Council debates who may request legal work and when the city attorney should attend meetings

Council spent a substantial portion of the meeting discussing access to the city attorney, when legal research should be commissioned, and how to manage costs.

City Manager Shane and several council members said routine or significant legal research should generally be routed through the city manager so the administration can manage scope and costs. Council also discussed allowing the city attorney to attend meetings "at the invitation of two members of city council or the city manager," language that members said would give the manager and council an operational means to invite counsel when substantive legal advice is needed.

Members raised two core concerns: budget control for attorney time and the question of client‑representation. Council members noted that frequent ad hoc contact with outside counsel can create unanticipated billings and complicate the city manager’s ability to track legal spending. At the same time, some council members argued that in exceptional circumstances an individual member should be able to contact counsel (for example, to raise a potential conflict or liability issue), but others said a two‑member threshold or routing through the manager is a safer default.

Council asked staff to refine the language so it tracks charter obligations, protects the city budget, and provides clear guidance on when the attorney may be asked to attend meetings or undertake legal research. The city attorney will review the proposed wording and advise on client‑representation implications.