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Committee advances short-term amendment and two-year indigent defense contract with Beck & Phillips
Summary
The committee advanced a May–June 2026 amendment to the 2025–26 public defender contract (a $205,000 fixed fee plus $180/hour) and a July 1, 2026–June 30, 2028 renewal (first year covering 360 cases for $167,400; second year 330 cases for $167,400); both items will return to the regular council meeting for formal approval.
City staff explained the municipal obligation for indigent defense under the Yakima County District Court contract and presented two related items from the Law Office of Beck & Phillips, PLLC.
First, the firm requested an amendment to the 2025–26 Public Defender Agreement covering May 26–June 30, 2026. The proposed amendment would provide a total fixed fee of $205,000 payable in equal monthly installments, with additional compensation at $180 per hour for services beyond the fixed fee. The committee moved that amendment to the next regular Council meeting for consideration (motion by Councilmember Javier Rodriguez; second by Councilmember Bill Moore). The motion passed unanimously.
Second, staff and the firm presented a negotiated renewal running July 1, 2026–June 30, 2028. The proposed compensation structure: July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027 — coverage for 360 cases for $167,400 paid monthly, with cases in excess of 30 per month to be referred to other counsel when possible; July 1, 2027–June 30, 2028 — coverage for 330 cases for $167,400, with cases in excess of 28 per month to be referred to other counsel when possible. On motion by Councilmember Ramona Garibay-Rios, second by Councilmember Joan Souders, the committee moved the renewal contract authorization to the regular Council meeting; the motion passed unanimously.
Both items were advanced for formal Council consideration; the committee did not execute contracts at the May 26 meeting.
