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Spokane Valley council declines city-funded legal defense for councilmember in public-records suit
Summary
City council voted unanimously to deny payment of legal fees for Councilmember Al Merkel in a lawsuit filed by the city over alleged public-records and social-media-policy violations, citing municipal code limits and insurance exclusions.
Spokane Valley City Council on Feb. 18 voted to deny city-funded legal representation for Councilmember Al Merkel in a lawsuit the city filed alleging violations of the Public Records Act and the council’s social media policy.
The motion, made by Deputy Mayor Hatenberg and seconded, asked the council to “deny council member Merkel any city funded legal representation in connection with case number 25-2-0071032 pursuant to Spokane Valley Municipal Code 2.70.03A4N5.” The motion passed unanimously.
The city manager and deputy city manager told the council the lawsuit followed an independent investigation and a hearing examiner decision that found violations of the council’s social media policy and that certain records posted on Merkel’s personal accounts were public records. Deputy City…
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