Lake Havasu City Council awards five-year public defender contract to Whitney & Whitney

The Lake Havasu City Council voted 6-0 on Tuesday to award a five-year professional services agreement for public defender services to Whitney & Whitney PLLC, authorizing a contract of $225,000 per year and an average compensation equivalent of $346 per case once the city’s 650-case cap is exceeded.

Council decision matters because the contract covers court-appointed defense for indigent defendants, affects city budget planning and prompted public comment about caseload, regional rates and potential legal risk.

City staff and the selection committee told the council the city solicited proposals in April and received two bids. The committee — which included court and county representatives — rated Whitney & Whitney highest and recommended the firm as ‘‘best positioned to do business with Lake Havasu City and with our court,’’ Mr. Knudson said during the presentation.

Charles Yeager, the Lake Havasu City prosecutor, spoke as a private citizen and said he had tracked the indigent defense contract for roughly seven years. He noted the city received only two bids this year and said a competing proposal had been substantially lower. ‘‘The other bid was...a hundred thousand dollars less than what you’re gonna vote on for tonight,’’ Yeager said, adding that the selection and compensation levels affect taxpayers and how the city treats internal staff pay.

Brian Whitney, owner of Whitney & Whitney, described differences among jurisdictions that affect cost. He said Mohave County pays $400 per misdemeanor case and allows billing beyond 25 hours for complex matters; Bullhead City’s arrangements, he said, reflect different courthouse practices. ‘‘If there are other cities who are paying less money and allowing the indigent contractors to handle higher caseloads, they’re exposing themselves to liability,’’ Whitney said, arguing that compensation levels should account for cases that require far more attorney time.

City Manager Mr. Knudson and staff clarified contract terms during the hearing: the fee is $225,000 annually, the city expects Whitney & Whitney to handle approximately 650 cases this year, and the city expects about 50 conflict cases that will be referred to other local attorneys. The contract includes an early-termination clause and a five-year term intended to stabilize pricing for the city.

Council members asked about the five-year term and whether the agreement affects court deconsolidation; staff said the contract does not affect the deconsolidation process. After public comment and discussion, Vice Mayor David Lane moved to award the contract; Council Member Jenny Coke seconded. The motion carried 6 to 0.

The council’s vote authorizes the city manager to execute the agreement and proceed under the contract terms; staff did not report any immediate change in court operations tied to the award.

Details that remain for the public record include the number of projected conflicted cases (about 50), the per-case average used for budgeting ($346 when exceeding the 650-case cap), and the five-year contract length with an annual cap of $225,000.

The council is scheduled to meet again June 25 for final budget adoption.