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Ross council forms two-member subcommittee to help staff review architect qualifications
Summary
The Ross Town Council voted 4-1 to form a two-member council subcommittee (Elizabeth and Julie) to assist staff in reviewing 10 statements of qualifications received for architecture and engineering services and to provide feedback before staff returns to the full council with a recommendation. Counsel clarified Brown Act rules for subcommittees.
The Ross Town Council voted to establish a two-member council subcommittee to help staff evaluate statements of qualifications (SOQs) received in response to the town's RFQ for architectural and engineering services.
The advisory subcommittee, appointed to provide policy-level input, help identify a short list and participate in interviews if needed, will consist of Council members Elizabeth and Julie. The motion to appoint the two members passed on a roll-call vote, 4-1, with Council member Salter voting no.
David Kelly, project manager for the facilities master plan, told the council the town received 10 SOQs from firms with relevant civic-facilities experience. Staff recommended a two-member subcommittee to increase council involvement while keeping procurement management and the final selection with staff and the full council. Kelly said the selected consultant team will refine the space program, update cost estimates and support environmental review and planning work tied to any amended plan.
Council members debated whether to include Citizens Advisory Committee members on the review body. Town counsel Miriam Sleman advised that adding private citizens would make the body a Brown Act committee; she clarified that a committee composed solely of fewer than a quorum of council members (for Ross, two members) is excepted from the Brown Act and may consult with nonmembers, while a committee that includes public members would be a Brown Act body and require open meetings.
A resident, Mike Rosenbomb, urged unity and said two council members on the subcommittee were acceptable. Council members discussed possible timelines: staff said a narrowed short list and preliminary recommendation could be ready for initial consideration before the June 11 regular meeting but that a negotiated scope and contract would take longer and might require a special meeting or additional presentations by firms.
The subcommittee is authorized to provide input and feedback to staff during evaluation; staff emphasized that the final contract and selection remain a council decision and will be returned to the full council for approval.
