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City attorney presents code update to clarify legal-defense rules for officers and employees
Summary
City Attorney Christina Nelson Gross proposed amendments to SMC 2.52 to align with RCW 4.96.041, extend protections to marital community/registered partnerships and clarify the City Attorney’s recommendation role and council voting procedure; council voted 7–0 to place an ordinance on the next consent agenda.
City Attorney Christina Nelson Gross presented proposed revisions to Sequim Municipal Code chapter 2.52 to implement state law (RCW 4.96.041) that governs when local governments may pay legal defense costs for employees and officials. Gross told council the updates will add procedural guardrails and clarify that the City Attorney will make recommendations about whether defense should be provided and under which conditions; she also said recent state changes (e.g., defense for recall petition matters) informed the updates.
Council discussed a suggested edit to explicitly include appointed officials in the definition of "official." A councilor moved to waive second touch and direct staff to bring an ordinance adopting the proposed amendments to the next available consent agenda (including the proposed wording change); the motion was seconded and passed 7–0. Gross indicated she will incorporate the edit and return a final draft for ordinance placement.
