Committee OKs master engineering services agreement to support 2026 road program

The Government Services Committee voted to recommend approval of a resolution authorizing a master engineering services agreement to support the 2026 road program, using a $75,000 consumption retainer to provide supplemental engineering staff.

City staff explained the $75,000 is not a flat cash payment but a not‑to‑exceed pool that engineers bill against as work is performed. "You can call it a retainer," staff said, adding that if the consultant expends $75,000 in work, that represents the full charge for the defined scope; the firm acts as supplemental engineering capacity when internal staff are overloaded.

Staff said street locations for the 2026 program will be identified through the city's normal street program process and returned to the committee with a formal recommendation in the coming months. Committee members asked procedural and budgeting questions; staff reiterated that final contract awards for individual street contracts will return for committee and council approval after bidding.

The motion to forward the resolution carried on a roll‑call vote.

City staff did not identify specific streets now; the committee asked that staff provide the usual pre‑project recommendations and a final contract approval timeline in the months ahead.