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Council approves amended scope for community needs assessment, awards case-management contract; LEHI funding decision deferred
Summary
Monroe’s City Council approved amendments to an existing consultant contract to cover quantitative work for the 2025 Community Needs Assessment and authorized work to contract a public outreach vendor for qualitative interviews; the council also awarded the Case Management Specialist contract to Take the Next Step and deferred a separate LEHI flex-funding contract.
The Monroe City Council approved a set of human-services actions that will shape the city’s 2025 Community Needs Assessment and case-management services.
Rachel Adams, presenting for the Community Human Services Advisory Board, said staff recommend amending contract 2025-001 with consultant Caitlin Harrigan to add core quantitative elements of the 2025 Community Needs Assessment and to negotiate a separate contract with a public outreach consultant to conduct qualitative work — focus groups and key-informant interviews — to preserve objectivity. Adams said the cost estimate in the packet showed a proposed $5,640 amendment to Harrigan’s contract and an outreach consultant and participant incentives estimated at about $45,000. Adams said the city has $100,000 in the 2025–26 budget for the needs assessment.
Councilmember Fulcher moved to approve the Community Human Services Advisory Board recommendation to amend contract 2025-001 with Caitlin Harrigan and to negotiate with a public outreach consultant; Councilmember Beaumont seconded. Council discussed whether the amendment increased overall spend; Adams said the approach reduces external consulting costs by moving portions of the work to the existing consultant and that any leftover budgeted funds could be reallocated to continue peer outreach support and case management into 2026. The motion passed 7–0.
Adams then presented the result of a February RFP for case-management services. The city received proposals from Take the Next Step, Conquer and Ideal Option. The Community Human Services Advisory Board recommended awarding the Case Management Specialist contract to Take the Next Step and authorizing the mayor to execute contract 2025-045. Councilmember Beaumont moved to award the contract and Councilmember Hanford seconded; the motion passed 7–0.
On a related item, the board recommended awarding $15,000 in LEHI (basic-needs flex) funding administration to Monroe’s Family Resource Center/Take the Next Step. Adams said only one applicant responded to the RFP. Council asked for more time to review the contract documents; staff agreed to bring the LEHI funding contract back at the next council meeting. No award was executed at this meeting.
Councilmembers asked clarifying questions about whether the approach increased total spending or reallocated budgeted funds; Adams said the approach should reduce outside consulting expense and that any remaining budget could be moved to peer outreach or case-management continuation in 2026, subject to further council action.
