Agenda Packets - 2008/04/07 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The only way that money would stay in the City is if the City employees were Mounds View residents. Otherwise, the income tax from the employees will go to the state & federal governments, the same as the income tax for consultants’ employees does. In fact, the same engineering expenses paid to a consultant actually produces more tax revenue for both the state and the federal governments, since the consulting firm has to pay corporation tax. So more money makes it back into the communities. Summary of the consideration to perform in-house engineering: In considering the question, it is Staff’s opinion that the following conclusions will be reached: • There is no cost savings to be realized in personnel salaries • There are additional expenses above and beyond personnel salaries that are already included in consulting fees • There are issues in regards to hiring City personnel, including: o Filling the positions o Efficiency of workload o Long term plan for positions o Training • There are other intangible factors that make the consultant approach a referred approach. Construction Services: In-house proposal There is one area of engineering services that Staff feels that the City would benefit from performing in-house. This is in the area of Construction Services, and specifically, for activities associated with construction coordination and project support services. The proposal would be for the City to pursue hiring one full-time individual to perform most or all the construction coordination and project support services for the projects associated with the Street and Utility Improvement Program and other public improvement projects initiated by the City. This position would be responsible for coordinating construction activities, address and respond to all customer calls, complaints, and questions, coordinate public input on projects, organize all project neighborhood meetings, work with and perhaps coordinate activities associated with the Streets and Utilities Committee, address and provide direction on all design issues that occur in the field, coordinate permits activities from other agencies, provide project updates and reports to the City Council and posted them on the City’s website, Mounds View Matters, cable TV, and construction phone hotline, and coordinate of the development and implementation of the raingarden program.