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Wenatchee approves four-year city attorney contract worth $960,000 in year one
Summary
Council approved a four-year legal services contract with Davis Arneill Law Firm LLP effective Jan. 1, 2026, with $960,000 in the first year and 5% annual increases; staff said the increase reflects more hours on records requests, code enforcement and civil work.
Finance Director Brad Hozenjak told the council that the agenda packet contained incorrect figures and that the correct attorney contract spans four years (Jan. 1, 2026–2029). He said the first-year dollar amount in the prepared contract is $960,000, with 5% increases in subsequent years, representing a 7.9% increase over the prior contract because of heavier demand for legal hours for public records responses, code enforcement and prosecution work.
Hozenjak said the $960,000 figure was already included in the 2026 budget. Councilmember Hornby said the increased cost also secures more attorney hours and moved to approve a four-year contract for legal services with Davis Arneill Law Firm LLP and authorize the mayor's signature. The motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote.
Council discussion framed the change as addressing a measurable increase in workload for legal services tied to public records requests and municipal enforcement. The transcript does not include a roll-call vote; the vote was recorded by voice ('Aye') and the motion carried.
Next steps: the mayor will sign the contract and the city will proceed under the new four-year agreement, with staff continuing to monitor legal workload and costs.
