Engineering firm offers zero‑fee needs assessment; council tables CIP task order

A representative for BIG Engineering outlined a capital improvement planning approach and offered the city a no‑fee needs assessment and funding analysis intended to identify short-, medium- and long-term priorities.

The presenter described the firm’s experience helping small cities combine multiple funding sources and said an initial needs assessment would gather condition data, grade streets and buildings, and produce prioritization and funding scenarios designed to reduce the burden on residents.

"We would do a zero cost needs assessment for the entire city," the representative said, offering an initial task order and explaining the firm typically follows with optional task orders for funding and design work.

Councilors raised procurement concerns about a five‑year owner‑engineer agreement tied to future task orders. One member said the city should avoid a perception of ‘‘engineering hopping’’ and requested more time to review contract language. Another member confirmed the initial task order would be no cost, but emphasized that future work would require signed task orders and council approval.

The council moved and voted to table the capital improvement planning agreement and task order until the workshop so members could digest the contract and confirm scope and fee terms.

Next steps: staff will circulate the proposed agreement and task‑order wording in advance of the workshop; the council expects the firm and staff to present a clarified plan and timing for a needs assessment should members decide to proceed.