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Council approves SRB engineering/planning contracts; Convixis renewal debated but approved after motion fails to pass
Summary
After questions about billing practices, the council approved SRB Engineering and Planning contracts. A motion to not renew Convixis Group's grant-writing contract failed for lack of a second, and the renewal motion later passed; Convixis reported recent grant awards and ethical limits on commission-based arrangements.
WARR ACRES — The council approved annual professional service contracts with SRB for engineering and planning after hearing questions about hourly billing, invoice detail and whether principal staff (Mark Long) bills time alongside planner Dakota.
Council members asked whether invoices show task-level details and whether quarter-hour billing increments applied; Craig (SRB representative) said the firm maintains internal task-order spreadsheets that can be provided and that the fee schedule reflects audited overhead modifiers used by municipalities.
Separately, Council debated renewing Convixis Group's grant-writing contract. One member moved to not renew the contract, citing performance questions, but the motion lacked a second and died. Convixis representative reported that an OEM grant decision is expected soon and confirmed an awarded opioid grant ($60,000) and ongoing follow-up for other funds; he also said federal ethics rules prevent contingency/commission-based grant-writing fees.
Council then took a motion to approve the Convixis renewal; the motion carried with recorded votes. Council members said they expect to be provided copies of grant applications upon request and noted a 30-day out clause in the contract.
Next steps: SRB to provide more detailed invoice/task-order breakdowns on request; Convixis to continue delivering grant-submission work and to document award notices; staff and council to monitor performance and may exercise the 30-day termination clause if needed.
