The Maple Valley City Council unanimously approved city manager David Johnston’s recommendation to enter into a three-year contract with Lighthouse Law Group at Monday night’s council meeting.

The city eliminated its full-time city attorney position late last year in an effort to close a $550,000 deficit in the general fund.

The base budget for the city attorney position was $260,000.

At the beginning of January the city entered into a three-month agreement with Jeff Taraday and Patricia Taraday from Lighthouse.

That contract was extended an extra month to give the city more time to make a recommendation to council.

The city issued a request for qualifications to which 11 firms responded, Johnston said. Of those 11, eight were considered and two, Lighthouse and Porter Foster Rorick, were interviewed.

Johnston said he felt it was important to select a firm with knowledge of the area and the city to minimize the learning curve.

The firms were interviewed by a committee that was made up of City Council members Noel Gerken and Layne Barnes as well as Greg Brown, the city’s parks and recreation director, and Steve Clark, the city’s public works and community development director.

The new contract, which will take effect May 1, will give the city 48 hours per month of services with Patricia Taraday and 22 hours per month of services with Jeff Taraday.

The cost to the city will be $12,750 per month, a number that is tied to the rate of inflation according to Johnston.

Additional hours would be available, should the city require them, at a higher hourly rate.

Reach Katherine Smith ksmith@maplevalleyreporter.com or 425-432-1209 ext. 5052.