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Adelanto council approves $603,000 contract for community‑development consulting after debate
Summary
After tense questioning about cost and deliverables, the council approved a not‑to‑exceed $603,000 professional‑services agreement with Local Equity LLC to provide community development and development‑support services; staff and the consultant argued the work will fund a small multi‑person team and project management capacity.
The Adelanto City Council voted Dec. 10 to approve a professional services agreement with Local Equity LLC for community development and development support services, authorizing the city manager to execute a contract not to exceed $603,000, to be paid 50% from the general fund and 50% from the public utility fund.
Councilwoman Stevana Evans pressed staff during an extended public exchange for specifics: "Our residents deserve to understand why a city of our size is being asked to pay such a drastic inflated amount," she said, comparing the proposed contract to single‑position salaries in neighboring cities. Evans asked for a detailed deliverables list and for the council to consider whether the work could be done in‑house at market rates.
City Manager Saba and Dr. Gil Kanan, the consultant the city has worked with on economic development, defended the recommendation. Dr. Kanan outlined projects he said his team helped secure or advance — including negotiating larger development‑impact fees, assisting with large logistics entitlements, work on an opportunity‑zone implementation, and a business‑license measure that the city manager said will bring roughly $1 million in annual revenue. "We need to take more hands‑on project management role and shepherd these projects through completion," Dr. Kanan told the council.
Councilmembers acknowledged the tension between fiscal prudence and the city’s need for additional capacity. Several members — including Evans — said they wanted clearer line‑item accounting for travel and reimbursements; staff agreed to provide clarifying information. After public questioning and presentations, the motion to approve the contract passed on a recorded roll call.
The contract authorizes a small dedicated team (staff described the deliverable as roughly two full‑time dedicated positions plus senior leadership time) to accelerate entitlements, coordinate with engineering/planning/water departments, and pursue grant and project opportunities. Councilmembers said they expect frequent progress reports and clear deliverables tied to measurable outcomes.
