Mr. Goldfarb has been practicing law at the law firm of Rutan & Tucker, LLP since graduating cum laude from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, in 1986. Jeff became a partner in the Government & Regulatory Law Section in 1994.
Mr. Goldfarb was recently appointed as the City Attorney for the City of San Clemente, after having served as the Assistant City Attorney from 1987-2012. He was the Assistant City Attorney for the City of Irvine from 1990-2004. In his capacity as the City Attorney for the City of San Clemente, Mr. Goldfarb is the director of that City’s legal department and advises the City on all issues of municipal law. He is an expert in the Federal Fair Housing Act, Fair Political Practices Act, the Brown Act, the California Environmental Quality Act, the Planning and Zoning Act, the Subdivision Map Act, and the regulation of both group homes and adult-oriented businesses.
Courses Taught
- Round Table Discussion - Land Use Entitlements: How to Pave the Way to Pave Your Property, The Global Retail Real Estate Convention (RECon), 2011
- Round Table Discussion - Application of Federal Fair Housing Act to Group Homes, Residential Recovery Facilities Conference, 2007
- Lecturer - So You Want Public Input? Improve the Hearing Process, League of California Cities, 2005
- Lecturer - What the Law Says About Closing Mobile Home Parks, MHET Trust Forum, 2004
- Lecturer - Current Issues in Land Valuation Seminar - Entitlements, Appraisal Institute Seminar, 2002
- Lecturer – RLUIPA (Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act) and the Fair Housing Act, Orange County Planning Directors Annual Meeting, 2001
- Lecturer – CEQA Issues: APA Orange County Seminar, 2000
- Lecturer - Keeper Findings, Nuts & Bolts Professional Development Series, American Planning Association, 1999
- Lecturer - Finders Keepers: How to Make Good Findings, California League of Cities Planners Institute, March 1997
- Lecturer - Everything a Planner Should Know About Sex (Housing, Developer Fees and CEQA, Too!), Cal Chapter American Planning Association Conference, 1996
- Lecturer - Regulating Sex-Oriented Businesses in Urban California, California Redevelopment Association, 1995
- Lecturer - Regulation of Adult Uses, Orange County City Attorneys Association, 1995
- Lecturer - Twilight Zoning: Recreation, Resort and Adult Entertainment, American Planning Association, 1994 Nuts and Bolts Conference
- Lecturer - Liability of Public Employees for Negligent Conduct Under State Law, California Building Officials Conference, November 1994
- Lecturer-Instructor, University of California Irvine extension course on Planning and Zoning Law
Cases Successfully Litigated (Partial List)
- Del Cerro Mobile Estates v. City of Placentia (CEQA challenge to approval of multiple grade separations through Placentia and Anaheim)
- Jauregui v. City of South Gate (CEQA challenge to public works/private shopping center project)
- Pleasant Hills Property v. Pleasant Hill Redevelopment Agency (defense of CEQA challenge to shopping center approval)
- City of Arcadia v. Taboo Gentleman’s Club (revocation of adult business regulatory permit)
- Menifee Citizens for Smart Growth v. County of Riverside (defense of EIR)
- Boelts v. All Persons Interested (validation action challenging amendment to Redevelopment Plan)
- Tameny v. City of Costa Mesa (defense of termination of recovery group home under FHAA)
- Medieval Dinner & Tournament, Inc. v. City of Buena Park (CEQA challenge)
- Stevens v. City of Bakersfield (writ of mandate/civil rights challenge)
- Wilbur v. City of Costa Mesa (Master Plan challenge)
- Paff v. City of Costa Mesa (CEQA challenge)
- City of Costa Mesa v. Orange House (Federal Fair Housing Act challenge to group home enforcement)
- Lyburtus v. City of La Habra (CEQA challenge)
- Via Maria, Inc. v. City of Cypress (First Amendment challenge to entertainment permit revocation)
- City of Baldwin Park v. B&B Motel (red light abatement action)
- City of Baldwin Park v. Lucky 7 Motel (red light abatement action)
- City of Newport Beach v. Tily B., Inc. (adult oriented business litigation to obtain compliance of business with City's zoning and adult oriented business zoning ordinance)
- Gammoh v. City of Anaheim (same description as above)
- People v. Johar (criminal First Amendment/code enforcement action for City of Anaheim)
- Mediavilla v. City of Lawndale (challenge to City's adult oriented business ordinance)
- People v. Williams (code enforcement action terminating illegal residential use in commercial zone for City of San Clemente)
- Serrano Irrigation District v. City of Orange (challenge to adoption of specific plan)
Publications/Seminars
- Avoiding the Five Deadly (Entitlement) Sins, Shopping Centers Today, ICSC, May 2002
- Guest Speaker, Community Redevelopment Association, League of Cities City Attorney's Conference
- American Planning Association
- California City Clerk's Association
- Lecturer-Instructor, University of California Irvine extension course on Planning and Zoning Law
- Oh What a Night – Night Sailing in a Santa Ana to and from Catalina Island, Seafaring Magazine, November 2009
References
- George Scarborough, City Manager, City of San Clemente 100 Avenida Presidio, San Clemente, CA 92672 | (949) 361-8321
- Michael W. Parness, City Manager, City of Napa 955 School Street, Napa, CA 94559 | (707) 257-9501
- Sheri Vander Dussen, Planning Director, City of Anaheim 200 S. Anaheim Blvd. | (714) 765-5139
- R. Scott Bell, President, ICI Development Co. 2222 E. 17th Street, Santa Ana, CA 92705 | (714) 541-1200
- Eric Nelson, Director of Entitlements, Red Mountain Retail Group, Inc. 1234 E. 17th Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701 | (714) 245-7405