Committee recommends General Plan consultant scope to council after resident objections

The Pleasant Hill Budget Committee voted to recommend that the City Council approve a consultant-prepared scope of work to study additional General Plan amendments.

Staff said the consultant prepared a task-based scope and cost estimate after council direction in March; the transcript shows an amount rendered as "$20,47" (the full amount was not legibly provided in the record). Eric from staff told the committee the scope and cost estimate are attached to the agenda and that staff seeks a recommendation to forward the item to council.

The recommendation drew public comment from resident Jack Pro Croek, who said the consultant scope provided no opportunities for in-person public dialogue and did not address lingering ordinance problems he believes are preventing developers from using the housing sites identified in the housing element. “I see nothing in the public announcements or anything of any public meetings for actual dialogue with the public… I’m very disappointed with what you are doing in this first six months of this year to respond to all the inadequacies,” Croek said.

Committee members clarified that staff — not the consultant — will perform public outreach for the study. A committee member also noted the consultant’s scope will be carried forward to the full City Council for approval and that the recommendation is a procedural step, not final council action. After discussion, the committee moved, seconded and approved a recommendation to the City Council to forward the consultant scope and cost estimate.

The committee record does not show a complete numeric cost in the transcript; staff should confirm and publish the consultant contract amount and finalize outreach plans before the City Council considers the item.

The item will next appear on the City Council agenda for formal consideration.