The county attorney’s office updated commissioners on outside legal services for the Together GEFCO project and asked for an additional budget allocation from Rescue Plan funds to continue paying the retained law firm.

County attorneys said the firm—Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck—was retained to draft implementing regulations for the GEFCO project (implementing the county’s comprehensive master plan) and that the scope of work expanded beyond the original estimate. The firm has completed about 80% of a draft and is finishing the remaining work. County attorneys said the firm also assisted with consistency issues for short‑term rental regulations to avoid conflicts between the comprehensive plan and implementing rules.

Because the work exceeded the original estimate and billed hourly, county attorneys asked the board to authorize additional Rescue Plan funds so Brownstein can complete the drafting and staff can move the code through the public process and eventual adoption. Commissioners approved placing the request on the budget agenda for further action.