After about two hours of public hearing on the mental health tax initiative and the Transfer of Development Rights program, the Port Orchard City Council approved several contracts at their Jan. 22 meeting.

The council approved a three-year contract with McCavick Graves for legal services — only with a  slight change from the proposed contract.Under the contract, the law firm would bill the city an hourly rate of $170 for all legal services.

City Attorney Gregory Jacoby said the contract provides for cost-of-living increase and the same level that the City’s department heads receive.“It they get no cost-of-living increase, neither do I,” Jacoby said.

Jacoby said the contractual terms are identical to “what has been in place for almost 10 years.”Councilman John Clauson said he would like to amend the wording of the contract pertaining to special project and other hourly rates.

Clauson said under the contract that if city business and required expertise in a specified area of law and for which the mayor has given written permission to proceed.“I think it should be ‘mayor and or council’ instead of just the mayor,” Clauson said.The council approved the amendment unanimously, then approved the contract.

The council unanimously approved a contract for video services with North Woods Production to create a video of the Festival of Chimes and Lights event.The $1,080 contract would include two DVD copies and posting on the Internet.

Money for the project would come out of the festival’s 2012 fund.The staff report stated the video could be used for marketing and promote tourism.

Councilman Jerry Childs voiced his support for the project.“What we are creating will take us forward for a number of years,” Childs said.

Councilwoman Cindy Lucarelli said the city was presented “a good deal” to make the video and there was money in the budget for it.“It’s not just a Festival of Chrimes and Lights, the video can be added to for promoting the city,” Lucarelli said. “It is a promotional piece for Port Orchard.”

Council approved a contract with the Washington Department of Corrections to use the city’s outdoor firearm range in the Industrial Park.

Police Chief Alan Townsend said the city currently has contracts with the Gig Harbor Police Department, Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Patrol to use the range for training and qualifications.

Townsend said DOC would pay $65 per day and use the range between 12 and 20 times a year.Also, the council approved a lease agreement with the Port of Bremerton for right-of-way along Seattle Avenue, north of Bay Street.

The agreement is for 15 years with a 10-year extension.The Port, which owns the property of both side of the right-of-way, is expanding Marina Park. Part of the expansion is to construct a public-access platform.

The Port approved the lease agreement and will pay an annual fee of $1.