Board approves Petra Place paving assessment and authorizes corporation counsel legal-services budget increase

The Board of Alders approved a petition to pave Petra Place, an unaccepted street in poor condition, following a finance committee recommendation. Under the plan described during the Jan. 5 meeting, the estimated cost of the paving project will be split into two equal parts; residents whose property abuts the street will be responsible for paying half of that amount over 10 years through a special assessment.

The finance committee recommended approval after reviewing the petition and condition of the road. The transcript records committee recommendations and a voice vote in favor of moving the item.

Separately, the corporation counsel requested authorization to increase the maximum expenditures for outside law firms and to transfer funds into the legal-services account to pay those increases. The counsel said the principal driver of the rising legal expenses is the need to defend the city against multiple alleged wrongful-arrest suits currently pending in court. The board moved to approve transfers to the corporation counsel's legal services account, including authority for retainer/agreements in excess of $150,000 where required.

Both matters were discussed as finance items; the transcript records committee recommendations and affirmative voice responses. Specific roll-call tallies by name were not captured in the provided segment; approvals are recorded via voice vote and committee recommendation.