Council Appoints City Attorney

MORENO VALLEY>> The Moreno Valley City Council, in a unanimous vote, appointed Martin D. Koczanowicz to serve as City Attorney. As the city's top legal adviser, his duties will include planning, organizing and managing the activities and staff of the City Attorney's office. "We sought a lawyer with strong municipal experience, who is highly respected and who can relate to the council and the general public," said Moreno Valley Mayor Dr. Yxstian Gutierrez. "Martin certainly fits this description. He is an outstanding lawyer with excellent credentials and the experience necessary to run the city's legal department." Koczanowicz graduated from the University of La Verne School of Law in 1984 and has been a municipal attorney for more than 25 years. His career began in the private sector, focusing on criminal and civil defense. From 1992-1999, he served as a Deputy City Attorney for the City of Fresno. He then re-entered private practice, providing contract legal services for public agencies in Southern California. In 2013, he co-founded Koczanowicz & Hale in 2013, based in Moorpark, California where he serves as city attorney for the cities of Grover Beach, Tulare and King. His experience includes complex areas such as municipal and environmental law, real estate and land use, civil rights and employment law. Koczanowicz will join the City of Moreno Valley in early October.