Carson City authorizes termination of consultant contract and approves community and economic development reorganization

The Carson City Board of Supervisors took two interrelated personnel and organizational actions: it authorized termination of a consultant agreement and approved a reorganization intended to bring building-permit functions in-house and create dedicated economic-development capacity.

City staff (Mister Martel) told the board terminating contract 1415-050 with Charles Abbott Associates without cause will better align day-to-day operations with the board's strategic priorities, including economic development and customer service. Supervisor White moved to authorize the city manager to provide written notice of termination without cause effective Feb. 13, 2026; the motion passed unanimously. Staff confirmed the city is prepared to accommodate a contractor's decision to exercise a 30-day early termination clause.

Immediately following the termination motion, Miss Sullivan presented a reorganization to rename the Community Development Department as the Community & Economic Development Department. The plan would bring the building-division function in-house with a small core staff (building official, plans examiner, two inspectors, two counter technicians and a development coordinator) and use third-party vendors to handle overflow and specialty plan-check or inspection work. Sullivan recommended creating a deputy community and economic development director to provide succession planning and free capacity for economic-development work.

Sullivan told the board the reorganization should improve customer service and reduce the city's long-term third-party costs; she provided a year-one fiscal-impact estimate on the record but the transcripted numeric figure is unclear and warrants confirmation in the final packet. Supervisors emphasized the priority of customer service, careful vendor oversight and not charging non-building work to the building fund. Supervisor Geomey, Supervisor Giaomi and others expressed support while advising caution on vendor contracts and implementation.

The board voted unanimously to approve the reorganization and to authorize creation of the presented positions and necessary changes.

Next steps: staff will finalize any contracts or staffing actions, plan for equipment (vehicles) and implement a hybrid staffing model; the city manager's office will coordinate transition activities and ensure continuity of inspection and permitting services during contract close-out.