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Diamond Bar council sends two consultant agreements back to staff for scope review
Summary
Councilmembers voted to refer the Chamber consulting agreement and the Prince Global Solutions federal advocacy contract back to staff/subcommittee for scope review amid budget concerns and questions about value and timing.
The Diamond Bar City Council on June 16 voted to send two consultant agreements back to staff for further review, citing questions about what the city receives for its payments and whether the scopes could be reduced amid fiscal constraints.
Councilmember Chao moved to refer the consulting services agreement with the Chamber of Commerce (agenda item 6.1) to the Economic Development Subcommittee for reworking of scope and clearer documentation of city benefits; Stan Liu seconded. The motion passed 5–0.
Separately, a councilmember pulled agenda item 6.23, the Prince Global Solutions contract for federal advocacy (listed in the staff report at $50,000 for a 12‑month period), arguing that the major 57/60 transportation project is further along and that continuing to spend $50,000 annually to "keep the seat warm" may not be the best use of limited funds. Staff and other council members said the consultant maintains federal and agency relationships that can be important for securing earmarks and other funding. The council directed staff to rework the scope of the Prince Global contract and return with options for preserving essential relationships while limiting near‑term spend.
City staff emphasized the long lead times and relationship‑driven nature of federal advocacy for large infrastructure projects, saying some advocacy work took approximately 10 years to bear fruit for the 57/60 effort. Council members asked staff to identify what deliverables the city would expect in exchange for the contracted dollars and what could be deferred.
The council then approved the remainder of the consent calendar items (6.1 through 6.24, excluding the held items) by roll call.
Council instructed staff and the Economic Development Subcommittee to meet with the Chamber and bring back revised scopes and financial justifications before the council votes on appropriations or renewals.
