E | Consideration and Approval of Contract: Approve the Professional Services Contract with Beta Public Relations, LLC in the amount of $54,978.88 for the Rio de Flag Flood Control Project Public Outreach Campaign. |
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Capital Improvements Engineer Bret Peterson addressed the Council and provided a brief description of the public outreach campaign. The purpose of the Communication Plan is to inform and engage the public in the City’s current efforts on the project. There will be public meetings, engagement with all stakeholders, periodic updates to City Council as well as regular updates to the City’s website. They are also looking to incorporate social media into the outreach. Vice Mayor Shimoni expressed a desire for videos to be included with the social media outreach. Councilmember Whelan expressed concern about starting the outreach process when it is going to be at least three years to determine if the project will actually come to fruition. She also expressed concern about the project not having any public input on the design. Mr. Petersen explained that the Army Corp of Engineers (ACE) is in control of the design; they have been taking input and staff wants to engage a public process, but it is unlikely that the input would have an impact to the design. These outreach efforts are to engage the community and communicate with them the ACE design plans. Councilmember Whelan suggested that the outreach be tabled until the fall to determine if there is even going to be funding. The City has been working on this for at least 15 years, it should wait six months for a funding decision. Councilmember McCarthy expressed that he had similar thoughts but believes that going forward is the best way to make sure the community knows what is happening and what will happen. Mayor Evans stated that regardless of what ACE will or will not do there needs to be a community conversation about the billion-dollar issue that exists in the City. If for some reason ACE does not get funding, there will have been some outreach that can be used to further the conversation about fixing the issue ourselves and understanding what it will take to fund it. Councilmember Salas offered that she believes it is time to start the outreach while there is momentum on the project. |
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Moved by Councilmember Charlie Odegaard, seconded by Councilmember Regina Salas to approve the Professional Services Contract with Beta Public Relations, LLC in the amount of $54,978.88 and a contract time frame of 1,095 calendar days and authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents. Vice Mayor Shimoni asked what the termination policy is on the contract. Mr. Solomon explained that there is a termination for convenience clause with a 30-day notice. The City would be responsible for paying for all services already provided. Councilmember Odegaard stated that so far ACE has done what has been expected of them to this point and that is what he is basing his decision on. It is important to do what needs to be done to be supportive. | |||||||||
Vote: 5 - 1 | |||||||||
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