Municipal Governments

CSD Attorneys at Law’s Municipal Governments practice group represents municipal governments, including cities, water/sewer districts, public utility districts, and conservation districts throughout Washington state. Our attorneys have over one hundred years of combined experience serving as general counsel for such agencies and are frequent speakers at municipal law seminars throughout the state.

Contact our Municipal Government attorneys for assistance with a wide variety of matters, including:

Governance by elected officials, their statutory authority, and the interface with appointed staff
Labor and employment
Land use, comprehensive plan issues, and annexation
Public works and purchasing
Interlocal agreements
Water law
Environmental remediation projects
Labor and employment
Land use and comprehensive planning
Public property acquisition and sales
Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act compliance
Municipal ethics
Risk management and loss prevention

Municipal Govenment Attorneys

Peter M. RuffattoPrincipal

Richard A. Davis IIIPrincipal

Seth A. WoolsonPrincipal

Brian SnureOf Counsel

Matt T. PaxtonPrincipal

Shane P. BradyPrincipal

Tim SchermetzlerPrincipal

Allison M. BeardSenior Associate

Megan D. HolmesAssociate

Renee K. L. RasmussenAssociate

Jesslin E. OchoaAssociate

January 2026 Knowing the Waters

January is the month to put resolutions into action and boost any neglected goals from the previous year to the top of your agency’s queue. This month’s column is an legal checklist of items that your port should review annually.

Building Performance Standards

Do you own buildings that are 20,000 square feet or larger? If so, between June 2026 and June 2028, you will likely have to comply with Building Performance Standards (“BPS”) in the Clean Building Act, Chapter 19.27A RCW, adopted by the legislature in 2019 and amended in 2022 and 2023.

December 2025 Knowing the Waters

The National Retail Federation forecasted that over one trillion dollars will be spent holiday shopping this season. Given the significant personal procurement occurring, it’s fitting that this month’s column discusses port procurement (which is not just limited to the holiday season).

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