Redmond to accept $6,000 SPAR grant to offset public defense costs in drug possession cases

The Committee of the Whole on Sept. 2 reviewed a small grant award from the state office of public defense for Simple Possession Advocacy Representation (SPAR). Brooke Buckingham told council the city applied in June and was notified in July that it received $6,000 for reimbursement of city expenses related to drug possession cases that meet program eligibility.

Buckingham said SPAR is limited in eligible uses and will reimburse the city for costs associated with qualifying cases. Council member Nueva Camino asked how the city’s annual eligible cost compares to the award; Buckingham said there were about $17,000 of qualifying cases last year and that the state typically awarded cities about half of what they requested because the program was oversubscribed.

Committee members had no objections to placing the grant acceptance on the Sept. 16 consent agenda.