Vice Mayor Ray Luna said his concern centered on whether the billing was current or for future expenses. Macias said the billing reflected services rendered for June 2001.If the accounting was bringing the council current from the July report was questioned by Councilman John Procter, and Macias said it was; in all the city’s cost has been about $484,000 for legal costs with the insurance paying an additional $100,000. The total for legal and related costs is now about $584,000.Councilwoman Laura Flores Espinosa fretted over pulling funds from reserves for ongoing DOJ legal fees. She questioned the level of reserves and said the council wants to be “as informed as we can. . .”Ultimately the council split 4-1, Espinosa cast the lone no vote, to pay the billing from reserves.The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Santa Paula in April 2000, alleging its citywide, at-large method favors whites while diluting the Latino vote and demanded that the city convert to five voting districts to ensure Latino representation.The council has met behind closed doors several times in the last few weeks to discuss negotiating a settlement of the lawsuit.
City Council splits on paying June DOJ legal bills from General Fund reserves
August 10, 2001
Santa Paula City Council
The costs to fight the U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit are closing in on $600,000, the City Council learned at the Aug. 6 meeting, with over $173,000 billed in June.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThe costs to fight the U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit are closing in on $600,000, the City Council learned at the Aug. 6 meeting, with over $173,000 billed in June.Costs have been split between the city’s self insurance/public entity liability insurance - which picked up $100,000 of the bill - and the General Fund; costs also include those charged directly to the City Attorney line.The report by Assistant to the City Manager Melissa Macias noted that the city has received “numerous bills from the law firm of Howrey, Simon, Arnold & White, as well as other experts during the last several months. The total budget of $258,250 in fiscal year 2000-01 budget has been exceeded.”Staff recommended that the $173,690 June billing be taken from General Fund reserves.