Scottsdale City Council appoints Luis E. Santaella as City Attorney
The Scottsdale City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to appoint Luis E. Santaella as Scottsdale’s City Attorney, removing the interim designation he has held for the past 10 months.
Santaella brings more than 20 years of legal service to the city, having joined Scottsdale in 2001 as an assistant city prosecutor. Over the course of his career, he has served in multiple leadership and legal roles within the City Attorney’s Office.
“I am honored and grateful that the Scottsdale City Council appointed me as City Attorney,” Santaella said. “It is a privilege to serve our city alongside the dedicated professionals who uphold the rule of law, practice good governance and protect the public trust. I am especially fortunate to work with an exceptional team within the various divisions of the City Attorney’s Office. I look forward to continuing this work with humility, integrity and a deep commitment to Scottsdale.”
Since 2020, Santaella has served as deputy city attorney, where he led the Prosecution and Victim Services divisions and provided legal counsel to several key departments, including Police, Emergency Management, Intergovernmental Relations, Business Services and Code Enforcement. His work has included drafting city ordinances and helping shape state legislation related to DUI enforcement, public safety and municipal regulatory authority.
Earlier in his career as a senior assistant city attorney, Santaella advised the Police and Fire departments, represented multiple city boards and commissions and directed public records oversight.
Santaella’s legal work and public service have earned him numerous recognitions, including multiple Scottsdale Employee Awards, the Herbert R. Drinkwater Award, the Bill Donaldson Award and the Distinguished Public Lawyer Award from the State Bar of Arizona’s Public Lawyers Section.
Fluent in Spanish, Santaella has also held leadership roles at the state level, including serving as president of the Arizona City Attorneys Association from 2023 to 2024 and participating in Arizona Supreme Court committees and legislative study groups focused on DUI cases and body-worn camera policy.
The City Attorney is one of Scottsdale’s charter officer positions, appointed directly by the City Council. The role provides legal counsel to the City Council, city departments and boards and commissions, and oversees criminal prosecution, civil litigation, victim services and the city’s safety and risk management functions.