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18689 | outside counsel and needs to be more in line with the intention of the Charter; changes can be made as time goes on and when the Council feels more comfortable a lot of money is being spent on outside attorneys and the Council has an obligation to be more aware of outside attorney costs. Commissioner/Board Member Daysog stated that defining the parameters of discretion and how the discretion relates to Section 8-5 of the Charter is the issue; the Council is in the process of defining discretionary parameters of "may empower" the City Attorney or any other City office meets Council expectations through the establishment of the budget i threshold parameters need to be established; the Council is moving in the direction that will work for both sides but will not be established tonight. Chair Johnson stated that clear direction was given to the City Attorney to bring the matter of hiring of outside counsel back to the Council at the last Closed Session Meeting. Commissioner/Board Member Daysog stated that his interpretation of the Charter is that because there was no specific ordinance or resolution defining "may empower" the past practice is still in effect. Chair Johnson stated that is not what she heard at the last meeting. The City Attorney stated that she is working on a proposal to be presented to the City Council on July 5; that she hears what the Council is saying and understands that there is a desire for additional oversight the proposal will provide additional Council involvement and discretion, and provide significantly less discretion on the City Attorney's part. Chair Johnson stated that the Council is not asking for less discretion on the City Attorney's part; stated that Council should do what the Charter says; the interpretation of the Charter could be that the Council gives consent to the City Attorney to spend money on outside attorneys by putting a line item in the budget or the interpretation of the Charter can be that the Council is not going to give consent by a line item; the latter was made clear at the June 7 Joint City Council, CIC, ARRA Meeting the Council is allocating $470,000 but the City Attorney does not have the discretion to spend it without the Council's consent. The Acting City Manager stated that the [June 7] action of the Council was to adopt the budget ; Chair Johnson requested the City Special Joint Community Improvement Commission and Alameda Reuse and 4 Redevelopment Authority Meeting June 28, 2005 |