HomeMy WebLinkAbout4761 Ordinance - 2025-2026 Operating Budget Adjustment for In-House City Attorney StaffOrdinance – 2025 – 2026 Operating Budget Amendment - 1
ORDINANCE NO. 4761
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PASCO, WASHINGTON,
AMENDING THE 2025-2026 BIENNIAL OPERATING BUDGET
(ORDINANCE NO. 4749), BY PROVIDING SUPPLEMENT THERETO; TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION IN THE CITY’S GENERAL
FUND, ALLOCATING FUNDING FOR THE ADDITION OF THREE FULL-
TIME EMPLOYEES TO THE CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE.
WHEREAS, Pasco Municipal Code 2.15.010 provides that the City Manager, subject to
confirmation by the City Council, shall secure legal counsel for the City by appointment of such
full-time, part-time, and/or contractual professional services as best serve the interests of the City;
and
WHEREAS, the City of Pasco has historically relied on external legal counsel to meet its
legal needs; and
WHEREAS, the continued growth of the City’s population, the expansion of municipal
operations, and the increasing complexity of legal matters necessitate more responsive and
comprehensive legal support; and
WHEREAS, the City’s organizational development requires consistent, readily available
legal advice to support policy development, risk management, contract review, and regulatory
compliance; and
WHEREAS, establishing an in-house City Attorney’s Office with dedicated full-time
employees will enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and cost predictability of legal services; and
WHEREAS, having internal legal counsel will improve the City’s ability to proactively
address legal issues, support departmental operations, and ensure continuity of legal expertise
aligned with the City’s long-term strategic goals; and
WHEREAS, on December 9, 2024, the Pasco City Council approved Ordinance No. 4749,
adopting the 2025-2026 Biennial Operating Budget; and
WHEREAS, the 2025-2026 Biennial Operating Budget included the contracted legal
services in the amount of $800,000 which includes all outside legal counsel expenses; and
WHEREAS, current project costs exceed the originally anticipated costs, due to market
conditions; and
WHEREAS, three (3) full time equivalent positions will be a City expense, in lieu of
contracted services; and
WHEREAS, City will continue to contract for specialized legal services.
Ordinance – 2025 – 2026 Operating Budget Amendment - 2
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PASCO,
WASHINGTON DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Pursuant to RCW 35A.34.150 as follows:
Fund EXPENDITURE REVENUE
General Fund $800,000
Total $800,000
Section 2. That the additions in appropriations and expenditures are hereby declared
to exist in the above funds for the said uses and purposes as shown above, and the proper City
officials are hereby authorized and directed to issue warrants and transfer funds in accordance
with the provision of the Ordinance.
Section 3. Except as amended herein, Ordinance No. 4749 as previously adopted
heretofore shall remain unchanged.
Section 4. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or word
of this ordinance should be held to the invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent
jurisdiction, such invalidity or unconstitutionality thereof shall not affect the validity or
constitutionality of any other section, subsection, sentence, clause phrase or word of this ordinance.
Section 5. Corrections. Upon approval by the city attorney, the city clerk or the code
reviser are authorized to make necessary corrections to this ordinance, including scrivener’s errors
or clerical mistakes; reference to other local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations; or
numbering or referencing of ordinances or their sections and subsections.
Section 6. Effective Date. This Ordinance, being an exercise of a power specifically
delegated to the City legislative body, is not subject to referendum, and shall take full force and
effect five (5) days after approval, passage, and publication as required by law.
Ordinance – 2025 – 2026 Operating Budget Amendment - 3
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Pasco, Washington, on this 18th day of
February, 2025.
Pete Serrano
Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________ ___________________________
Debra Barham, MMC Kerr Ferguson Law, PLLC
City Clerk City Attorneys
Published: February 23, 2025