Council backs outreach and planning consultants; staff to return with financial consultant contract

At the Aug. 27 meeting, Junction City Council approved a public outreach contract with Fisher Consulting LLC (not to exceed $25,000) and discussed, but did not approve, bringing on financial and rate-planning consultants for upcoming infrastructure projects.

The city administrator described PFM Financial Advisors as a candidate to advise on utility-related borrowing and financing. "PFM Financial Advisors seem to kind of poke at the top as far as having the experience and the staff that could help the city," staff said, and clarified the intent was to bring expertise on a time-and-materials basis and return with a contract reviewed by legal if the council wanted to proceed. Council expressed general support for getting outside expertise but did not vote on a financial consultant contract at this meeting.

For outreach, the administrator recommended Fisher Consulting LLC (referred by Lane County) to run targeted stakeholder meetings, shadow staff for digital media training and help create templates for ongoing outreach. The council voted to approve a contract with Fisher Consulting LLC in an amount not to exceed $25,000 and authorized the city administrator to sign the documents.

Council also heard a proposal to use SCS Engineering under a master services agreement, capped at $25,000, to run rate-analysis scenarios as capital figures develop. Councilors noted that SCS already has much of the city's data, which should speed scenario work; staff said individual work tasks would be issued under the agreement as needed.

The Fisher Consulting motion was made by councilor Hancock and seconded by councilor Seneca; the vote was unanimous. The administrator said he would return with a legal-reviewed contract for any financial consultant engagement.