Moorpark will get a new city attorney on Oct. 1 after the City Council voted unanimously Wednesday, Sept. 16, to hire Isra Shah and her firm, Best Best & Krieger (BBK).

Shah, a partner at BBK who specializes in municipal law and land use, currently serves as city attorney for Palm Desert. She replaces Kevin G. Ennis, who announced his retirement in January after leading the city's legal work since December 2012.

The council also formed five ad hoc committees to negotiate development agreements for housing projects across the city.

The city issued a request for proposals in April after Ennis said he planned to step down. Six firms applied. The full council, city manager and department heads interviewed finalists in July and selected BBK, a firm with roughly 250 attorneys that serves as city attorney for more than 50 California cities, according to the agenda report.

Under the five-year agreement, BBK will receive a monthly retainer of $20,800 for up to 80 hours of basic legal services, totaling $249,600 per year. Rates are locked through June 30, 2029, and can rise by no more than 4% annually after that. The council also approved a $100,000 General Fund budget amendment to cover the transition.

BBK's team will include Sam Bidgoli as planning commission counsel and assistant city attorney, and Henry Castillo as an additional assistant city attorney. The outgoing firm, Richards, Watson & Gershon, will stay on to help transition existing matters.

At the start of the meeting, Ennis led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Transportation funding

The council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2026-4431, authorizing the city's fiscal year 2026/27 Transportation Development Act claim. The move increases revenue by $234,042 in the TDA Article 8(c) fund and decreases State Transit Assistance fund revenue by $1,097, according to the annotated meeting minutes.

Five housing committees

In a separate action, the council appointed two-member committees to negotiate development agreements for five residential projects. Four of the five are amendments to existing agreements. La Perch is the lone new deal.

Here are the committee assignments:

  • La Perch (new agreement): Councilmembers Chris Barrett and Renée Delgado. Approved 4-0; Mayor Chris Enegren recused himself.
  • Vistas at Moorpark (amendment): Mayor Enegren and Councilmember Barrett. Approved 4-0; Councilmember Antonio Castro recused himself.
  • North Ranch (amendment): Councilmembers Tom Means and Barrett. Approved 5-0.
  • Hitch Ranch (amendment): Councilmembers Means and Barrett. Approved 5-0.
  • Pacific Arroyo (amendment): Mayor Enegren and Councilmember Delgado. Approved 5-0.

The Hitch Ranch project, approved in June 2022, calls for 755 homes on 277 acres north of Poindexter Avenue, including 372 single-family houses and 383 apartments. About 113 of the rental units are designated affordable, the Ventura County Star reported at the time.

Unit counts for the other four projects were not available in the meeting record.