February 15, 2022
City Council
DATE: February 15, 2022
TO: Mayor Butt and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Nathaniel Bates, Councilmember
Subject:
Cease Expending Funds of Litigation Against the Mayor.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The City has expended approximately $182,000 on cost related to litigation against the mayor. Another $100,000 is anticipated in the continuance of litigation.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Instead of using city funds to investigate elected officials, the City of Richmond can and should request that the
Grand Jury, Contra Costa County District Attorney, or the Attorney General have the authority to investigate elected officials when needed.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
CEASE expending funds to litigate the mayor –
Councilmember Nathaniel Bates (510-620-6743)
AGENDA
REPORT
February 15, 2022
DISCUSSION:
The city is spending too much of taxpayer dollars on litigation against the mayor. There are other means to investigating and taking legal action against elected officials instead of using city resources.
If City Officials have determined the need for an investigation of an elected official, the city can contact the Grand Jury, the District Attorney’s Office, and/or the Attorney General’s Office to report actions or request investigations.
Approximately $182,000 has been expended relative to litigation against the mayor and an additional $100,000 is anticipated. The city has too many other fiscal responsibilities to expend this much money and staff resources on litigating an elected official.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
None