Here are some of the issues the...

Here are some of the issues the council considered Monday:

CITY ATTORNEY REVIEW

The council considered whether to outsource some or all of the

work of the city attorney’s office after it heard the results of a

cost-benefit analysis of the department. The council hired Management

Partners Inc. last year to analyze the department to determine

whether the current setup is the most effective and efficient way to

provide legal services for the city.

WHAT HAPPENED

The council directed City Manager Allan Roeder to prepare a

Request for Qualifications for contract legal services with

Councilman Chris Steel casting the sole dissenting vote. A Request

for Qualifications enables companies to send their qualifications

without the cost of services and usually precedes a Request for

Proposals, where costs are specified, said City Personnel Manager

Howard Perkins.

The council also appointed Mayor Gary Monahan and Councilwoman

Libby Cowan to work with staff to provide a plan for changes within

the city attorney’s office if they are desired.

WHAT WAS SAID

“I think it’s a waste of time and money to go looking for an

outside firm to run the attorney’s office,” Steel said. “I think we

have one in Tom Wood who’s been there and used to be our City

Attorney.... We spent enough time and money on this whole problem. We

don’t need to do that.”

1901 PLAZA RESIDENCES

The council gave its final approval to an ordinance changing the

municipal code to allow for a condominium project double the density

allowed in the general plan.

The modified version of the 1901 Newport Blvd. project, approved

Jan. 19, calls for 145 units, 415 residential parking spaces and a

subsidy of $1.5 million.

WHAT HAPPENED

The council approved the ordinance with Councilmen Allan Mansoor

and Chris Steel dissenting. The city still faces an existing lawsuit

from Rutter Development as the company is working to see if this

approved version is feasible. It also faces a potential referendum

that would demand the council rescind its approval or put the issue

out to a vote. Referendum supporters have to gather 4,700 signatures

by Feb. 19.