Speakers at council meeting criticize legal spending, urge rescinding sanctions tied to police video release

During public comment at the March 4 meeting, two speakers urged the governing body to review city legal spending and to rescind sanctions tied to litigation over a police video.

Cynthia O'Neil and another speaker, identified by the clerk as Lassiter/Saunders' supporter, said recent legal actions — including denials to release a police video, subsequent court petitions and motions for sanctions — had cost the city substantial legal fees. O'Neil said a member of the public died after a police encounter and that the video shows the incident; she asked why the city had not released the recording earlier and criticized the city attorney’s legal decisions as wasting taxpayer dollars.

Another commenter urged that the protective order and sanctions pursued in court be rescinded, calling the actions "an unnecessary attack" that forced family members into litigation and could be seen as retaliatory. Both urged council oversight and asked the council to review the city attorney’s handling of the matter.

Council did not take immediate action during the meeting on those requests. The comments were recorded in public comment; council members did not add motions for immediate review but the speakers asked the governing body to consider re‑examining the legal posture and the use of public funds for litigation.

Ending: The speakers asked council to review filings, consider rescinding sanctions and evaluate city legal strategy; the matter may be raised again in future meetings or through formal agenda items.