11-23-2020 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION DRAFT 5 WSB & Associates for engineering services. He explained the level of services being 162 utilized, the cost and the source of funding. There are other options that could be 163 reviewed, one of which is to renegotiate rates with WSB. Staff is looking for council 164 discussion. 165 Mayor Rafferty said WSB has been a good partner with the City. When he joined the 166 council in 2010, he learned about what services the City contracts. Since the City is a 167 public entit y, it is important to look at options at least every ten years, whether that be 168 RFPs or just a review. He is in favor of reviewing the services and having a process to do 169 that correctly. WSB has done an excellent job but the taxpayers are well served by regular 170 review. 171 Councilmember Stoesz asked about other cities that use in house services versus 172 contracted. He isn’t necessarily in favor of the change but wants to understand fully the 173 implications. He does see the value in having a pool of expertise that large firm brings. 174 Councilmember Cavegn added that he’d like to understand better the cost of in house 175 services. Director Grochala said that more information can be provided on options; 176 services the City needs do go up and down according to development and some services 177 would always require outside expertise. Staff could provide more cost information as part 178 of an RFP process so the council has the full picture. 179 Councilmember Lyden said he supports the mayor in his comments about the need for a 180 regular review. 181 Councilmember Stoesz asked if the pavement management plan information in place 182 belongs to the City. Director Grochala explained that any change would include the cost 183 of change but the methodology for a plan like pavement management would essentially be 184 the same. Councilmember Stoesz noted a transition summary prepared by the previous 185 WSB assigned engineer and he wonders if that is something that is valuable and would be 186 a consistent part of any transition; Mr. Grochala said that such a document is a useful tool. 187 Councilmember Lyden asked for staff’s instinct on looking at a change and Mr. Grochala 188 suggested that the outside firms that would compete are pretty much all from the same 189 pool and the costs are going to be pretty consistent; from a selfish viewpoint, while it is 190 always good to review, change does mean more work for staff and it also results in losing 191 people who have some institutional knowledge from their years of providing service to the 192 City. Mr. Grochala also explained that it’s easier to ramp up and down with outside 193 engineers as needs ebb and flow and he suspects the costs would be similar but there may 194 be more hours available with in house. And he will attempt to demonstrate those things 195 with figures. 196 Councilmember Ruhland said he supports a review because it’s an important practice. He 197 received an explanation from Director Grochala of what is included in the general contract 198 cost and other services that are not and how those are funded. 199