City Attorney

Kenneth J. Richardson's practice focuses primarily on the representation of public agency clients.  He has substantial experience representing California municipalities in the areas of land use and planning, redevelopment, economic development, eminent domain and code enforcement. 

Ken also has extensive experience representing public agency and private business clients in environmental and natural resources law, including significant interaction with a broad array of local, state and federal regulatory agencies. His doctorate in environmental science and previous career as a water quality scientist for California's largest public water purveyor provide the underpinnings for a broad water and environmental practice that includes compliance with water quality laws, cleanup of environmental properties, CEQA and NEPA compliance, water rights, and environmental due diligence in real estate and other asset transfers.

He has represented clients on water resource and environmental matters in State and Federal District courts, and in administrative hearings before numerous local and state agencies and boards. 

Ken's municipal law practice currently includes service as assistant city attorney for the City of Visalia, and as special counsel to the Oversight Board of the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Hanford. 

His water and environmental practice includes service as counsel for several irrigation and water districts throughout Fresno, Tulare and Kings Counties.  Current matters representative of this portion of his practice include negotiation of long-term Central Valley Project water service and conveyance contracts with the United States Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources, as well as post-settlement implementation aspects of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program.

Bar Admissions:
California State Bar (all Courts in State). Admitted: June 1, 1998. Status: Active, No Record of Discipline or Public Administrative Proceedings.

Colorado State Bar (all Courts in State). Admitted: October 26, 1997. Status: Voluntarily Inactive.

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, Central District of California, Southern District of California and 9th Circuit Court of Appeal. Admitted: June, 1998. Status: Active.

Bar Association Memberships:
Tulare County Bar Association
California Bar Association
American Bar Association

Education:
Juris Doctorate Degree - University of Arizona College of Law (Tucson, AZ), May 1996
Doctor of Philosophy Degree (Microbiology & Immunology) - University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), December 1989
Bachelor of Arts Degree (Microbiology & Immunology) - University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ) May 1986

Legal Experience:
Peltzer & Richardson, LC (Visalia, CA) - Partner/Attorney - 2013 to present
Dooley Herr & Peltzer, LLP and Dooley Herr Peltzer & Richardson, LLP (Visalia, CA) - Partner/Attorney - 2005-2013
Procopio Cory Hargreaves and Savitch (San Diego, CA) - Associate Attorney - 2003-2005
Hatch & Parent (San Diego, CA) - Associate Attorney - 2001-2003
Daley & Heft, LLP (Solana Beach, CA) - Associate Attorney - 2000-2001
Dooley & Herr, LLP (Visalia, CA) - Associate Attorney - 1997-2000
Arizona General Stream Adjudication, Special Master John E. Thorson (Phoenix, AZ) - Judicial Law Clerk -1996

Other Professional Experience:
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA) - Research Microbiologist - 1990-1993