Item #6 (17 consultant contracts) pulled from consent
Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2026 8:56 am
Dear colleagues,
I requested that item #6 be pulled from the consent agenda tomorrow and wanted to share my thoughts in advance of the meeting. My overall ask is that we vote down this item and ask for it to be brought back in smaller pieces with more specific information.
Item #6 would authorize 17 contracts for up to $5 million over three years. I’ve met with staff and am informed that the primary motivation for these contracts is to assist with “shared service optimization” in relation to various shared and internal services, and to provide support to Austin Budget and Organizational Excellence for the work ahead.
I have a few concerns with this item. First, although Council is asked to authorize 17 discrete contracts, the backup for this item does not provide any detail on the individual consultants and the scope of each contract. Second, the item does not provide any guidance on how the $5 million would be allocated among individual contractors. And third, Council is not provided with the projected value or return on investment for individual contracts.
Previously, in the context of the shared service optimization known as “One ATS” or “One Austin Technology Services,” we heard significant concerns about over-spending on consultants and the quality of advice received and how applicable it is to the City of Austin.
My preference for items such as this would be that Council be provided with detail on each proposed consultant contract, and that we have the chance to approve or reject individual contracts instead of being asked for a bulk approval. I also hope that over time, as our City grapples with reduced income from federal contracts and budgetary preemption at the state level, our City management relies less on consulting services and depends more on our salaried City staff. I also believe this approach will provide more transparency to us and to the public than would a blanket approval of $5 million for vaguely defined consultant work.
Thank you for your consideration and look forward to the discussion Thursday.
Mike
I requested that item #6 be pulled from the consent agenda tomorrow and wanted to share my thoughts in advance of the meeting. My overall ask is that we vote down this item and ask for it to be brought back in smaller pieces with more specific information.
Item #6 would authorize 17 contracts for up to $5 million over three years. I’ve met with staff and am informed that the primary motivation for these contracts is to assist with “shared service optimization” in relation to various shared and internal services, and to provide support to Austin Budget and Organizational Excellence for the work ahead.
I have a few concerns with this item. First, although Council is asked to authorize 17 discrete contracts, the backup for this item does not provide any detail on the individual consultants and the scope of each contract. Second, the item does not provide any guidance on how the $5 million would be allocated among individual contractors. And third, Council is not provided with the projected value or return on investment for individual contracts.
Previously, in the context of the shared service optimization known as “One ATS” or “One Austin Technology Services,” we heard significant concerns about over-spending on consultants and the quality of advice received and how applicable it is to the City of Austin.
My preference for items such as this would be that Council be provided with detail on each proposed consultant contract, and that we have the chance to approve or reject individual contracts instead of being asked for a bulk approval. I also hope that over time, as our City grapples with reduced income from federal contracts and budgetary preemption at the state level, our City management relies less on consulting services and depends more on our salaried City staff. I also believe this approach will provide more transparency to us and to the public than would a blanket approval of $5 million for vaguely defined consultant work.
Thank you for your consideration and look forward to the discussion Thursday.
Mike