SOAP LAKE — The Soap Lake City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a contract for municipal consulting services intended to help manage city operations while hiring committee searches for a permanent city administrator, but the decision exposed an ongoing disagreement between the council and Mayor Peter Sharp over the limits of executive authority.

The council approved the agreement with TDC Consulting LLC on a 4-0 vote during its Sept. 17 meeting. Council member Andrew Arnold was absent. 

The contract would place consultant Trina Cole in an advisory role performing many of the duties typically assigned to a city administrator and treasurer. According to the agreement, Cole would assist with administrative operations, budget development, council agendas, contract administration, personnel matters, grant applications and communications between the city and outside agencies. 

Council member John Carlson told those in attendance that the agreement had been drafted by the city's attorney and was designed to fill a vacancy the city has struggled to fill for months. 

"What we have is arrangement here that was written up by our attorney, our city attorney, and it's for consulting services for city administrative and financial," Carlson said. "It falls in line with the position that we have open, probably still should be open, and it's a line item on our budget as well, but that was as a hired position." 

Carlson said the proposal would allow the city to obtain professional administrative support without filling the position permanently. 

"So, what we have here, what we're talking about today is this contract and to accept it or not," he said. 

The city has been searching for a city administrator since Jan. 28, 2026, according to previous Columbia Basin Herald reporting. 

Before the vote, Sharp repeatedly questioned whether the arrangement infringed on powers granted to the mayor under RCW 35A.12.100, which identifies the mayor as the city's chief executive and administrative officer. 

"Has anyone had an opportunity to reach out to (Municipal Research & Services Center) or (Association of Washington Cities) to make sure this isn't a violation of Washington state law?" Sharp asked council members. 

Carlson responded that the city's attorney had already reviewed the matter. 

"I'll speak for our attorney and say yes. The attorney drafted this agreement," Carlson said. 

Sharp maintained his concerns, arguing the contract could interfere with the mayor's authority over city operations. 

"It has violated the mayor's authority. It does violate the separation of powers and running the operations," Sharp said. 

Later in the discussion, Sharp added, "It's in the purview of the mayor to hire that person, to find a viable candidate. I absolutely want to hire someone." 

Sharp also said he had not received the contract before the meeting. The contract was also not included in the agenda packet given to the Columbia Basin Herald. The Columbia Basin Herald submitted a verbal records request Thursday, which was fulfilled the same day to receive a copy of the contract.  "No, I was never given it," Sharp said when asked whether he had reviewed the document. Carson gave Sharphis copy of the contract during the meeting for Sharp to review.  

The mayor urged council members to delay action. 

"If you table this long enough to read it, and you have time to reach out to MRSC and stuff yourself, I'd say that's more fine," Sharp said. 

The debate mirrors issues identified by the Municipal Research and Services Center, which recently noted that disputes between city councils and mayors frequently involve executive authority over city administration, employee supervision and contract management. According to MRSC, mayors in mayor-council cities are responsible for day-to-day administration and staff management, while councils exercise legislative and budgetary authority, creating potential areas of conflict when administrative functions are delegated through contracts or other arrangements. 

Council member and Mayor Pro Tempore Kayleen Bryson argued that the agreement was comparable to other consulting contracts already used by the city. Bryson was contacted for further comment but was not available prior to press time. 

"This is a consulting position. It's not a hired position by the mayor," Bryson said. "This person is qualified because she has her own consulting business that's been doing municipal services already and is very well qualified." 

Bryson compared the arrangement to the city's planning consultant contract. 

"If you look at it in the same way as how we hired the city planner position as a consultant because we couldn't fill a position as a hired position, this is the same kind of consideration," she said. "I see no difference between hiring a planning consultant versus a city admin consultant." 

To address questions about legality, the council contacted City Attorney Julie Norton during the meeting. 

Norton said the contract does not transfer executive authority away from the mayor. 

"It absolutely does not," Norton said when asked whether the agreement takes away the mayor's authority. "This person will have no authority over city staff or individuals. They will be there to help guide, consult." 

After Sharp asked whether the consultant would oversee employees or direct daily city operations, Norton reiterated the limitations of the position. 

"They have no ability to hire, fire," Norton said. "They help further to help strategize." 

Norton also emphasized that the arrangement is temporary. 

"This contract, upon hiring an actual city administrator and funding director. This is just kind of for strategic planning and communication," Norton said. "It's a short-term interim contract." 

Asked directly whether she advised approval of the contract, Norton replied, "Yeah, it is, my advice, given the support needed for the city." 

The agreement itself limits the consultant's authority. Cole would report directly to the city council and could communicate with staff but would not have final hiring, disciplinary or termination authority. The contract also prohibits the consultant from financially obligating the city or executing binding agreements without written authorization. 

Following Norton's comments, the council voted unanimously to approve the contract. 

After the vote, Sharp asked that his opposition be entered into the public record. Sharp was contacted by the Columbia Basin Herald for further comment but did not respond prior to press time.  

"For the record, please note that I see this as a separation of power issue. Please document that," Sharp said. 

According to Administrative Assistant Jody Siebert, Sharp later declined to sign the contract. 

"The mayor did refuse to sign the contract after the meeting," Siebert told the Columbia Basin Herald Thursday.  

Under the agreement, TDC Consulting will be paid $85 per hour, with compensation capped at $13,600 per month unless the council authorizes additional spending. The contract begins Oct. 5 and remains in effect on a month-to-month basis until the city hires a permanent city administrator and treasurer, or either party terminates the agreement.