Council approves increase to McKenna & Associates cap after debate, vote 5-1

Councilmember Hughes moved on Nov. 17 that the council amend the professional fee schedule for planning consultant McKenna & Associates to increase the annual not-to-exceed contract cap to $75,000; Councilmember Witt supported the motion. City staff said McKenna has provided planning services to Garden City for more than 25 years and that the firm's last fee increase the city approved was in 2012. Staff described the requested change as a roughly 15% increase with a new maximum of $75,000 per year (previous cap $60,000).

Debate focused on the nature of professional service agreements, the timing of fee adjustments and whether those services should have been competitively bid. Mayor Pro Tem Dole asked whether the city put the work out to bid; staff replied that the city has used a professional service agreement for those planning services and has not bid them for a number of years. The city manager described professional service agreements as appropriate for specialized services and noted that updated fees were expected when the council set the July fee schedule.

A roll-call-style tally was not recorded in the transcript by name, but the council recorded five votes in favor and one opposed; the motion passed 5–1. Councilmembers and staff said the fee change is intended to keep professional planning services commensurate with current costs and to reflect long-standing working relationships that have supported city grants and planning work.

Council directed staff to implement the amended fee schedule and continue using the professional service agreement; no change to the fee schedule’s public posting or broader procurement policy was made at the meeting.