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Pasco PFD legal counsel to remain under city contract through Sept. 2026; board may revisit ILA later
Summary
The PFD’s general counsel reported the PFD’s 180‑day notice of termination to the City of Pasco was withdrawn after discussions; the attorney’s office will continue serving as city attorney and, under the current interlocal agreement (ILA), as PFD counsel through September 2026 unless the board and city amend the ILA earlier.
Eric Ferguson, the PFD general counsel, told the board that an earlier 180‑day notice to terminate the legal services arrangement with the City of Pasco has been withdrawn following discussions with the city council and staff. Ferguson said the firm will continue to serve as city attorney and remain available to the Pasco PFD under the terms of the ILA through September 2026.
Ferguson said the PFD’s ILA with the city “states that you shall use the city attorney,” but the board could request an amendment to change that provision. He told members that if they wished to pursue different outside counsel, the ILA can be updated and the change could be processed quickly. The board’s executive director said a request for proposals to recruit alternate counsel had been published but did not produce any responses.
Board members asked for clarity on whether continuing to use the city attorney creates any obligation. Ferguson said the arrangement is not irrevocable and that the PFD could amend the ILA to change the language if the board decides to do so at a future date.
No formal motion was made on the ILA during the meeting; board members asked staff to bring possible ILA language changes back for discussion at a later meeting if they want to pursue a change in counsel.
The statement that the legal firm will remain city attorney and available to the PFD through September 2026 was recorded as the board’s current plan, with potential revision pending a future board decision about procurement of outside counsel.
