactional and land use matters, the interpretation, application of, and compliance with the Brown Act, Public Records Act, Political Reform Act, and other conflict of interest and ethics laws. In addition to her general municipal law practice, Trisha specializes in advising clients with regard to elections, imposing and increasing taxes and fees, special tax and assessment financing, and clean energy financing.

Work for Clients

Trisha currently serves as City Attorney for the City of San Bruno, General Counsel for the San Mateo County Harbor District, Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority, Marin Emergency Radio Authority, California Statewide Communities Development Authority, and Ross Valley Fire Department, and Special Counsel to the County of Sonoma for its energy independence program.

Trisha advises local governments in achieving state law solutions to their local issues. Namely, she assisted the City of Palm Desert in writing AB 811, which authorizes public agencies to finance renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements on private property, also known as Property Assessed Clean Energy or "PACE." Trisha also assisted the City of Fairfield in writing AB 806, which authorizes certain community development powers for cities.

Professional Experience

Prior to attending law school, Trisha spent over seven years working in state legislative government where she served as legislative staff in the Arizona House of Representatives, focusing on tax policy and the state budget, and she also worked as a lobbyist in the Michigan State Legislature.

Honors & Awards

Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review, Senior Research Editor

Professional and Community Affiliations

Member, American Bar Association

Member, California State Bar

Member, San Francisco Bar Association

Member, National Association of Bond Lawyers

Women in Public Finance

League of California Cities, Committee on Municipal Finance