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Council weighs hiring grant writers and using GIS/owner‑rep contracting to close staffing and delivery gaps
Summary
Council and staff discussed a strategy to hire or contract grant writers (retainer vs per‑grant), use the AWC GIS consortium, and consider project management (owner’s‑rep) contracts to manage consultant delivery as a way to accelerate CIP and grant success.
City staff proposed a two‑part approach to increase capacity at the March 1 retreat: contract or retain experienced grant writers for targeted, high‑probability funding opportunities; and use contracted owner’s representatives or program managers to improve oversight of consultants and keep capital projects on schedule.
Staff recommended using the Puget Sound Grant Writers network to identify freelance grant writers on retainer or per‑engagement, and to issue a request for qualifications to build a bench of specialists (transportation, parks, stormwater, climate) the city can call when funding opportunities arise. Council members favored a bench/retainer approach rather than bringing a full‑time in‑house grant writer immediately.
On GIS and data, staff said the city already pays into the AWC GIS consortium and has consultant data in hand; the next step is an inventory and a scoped plan to ingest and validate assets (sewer, stormwater, sidewalks) into a city GIS so projects can be prioritized, visualized and made grant‑ready. Staff will evaluate costs and return with a proposal to use existing consultant contracts and the consortium subscription. Council asked staff to return with scope and cost options.
