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Council OKs $75,000 amendment, one-year extension for planning consultants
Summary
Acting public works director Eric Edholm told the council the city has relied on Ingram Consultants since the planner vacancy; council approved an amendment adding $75,000 and extending the contract one year to continue planning services for projects including the Loves project.
The Susanville City Council unanimously approved an amendment to the city’s professional services agreement with Ingram Consultants to add $75,000 to the contract and extend it by one year, continuing outside planning support while the city’s planner position remains vacant.
Acting Public Works Director Eric Edholm described the consultants’ role in filling staffing gaps and assisting with the Loves project and routine planning tasks. He told the council the contract is scalable, letting staff use senior consultants for complex matters and lower-level staff for routine work, which staff said is more cost-effective than hiring a full-time senior planner when workload varies.
Councilors discussed the costs and benefits of consultant coverage versus hiring. Councilor (Speaker 2/Dan Newton) and others noted that the firm’s tiered staffing helped handle peaks in workload and project demands. The motion to approve Resolution No. 26-65 was moved, seconded and carried unanimously.
Why it matters: With the planner vacancy since December 2024, the consultants have been central to processing permits and supporting key projects; the amendment preserves continuity of planning services while staff consider long-term staffing options.
What happens next: The finance director was authorized to adjust the budget as necessary to accommodate the amendment and staff will continue to use the consultants under the amended terms.
