Council To Consider Bridge Project, Request For Payment Of Legal Fees

Spokane City Council members have a full agenda for its meetings today and tonight.

Here’s a sample of the questions they’ll try to answer: What should the city do about the stalled Lincoln Street bridge project? Is the city responsible for personal legal bills of City Council members? Should a proposal to change the form of government go on the fall ballot?

A council briefing session begins at 3:30 p.m. in the City Council briefing center, on the lower level of City Hall. The regular council meeting begins at 6 p.m. in City Council chambers.

During the afternoon briefing session, the council is expected to discuss whether to challenge the state shorelines hearings board decision denying a permit for the proposed Lincoln Street bridge.

If the council decides to shelve the project, the city could be responsible for paying back up to $5.7 million in federal money.

During the evening meeting, the council will consider a proposed emergency ordinance providing a $10,000 budget to cover outside legal fees incurred by the mayor or council members in their official capacity of representing the city.

Last week, Mayor John Talbott and Councilwoman Cherie Rodgers submitted bills totaling nearly $2,500 for personal attorney fees.

Talbott’s bill totaled $935.90 for services provided by his lawyer, Bruce Gore. The services date back to last April and include research on executive sessions, defamation immunity and review of a pending contempt action in connection with the River Park Square project.

Rodgers’ bill for her attorney, Frank Conklin, totals $1,462.50 for 6 hours of time in connection with the contempt action.

The council also plans to take testimony on whether an initiative proposed by Spokane attorney Stephen Eugster to replace the city manager form of government with a strong-mayor form should be placed on the fall ballot.

If the council decides not to place the proposed charter amendment on the ballot, Eugster will need to collect 3,000 petition signatures to gain a ballot spot.