Edmonds City Attorney Edmonds Code 2.05

Somebody other than City Attorney Taraday should review the proposed Council Rules of Procedures and update to the Council Code of Conduct:

Chapter 2.05 of the Edmonds City Code can be printed out on 1 piece of paper using a normal sized font.  I would expect all City Attorney candidates to read and comply with Chapter 2.05.  I would hope City Attorney candidates would make sure their proposals are consistent with the City’s laws and ordinances. I would hope all elected officials would require such.

If City Attorneys don’t comply with the Code Section that specifically deals with them, why have confidence that they will comply with any part of the ECC or ECDC?

I would expect City Attorney candidates to ask for clarity regarding ECC 2.05.020.B.3 which incredibly states the following:

Attend all regular and work meetings of the planning advisory board of the city of Edmonds as requested.

Obviously either the word “all” needs to be removed or the words “as requested” need to be removed.

How can something this basic and simple not be addressed for years and years?

I would expect the City Attorney to comply with ECC 2.05.020.B.4 which clearly states that the city attorney SHALL:

Attend all sessions of the Edmonds Municipal Court.

The law is crystal clear, no ambiguity.  If the City Council no longer wants the law, change it.  But to allow the City Attorney to break the law repeatedly for years and years is wrong.  Please address the violations of the law that have taken place for years.

I would expect the City Attorney’s compensation to comply with ECC 2.05.030 which clearly states that:

The city attorney shall be paid for services rendered in accordance with an annual authorization for services as contained in the city council’s budget. Such authorization shall provide for hourly fees and expenses.

Is a four year contract consistent with an annual authorization for services in the budget?

Again, if the City Council doesn’t like the law, change it.  But to act like you are above the law and can break it for years and years is wrong.  Even if you change the law at this point, the City should have the integrity to address the historical violations of the law that have taken place for the years Lighthouse has been the City Attorney under a flat fee arrangement.

Do you have confidence in a City Attorney who doesn’t follow all of Chapter 2.05 of the Edmonds City Code which can be printed out on 1 piece of paper using a normal sized font?

As a citizen, my opinion is that the position of City Attorney has harmed Edmonds citizens more than any other position at the City.  I am entitled to my opinion.

Please, the time has come to do a deep, thorough analysis of the position of City Attorney.  There must be a better way to obtain legal counsel.  Please study the history of this position and try and determine the true cost of contracting for outside legal services.  I think that cost is far greater than just the contract amounts paid to the outside attorneys.  For one example, look at the need for a massive Code rewrite.  Please appreciate, many (if not all) of the Ordinances were drafted by City Attorneys.