Cape council gives city attorney solid evaluation
The city attorney received one perfect review from a City Council member for his recent evaluation.
City Attorney Aleksandr Boksner’s overall evaluation from city council was 3.8 out of 5.
The elected board to which Boksner directly reports scored on a rubric from five — excellent, almost always exceeds the performance standard, to one — poor, rarely meets the performance standard. There were 10 areas evaluated.
Boksner received a collective 3.5 for legal representation, 3.8 for legal documents, 3.9 for clause and litigation, 4.5 for dependability and availability, 3.8 for interpersonal skills 3.8; 3.9 for professionalism, 3.6 for legal service budget 3.5 for communication, 4.0 for management of the legal office, and 3.8 for commitment to organization.
Councilmember Joe Kilraine gave a 5 for each of the 10 categories.
“City Attorney has continued to demonstrate superior legal knowledge and provided excellent advice in a manner that informs on legal ramifications and risks when options are available. Efforts in upgrading the city’s legal profile and capability are proactively refreshing and well needed. Efforts to reinforce a more aggressive defensive posture to protect the city is well recognized, very much needed and desired, as well as quite effective to date. It is a pleasure to work with and observe a true professional at the top of his game. Having now worked with CA another year, I am even more impressed by and through his effective performance,” Kilraine wrote under additional comments.
Mayor John Gunter gave a 4 for legal representation, legal documents, laws and legislation, interpersonal skills, professionalism, legal services budget, communications, and management of legal office and 5 for dependability and availability and communication to organization.
Councilmember Dr. Derrick Donnell gave a 4 in interpersonal skills, legal services budget and committeemen to organization and 5 for legal representation, legal documents, laws and legislation, dependability and availability, professionalism, communication, management of legal office.
Councilmember Rachel Kaduk gave a 2 for legal representation; 3 for legal documents, laws and legislation, interpersonal skills, professionalism, legal services budget, communication, management of legal office and commitment to organization and 5 for dependability and availability.
Councilmember Jennifer Nelson-Lastra gave a 3 for legal representation, legal documents, laws and legislation and communication; 4 for interpersonal skills, professionalism, legal services budget and commitment to organization; 5 for dependability and availability and management of legal office.
“The West Cape Coral Estates should have been handled differently as opposed to publicly asking for approval to pursue legal action, you should have worked with them on creating an assessment. Then, if they refused, you could then report that all efforts had been exhausted prior to legal action. The removing of citizens, We have removed citizens prior to the incident with Julia Etarri, yet she didn’t get removed and no explanation was given which showed inconsistency,” she wrote in her comments for legal representation.
Councilmember Laurie Lehmann gave a 3 for legal representation, legal documents, dependability and availability, professionalism, legal services budget, communication, management of legal office and commitment to organization and a 4 for laws and legislation and interpersonal skills.
Councilmember Keith Long gave a 2 for legal representation and communication; 3 for legal documents, laws and legislation, interpersonal skills, professionalism, legal services budget, management of legal office and commitment to organization and 4 for dependability and availability.
Councilmember Bill Steinke gave a 3 for interpersonal skills, communication, legal services budget and commitment to organization and 4 for legal representation, legal documents, laws and legislation, availability and dependability, professionalism and management of legal office.
Boksner’s compensation going into Wednesday’s special meeting was $320,609.69. He received a 3.25% raise, or $10,783.79, which will come in the form of deferred compensation. The increase will go into effect retroactive to the first full pay period after Aug. 13, because his evaluation period ran from Aug. 13, 2025, to Aug. 13, 2026.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email mbradbury@breezenewspapers.com