Brentwood schedules communications-plan audit kickoff with Raftelis; cost split over two budget years

Michelle, the city communications manager, told the Communications Committee on Oct. 15 that Brentwood's official kickoff meeting with consultant Raftelis is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 23 at City Hall. She described the initial session as a three-hour, staff-only meeting focused on situational analysis and stakeholder mapping.

"That initial kickoff meeting is specifically for the staff members...It's a 3 hour meeting where we'll all kind of get together, go through, situational analysis and then stakeholder mapping," Michelle said. She said Raftelis will then coordinate additional virtual meetings with selected leaders and elected officials to map next steps.

Michelle told the committee the project costs are being split over two budget years and the additional portion has been included in the proposed budget for next year. She said Raftelis was "completely comfortable" with the payment plan and that billing "chances are [it] won't even begin until" the engagement is underway.

Committee member Blaine asked whether there is a funding risk if the project starts before next-year funding is secured. An unidentified finance-related speaker said there is not a significant risk: if the city does not spend the full $25,000 budgeted this year, unspent funds would roll into fund balance and the city could request a budget amendment later to fully cover the project.

Michelle said she will return with more information at the next Communications Committee meeting after the kickoff and that staff will identify benchmark cities and influencer-interview criteria for Raftelis to consider. No committee action was required; the briefing was informational.