Council tables proposed attorney rate increase, schedules workshop for further review

Price City Council on March 11 paused action on a proposed addendum to the Price City Attorney Services agreement after extended discussion about cost, procurement procedure and continuity of legal services.

City staff said the addendum would raise the contracted hourly rate from about $130 to $160. "The city attorney contacted the mayor and indicated that there needed to be an increase in the rate he charges from $130 to $160 an hour," staff reported during the agenda item. Council members said the jump — about $30 per hour — caused concern because the underlying contract runs through the summer and an extension or new procurement could be imminent.

Some council members urged sending the work out for proposals to ensure public competition and transparency, while others emphasized the value of the incumbent's municipal experience and the risk of losing the attorney if the city opened a full RFP now. One council member who had reviewed the original contract described the increase as "a lot to choke down" but said the attorney had provided valuable services and that negotiating the extension merited further discussion.

After discussion, the council voted to table the addendum and directed the mayor to discuss the matter with the attorney; members scheduled a focused workshop on March 20 and to return the item to the council agenda on March 25 so that the city can decide whether to pursue an RFP, negotiate terms or proceed with the addendum.

The motion preserves current arrangements while allowing additional review so the city can factor any change into the upcoming budget cycle.