Focus Turns to City Attorney

Assuming the ballot measure City Council is discussing now passes, City Attorney Jan Goldsmith now will play the biggest role in ensuring that it actually goes to voters.

Goldsmith told the council there were some legal complications to the plans that already had been developed. He just saw the newest plan — the one the mayor has endorsed — this morning like everyone else.

One snag already. The proposal as stated now says a panel of retired judges will determine if the city met triggers and could institute or continue the sales tax increase. Goldsmith said on the dais today that a city official, like the city auditor, must do it.

“It is unclear how a court would assess this proposal. It is possible a court may find this to be an invalid delegation to a public officer of the City Council’s duty to resolve these fundamental issues,” Goldsmith wrote in his memo.

Also, here’s another memo Goldsmith released today detailing the city’s revenue and ballot options.

— LIAM DILLON