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Council advances ordinance to require 30‑day solicitor review of council legislation
Summary
Bill 6 would establish a 30‑day review and comment period for the city solicitor on bills or resolutions submitted by council; proponents said it ensures legal vetting, opponents asked how it will work in practice and whether it could delay urgent items. The committee moved the bill to the legislative agenda.
President Hill presented Bill 6 of 2026, an ordinance amending the legislative code to require a 30‑day review and comment period by the city solicitor on matters submitted by council. The measure would start a 30‑day clock after materials are submitted to the law bureau; if the solicitor does not provide comments within that window, council could opt to proceed with introduction and consideration.
Council members asked several operational questions: whether the law bureau would be notified automatically; how the rule would interact with the Sunshine Act; whether the city’s $40,000 appropriation for legal services would be used; and whether the provision could be gamed if volume surged. Solicitor Grover and other colleagues cautioned that the practical timing depends on staff capacity and the complexity of each item; Grover said the office balanced its statutory obligation to defend the city with competing workloads.
The council agreed the ordinance’s intent is to create a reliable clock to prompt review rather than to block council action, and President Hill moved Bill 6 to the next legislative session for a formal vote. Council asked that the law bureau and administration clarify operational procedures (how items will be logged, exceptions for emergencies and executive‑session consultations) before the ordinance advances.
