Phoenix City Council OKs payment to appease claims against municipality
By Terrance Thornton | Digital Free Press
Phoenix City Council Wednesday, May 15, approved $742,500 in out-of-court settlements stemming from claims made against the municipality involving the police, fire and street transportation departments.
A total of four payments were approved unanimously at the May 15 Phoenix City Council on consent, records show. Those approvals are:
- To make payment of up to $72,500 in settlement of claim(s) in Alvarez-Rivera v. City of Phoenix, CV2023-008748, 22-0867, AU, BI, for the Finance Department pursuant to Phoenix City Code Chapter 42. This is a settlement of a claim involving the Police Department that occurred on Sept. 8, 2022.
- To make payment of up to $300,000 in settlement of claim(s) in Brant v. City of Phoenix, CV2022-005529, 21-0734, AU, BI, for the Finance Department pursuant to Phoenix City Code Chapter 42. This is a settlement of a claim involving the Police Department that occurred on Oct. 27, 2021.
- To make payment of up to $150,000 in settlement of claim(s) in Jackson v. City of Phoenix, CV2022-051702, 21-0317-001, AU, BI for the Finance Department pursuant to Phoenix City Code Chapter 42. This is a settlement of a claim involving the Fire Department that occurred on June 3, 2021.
- To make payment of up to $220,000 in settlement of claim(s) in Rasmusson v. City of Phoenix, CV2020-006015, 19-0427-002, GL, BI, for the Finance Department pursuant to Phoenix City Code Chapter 42. This is a settlement of a claim involving the Street Transportation Department that occurred on May 20, 2019.
Items found on a municipal consent agenda are typically items that have been negotiated prior to introduction but state law requires a City Council vote of approval.
“All items on the council agenda can be pulled and voted on individually at the request of a council member, or if a member of the public requests to speak on the item,” Dan Wilson, Phoenix communications director told the Digital Free Press. “There are multiple cases where council members have pulled a settlement to make a comment or allow for an individual vote.”
Mr. Wilson also points out residents can learn more about out-of-court settlements by checking the Risk Management Claims page found of part of Phoenix Open Data.
“It lists claims against the city. The council agenda, as you already know, lists the settlement items for approval,” he said. “Items are also discussed during e-session, although any specific discussions from e-session are not public, you could see the cases being discussed on the agenda.”
