Council approves 2024 final vouchers, rescinds municipal-judge ordinance and authorizes contract for judge pro tempore pay

At a study-session business session, the City Council approved a series of procedural administrative actions, including final voucher payments for 2024, a rescission of an ordinance concerning municipal court appointment language, and a resolution to allow the city manager to execute an amended independent-consultant agreement with Judge Troy Lee.

Vouchers and final 2024 expenditures - Council approved claim vouchers numbered 110-980 through 111-083 and related wire transfers totaling $1,449,390.48 for the period ending Dec. 31, 2024, with some voided check numbers noted by staff. The motion was made by Councilor Ripley and seconded by Councilor Hart; council members voted “aye” and the motion passed.

Rescission of ordinance and judge contract - The council voted to rescind Ordinance No. 2022-3, which had previously addressed appointment and compensation language for Troy Lee (municipal court judge). City staff said the rescission was procedural so the hiring/firing authority (hiring/firing authority rests with the city manager) and the judge’s role can be formalized by contract rather than an ordinance. - Motion to rescind was made by Councilor Beeler and seconded by Councilor Hart; the motion passed with an aye vote. - The council then approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to amend an agreement with Judge Troy Lee identifying him as an independent consultant and setting pro tem pay. Councilors discussed hourly pay references dating to Jan. 1, 2022, and asked for clarification on future adjustments; staff said they would provide an annual adjustment figure on request. The resolution also preserves the monthly compensation framework aligned with the Administrative Office of the Courts’ salary commission. Motion by Councilor Beeler, second by Councilor Ripley; all voted aye and the resolution passed.

Climate Resilience Advisory Team assignment - The council corrected an earlier oversight in committee assignments and confirmed that Councilor Hart will continue as a representative to the Climate Resilience Advisory Team. The item was raised as an administrative correction and there was no vote recorded as an objection was not raised.

Why it matters: These items formalize payroll/contracting authority and complete year-end financial housekeeping for 2024. Rescinding the ordinance and moving compensation/appointment language into a professional-services contract clarifies separation of powers and ensures the judge is treated as an independent contractor for municipal-court services.

Votes at a glance - 2024 final vouchers: motion by Councilor Ripley; second by Councilor Hart; outcome: approved; tally: unanimous aye (no roll-call names recorded). - Rescind Ordinance No. 2022-3 (appointment/compensation for Judge Troy Lee): motion by Councilor Beeler; second by Councilor Hart; outcome: approved; tally: unanimous aye. - Resolution authorizing city manager to execute amended independent-consultant agreement with Judge Troy Lee (sets pay for judge pro tempore): motion by Councilor Beeler; second by Councilor Ripley; outcome: approved; tally: unanimous aye.

Quote - City Manager Gonzales (summarizing change): “So just sort of a procedural thing that we'll have to do, doesn't fundamentally change Judge Lee's duties as a judge, but the hiring and firing authority does lie within the city manager's office.”

Ending: Council approved the administrative and contract adjustments and closed the financial items for 2024. Staff committed to supply additional clarifying details on Judge Lee’s hourly adjustment mechanism and to provide substantiating invoices for voucher inquiries on request.