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Council approves amended contract with Walls Law Firm for prosecuting attorney services
Summary
After committee revisions to add performance and cure provisions, the council unanimously approved an amendment to the city's prosecuting‑attorney services contract with the Walls Law Firm, including language tying the cost of an additional attorney to actual hiring and protections if staffing changes.
The Edmonds City Council unanimously approved an amendment to its prosecuting‑attorney services contract with the Walls Law Firm, after committee review and added provisions that address backlog, staffing and cost triggers.
Council member Payne moved to approve the amendment; the motion was seconded and carried without opposition. City staff said the amendment reflects committee feedback and adds language to address the city's options if contract provisions are not met. The amendment allows for hiring an additional attorney, but staff added language that the increased cost would not be incurred until the new attorney is actually hired and that the monthly fee would revert to the original amount if the extra attorney leaves.
Staff advised the council that negotiations had produced what they characterized as reasonable timelines for reducing a backlog of cases. The amendment provides an initial six‑month period to address the backlog, with the option to require a cure plan that could extend no more than an additional two months; staff said Walls indicated six months should be sufficient. Council members asked for stronger contractual "teeth" but staff and counsel said the negotiated periods were intended to be achievable and that the notice‑to‑cure provisions offered remedies if performance lagged.
The council's motion passed unanimously. City negotiators and outside counsel will proceed with contract finalization and implementation under the amended terms.
