Council approves hourly rate increase for Anselblink legal services after discussion

The City Council approved a proposed hourly rate increase for outside counsel Anselblink during the regular agenda, with a separate direction to review whether the city should consolidate council representation to a single attorney. Alderman Evans moved to approve the firm’s requested rate increases; Alderman Allen seconded. Council discussion included questions from Alderman Jackson about the number of attorneys attending council meetings and a request for a monthly outline of services and itemized billing. Anselblink representatives explained they use multiple attorneys to cover specialized areas, that the firm has 45 attorneys overall, and that the proposed increases were intended to reflect current market rates. According to the figures presented by the firm, partner rates would increase by 30 cents (a 14% increase over the 2021 rate of $2.10 in the transcript — transcript numbers reflect firm’s internal rate schedule), associates by $0.20 (10% increase) and paralegals by $0.10 (7.7% increase). The firm noted those increases are below the cumulative inflation rate since 2021. The council approved the motion on a roll call vote with all present aldermen voting aye. The approval included a stipulation that staff and the council would revisit whether the council should have a single attorney dedicated to council meetings, and that staff would provide more detailed monthly billing outlines upon request.