Staff presented proposed contracts for city prosecution (first year $204,000) and public defense (proposed $40,000/month), noting that caseload changes and new standards have driven costs up sharply and that both agreements are set for the Dec. 18 consent agenda.

Sen. Jesse Solomon told Mountlake Terrace council members that new caseload standards and related public-defense mandates have driven uncertainty and steep cost projections; he urged exploring staffing alternatives and previewed proposed housing and childcare regulatory work for the coming legislative session.