Edmonds

January 2009 - 1 Hearing = expense $3,500.00 (City revenue $1,155.00 fee) February 2009 - 2 Hearing = expense $3,500 (City revenue $4,030.00 fees) March 2009 - 1 Hearing = expense $3,500 (City revenue $1,330.00 fee) April 2009 - 1 Hearing = expense $3,500 (City revenue $1,948.01 fee) May 2009 - 0 Hearings = expense $3,500 (City revenue ZERO) June 2009 - 3 Hearings = expense $3,500 (City revenue $4,624.00 fees) July 2009 - 0 Hearings = expense $3,500 (City revenue ZERO) August 2009 - 0 Hearings = expense $3,500 (City revenue ZERO) September 2009 - 2 Hearings = expense $3,500 (City revenue $2,915.00 fees) October 2009 - 2 Hearings = expense $3,500 (City revenue $1,605.00 fees) November 2009 - 1 Hearing = expense $3,500 (City revenue ZERO) December 2009 - 0 Hearings = expense $3,500 (City revenue ZERO) January 2010 - 0 Hearings (No Work) = expense $3,500.00 (City revenue ZERO) February 2010 - 1 Hearing 1 advisory report = expense $3,500.00 (City revenue $705.00 fee) March 2010 - 2 Hearing...

Go figure, what information was provided to the Edmonds City Council prior to accepting and entering into a contract that costs the Edmonds Taxpayers four times the amount the very same firm charges the the City of Everett ($120.00 per hour, not to exceed $10,000 in a calendar year)? On February 20, 2007 via the consent agenda the Edmonds City Council approved a contract for Hearing Examiner services with the law firm Toweill Rice Taylor. This contract calls for a $3,500 per month compensation or $42,000 annual expense. Folks that's $126,000 expense over the 3 year contract compared to $30,000 expense for Everett over the same contract term. No wonder the City financial situation appears dire. In 2009 the Hearing Examiner conducted 11 hearings or $3,818 per hearing. Another way to evaluate the contract $42,000 divided by $120 per hour, 350 hours divided by 11 hearings - 31 hours per hearing and decision. It makes no sense. The City of Edmonds sends Toweill Rice Taylor a check for $...