Residents and attorney urge Folsom council to settle voting‑rights lawsuit and pay fees

Several residents and the plaintiffs' attorney urged the Folsom City Council on July 14 to settle litigation under the California Voting Rights Act and pay reasonable attorney fees, saying continued litigation risks large fee awards and adds to a troubled city budget.

Robert Dresser (speaker 8) said the original petition asking for by‑district elections was signed by more than 300 residents and urged the council to "do the right thing and follow the spirit of the California Voting Rights Act and, consider a reasonable settlement." He told the council the city adopted by‑district elections in response to the suit and that the plaintiffs’ attorney has not been paid for work that led to districts the speakers said benefit Asian minority residents.

Scott Rafferty (speaker 9), the attorney who represented the petitioners, said cities that miss the CVRA safe‑harbor or prolong litigation can face large fee awards: "When cities go past the safe harbor deadline, the settlement the fee awards have been in the 7 or 8 digit category," he said, urging a negotiated payment and changes to maps or terms to allow District 3 a timely election opportunity.

Muriel Brownstein (speaker 10) and Catherine O'Morta (speaker 15) told the council paying reasonable fees is fiscally responsible and would stop the continuing drain on resident tax dollars. Brownstein said the court denied the city's claims of immunity from attorney fees and that the plaintiffs' success entitles the attorney to fees.

Council members acknowledged the comments; some said they want to resolve the matter as soon as possible, while others voiced concern about costs and the timing of ballot actions. No settlement vote took place at the meeting; speakers asked the council to pursue a negotiated resolution rather than extended litigation.