Council gives city attorney enforcement authority over living‑wage and related ordinances

The City Council voted June 30 to amend multiple municipal wage-related ordinances so the City Attorney’s Office may administer enforcement. Assistant City Attorney Jim McNeil said the code changes align enforcement authority with the budget decision to transfer the Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement into the City Attorney’s Office.

McNeil told the council the amendments are limited to granting the City Attorney the same administrative enforcement authorities the mayor previously held under the living wage, prevailing wage, minimum wage and related local ordinances. "Transferring the OLSE to the office of the city attorney while leaving intact its administrative enforcement requires amending those various wage ordinances to allow such enforcement through the office of the city attorney," he said.

Councilmember Chris Foster moved staff’s recommendation; Council President Pro Tem Sean (name used on dais) Lee seconded. The motion passed unanimously with seven votes in favor and two council districts absent. Councilmembers said the move should improve enforcement efficiency and allow the city to use grant and penalty funds to offset general fund costs.

The ordinance now allows the City Attorney to pursue administrative remedies under the city’s living‑wage, prevailing‑wage, minimum‑wage and related ordinances; the city attorney’s office will continue to report on enforcement as required by existing reporting schedules.