( CNN ) -- The San Diego City Council voted Tuesday to deny Mayor Bob Filner 's request for taxpayers to pay his legal fees associated with a sexual harassment lawsuit against him , a spokesman said . The vote was 9-0 , according to Matt Awbrey , spokesman for City Council member Kevin Faulconer . The city is named as a co-defendant in the lawsuit against Filner . His former spokeswoman filed the suit alleging both were responsible for the mayor 's sexual harassment . San Diego says it should n't be part of the lawsuit in the first place because it had no role in the mayor 's behavior and because it has a zero-tolerance policy against sexual harassment . The city `` believes that it neither caused nor contributed to the damages alleged by '' Filner 's former spokeswoman , Irene Jackson . Amid calls for resignation , embattled mayor to enter clinic . It 's a complicated situation . Jackson and seven other women say they were subjected to `` crude and disgusting '' comments and inappropriate touching -- including groping and kissing -- by Filner , and she resigned as his spokeswoman in June . Eight days ago , Jackson filed suit against both Filner and the city , alleging both were responsible . Filner , 70 , then sent a letter to the city , saying it should mount his defense and pay his legal bills . Opinion : No room for lecherous mayors . The San Diego City Council met earlier Tuesday and unanimously decided to file suit against Filner , saying it is the mayor who should pay the city 's legal bills in defending the case . And if Jackson wins her case , the city 's lawsuit seeks indemnity from paying any damages . `` Bob Filner ca n't pay back San Diegans for the damage he 's done to our city 's reputation , but he can and should repay the city if there are any taxpayer costs as a result of this lawsuit , '' Faulconer said in a statement . San Diego mayor sued , called unfit for office . Filner says he will enter a behavior counseling clinic next month for two weeks of `` intensive therapy , '' but he has repeatedly said he wo n't step down . His decision is unlikely to quell the mounting calls for his resignation . Many of the accusations allegedly took place during Filner 's five terms in Congress , before he was elected mayor last year . In response , Filner 's chief of staff resigned , the Democratic Party of San Diego voted to call for his resignation -- even his fiancee left his side . A group began an official recall effort , but political observers have expressed doubt that the group can logistically pull off collecting the more than 100,000 signatures needed . Secrets that women of San Diego no longer keep about its mayor . CNN 's Tony Dunnan contributed to this report .
The city sued Filner for its legal costs and possible damages . The city says it had no role in the mayor 's behavior . Filner wants the city to pay for his own medical and legal bills . Brown 's former spokeswoman is suing him for sexual harassment .