Council approves new prosecution contract with Sarah Roberts PLLC, raising monthly fee to $18,000

The Lake Forest Park City Council on May 28 adopted Resolution 262074, authorizing the mayor to execute a professional services contract with Sarah Roberts, PLLC, to provide prosecution services for the city. Administrator Hill told the council the proposed contract replaces an agreement that had not been substantially updated in 25 years and reflects changes in legal needs and workload. "You're probably going to get a little sticker shock that we're going from $9,000 a month to $18,000 a month," Administrator Hill said, adding $3,000 of the new monthly amount is earmarked for prosecution services tied to recent traffic cameras and will be paid from the Traffic Safety Fund.

Hill also explained the new cost-of-living adjustment schedule in the contract (June-to-June CPI for the Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue area with a 2% minimum and 5% maximum). Councilmembers discussed the operational need for timely prosecutorial services and the benefit of adopting the updated contract sooner rather than later. The council voted to waive the typical three‑touch rule to allow action on a second reading and then adopted the resolution by unanimous voice vote; no roll-call tally was provided in the transcript.

Council members said the firm provides reliable courtroom support and that some contract elements are necessary to ensure the municipal court has the services it needs now. The motion and adoption were recorded in the meeting minutes; the transcript does not provide a roll‑call vote count or the individual mover's name for the adoption motion.