CITY’S OUTSOURCED ‘PROFESSIONAL SERVICES,’ CONTRACTUAL SERVICES,’ ‘OUTSIDE LABOR’ & SUBSIDIES

ABSTRACT: While City employees’ salaries and benefits amounted to $7,783,630 (61% of FY 2009-10 Operating Budget), outsourced “Professional Services,” “Contractual Services,” “Outside Labor” and Subsidies exceeded $1.7 million in Fiscal Year 2009-2010. In Fiscal Year 2010-11, City employees’ salaries and benefits amounted to $7,823,846 (62% of FY 2010-11 Operating Budget) and outsourced “Professional Services,” “Contractual Services,” “Outside Labor” and Subsidies exceeded $3.2 million in Fiscal Year 2010-2011. And in Fiscal Year 2011-12, City employees’ salaries and benefits amounted to $7,823,846 (58% of FY 2011-12 Operating Budget) and outsourced “Professional Services,” “Contractual Services,” “Outside Labor” and Subsidies exceeded $4.1 million. A TABLE of OUTSOURCED ‘PROFESSIONAL SERVICES,’ CONTRACTUAL SERVICES,’ OUTSIDE LABOR’ & SUBSIDIES (Fiscal Years 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12) is embedded. And ANALYSIS, COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS section regarding CONTRACTUAL SERVICES (TOP 15), TOURIST PROMOTION/MARKETING, LEGAL SERVICES, TREE SERVICES/LANDSCAPING SERVICES, ARCHITECTS/DESIGN PROJECTS and SUBSIDIES is presented.

Outsourced Table I

TABLE I OUTSOURCED ‘PROFESSIONAL SERVICES,’ CONTRACTUAL SERVICES,’ OUTSIDE LABOR’ & SUBSIDIES (Fiscal Years 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12) 

ANALYSIS, COMMENTS & QUESTIONS

Re: CONTRACTUAL SERVICES
The City’s Contractual Services reflect required expertise and specialization beyond the capabilities of city employees.

Re: TOURIST PROMOTION/MARKETING
With the current state of “revenue stagnation,” is it the most prudent, economical and efficient use of taxpayer monies to expend nearly a quarter of a million dollars annually to the Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau and nearly $200,000 annually to Burghardt-Dore Advertising for a total of $435,189.26 (FY 2011-12)? Or can $435,189.26 be better spent for infrastructure and amenities for tourists and visitors to the world renowned village of Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Re: LEGAL SERVICES
City Attorney Don Freeman is paid $90,000 annually to essentially hire consultant attorneys to do the bulk of the City’s legal work. Are the legal expenditures of $370,719.04 (FY 2009-10), $273,054.62 (FY 2010-11) and $321,526.88 (FY 2011-12) justified? Or should the city attorney be responsible for doing some of the legal work which has been outsourced to consultant attorneys?

Re: TREE SERVICES/LANDSCAPING SERVICES
Between FY 2009-10 and FY 2011-12, the City contracted with fifteen tree service and landscaping companies for a total of $126,201.94 (FY 2009-10), $175,719.25 (FY 2010-11) and $187,417.93 (FY 2011-12). Is contracting with fifteen companies the most economical and efficient use of taxpayer dollars?

Re: ARCHITECTS/DESIGN PROJECTS
With over $50,000 expended towards the Forest Theatre renovation plans in FY 2009-10 and nothing expended in FY 2010-11 and FY 2011-12, isn’t it past time to place the Camille/MACK5 report on a public hearing agenda for public review and input?

Re: SUBSIDIES
Are the City’s subsidy amounts of $692,512.67 (FY 2009-10), $656,829.50 (FY 2010-11) and $767,927.71 (FY 2011-12) to Sunset Cultural Center, Inc. (SCC) for the management of an entertainment venue justified given that the City’s other cultural assets, namely Scout House, Flanders Mansion and the Forest Theatre, have not been allotted satisfactory monies for upkeep, maintenance and management? Are the City’s subsidies to SCC an example of skewed priorities?

ADDENDUM:

LIST OF CONTRACTUAL SERVICES (TOP 15), TOURIST PROMOTION/MARKETING, LEGAL SERVICES, TREE SERVICES/LANDSCAPING SERVICES, ARCHITECTS/DESIGN PROJECTS & SUBSIDIES

CONTRACTUAL SERVICES (TOP 15)
CITY OF MONTEREY
MONTEREY PENINSULA ENGINEERING
NOR-CAL CONTRACTOR INC (FY 11-12 STREET & RD PROJECTS)
PEBBLE BEACH RESORTS (PEDESTRIAN PATH SAN ANTONIO & BEACH STAIRWAY)
R&B EXCAVATING, INC.
NEILL ENGINEERS CORP.
PROFESSIONAL PROP MAINT
RBF CONSULTING (GENERAL PLAN)
DADIW ASSOCIATES
GRANITE CONSTRUCTION CO. - MONTEREY BAY
PENINSULA MESSENGER SERVICE (MAIL SERVICE CONTRACT)
MONTEREY-SALINAS TRANSIT (TROLLEY SERVICE)
ROBERT S. JAQUES (STORM WATER RUNOFF PROG)
COUNTY OF MTRY SHERIFF-CORONER
TRACNET CORPORATION (POLICE)
JAN ROEHL (GRANT WRITING)
KNA GENERAL CONSTRUCTION
ED SANTACRUZ JANITORIAL SERVICE
W PAUL WOOD (AUDIT)
SANTA LUCIA ENGINEERING (BEACH SEAWALLS REPAIRS)
PMC (CARMEL SANDS PROJECT)
WASSON'S CLEANING SVCS.
NICHOLS CONSULTING ENG.
PROPERTY SERV/MAINTENANCE

TOURIST PROMOTION/MARKETING
MTRY COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU (MCCVB)
BURGHARDT-DORE ADVERTISING, INC. (REGIONAL DESTINATION MARKETING)

LEGAL SERVICES

KENNEDY, ARCHER & HARRAY
BRANDT-HAWLEY LAW GROUP
LIEBERT CASSIDY WHITMORE
JOEL FRANKLIN
LAW OFFICES OF WILLIAM D. ROSS, APC
BROWNSTEIN/HYATT/FARBER/SCHRECK
DONALD FREEMAN

TREE SERVICES/LANDSCAPING SERVICES
WEST COAST ARBORISTS INC
NEW IMAGE LANDSCAPE CO.
GREENSCAPE CALIFORNIA
TOPE'S TREE SERVICE
GATES TREE SERVICE, INC.
JOHN LEY'S TREE SERVICE
E. VALDEZ TREE SERVICE
GREEN VALLEY LANDSCAPE INC.
IVERSON TREE SERVICE
VALLEY LANDSCAPING AND
WESTON'S TREE SERVICE
SPENCER'S TREE SERVICE
ASSURED LANDSCAPE
SMITH TREE SERVICE
URBAN LUMBERJACKS, INC.

ARCHITECTS/DESIGN PROJECTS
R.F. MCCANN & COMPANY ARCHITECTS (FOREST THEATER MASTER PLAN)
WILLIAM J. CAMILLE & MACK5 (FOREST THEATER RENOVATION PLANS)
CARVER + SCHICKETANZ ARCH (BEACH RESTROOMS ON SCENIC DRIVE)

SUBSIDIES
SUNSET CULTURAL CTR. INC. (SCC)
CARMEL RGN'L FIRE AMBULNC (REGIONAL AMBULANCE SUBSIDY)