SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO : $15,000 Consulting Accord Approved
A $15,000 consulting agreement with Lawrence & Associates was approved by the City Council this week over the objections of Councilman Jeff Vasquez.
The San Juan Capistrano-based firm has been assisting the city since March, 1990, on the final phase of Glendale Federal Development Co.’s subdivision east of Interstate 5. The latest phase is a proposal to develop 63 custom home lots on 46 acres at the end of Camino La Ronda.
Since the current contract with Lawrence & Associates has expired, Thomas Tomlinson, the city’s acting planning director, had requested a $15,000 contract to cover the company’s work to complete the processing of the project during the next 30 days.
Vasquez objected, citing the city’s budget crisis.
“It disturbs me that when we have an $800,000 budget shortfall, we continue to hire consultants,” he said. “This money is going into someone else’s hands instead of our own pockets. I urge you not to support this and direct staff to do the work in house.”
Tomlinson defended his request, arguing that the city has cut down its use of consultants to just three.
“Our intent is to keep staff working on all projects we can,” Tomlinson said. “It’s not my intent to keep using consultants as occurred last year.”
The council vote Tuesday night was 3 to 1.
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