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To: <br /> <br />From: <br /> <br />Date: <br /> <br />Subject: <br /> <br />Howard R, Green Company <br />CONSULTING ENGINEERS <br /> <br />Pat Klaers, City Administrator, City of Elk River <br />Craig L. E beling, P E <br /> <br />July 22, 1999 <br /> <br />City versus Consultant Engineering Services <br /> <br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />Terry Maurer asked that I jot down a few thoughts on whether or not it would be wise for the City <br />to consider the establishment of a City Engineering staff. It is my understanding that you <br />considered this a few years back and are revisiting the issue to verify if your previous conclusion <br />is still valid. This is a consideration that is not at all foreign to me. I have worked both as a City <br />staff engineer and as a consultant, so I have looked at the issue from both sides. I have about <br />27 years of experience of which more than 15 have been as a City Engineer or Public Works <br />Director. I was in Burnsville for eight years as City Engineer then Director of Parks and Public <br />Works and finally as Deputy City Manager. I also served as City Engineer in Savage and <br />Worthington. <br /> <br />SUMMARY <br /> <br />The following is a summary of my thoughts: <br /> <br />· When a City reaches a certain population (perhaps 15,000- 20,000), it can be <br /> desirable and advantageous to have an in-house City Engineer. This is especially <br /> true when the City is a "full service" city with water treatment, wastewater treatment, <br /> airports, solid waste functions etc. and when it is "mature". <br />· There are several different in-house engineering approaches that can be used <br /> depending on how heavily the City wants to get involved in staffing. Ail of these <br /> approaches are being used by different communities with varying results. The <br /> appropriateness of them can only be gauged by the community itself. That <br /> assessment will hinge on what the expectations for the engineering group are. <br />· An engineering group can be neady financially independent without funding by the <br /> general fund under certain conditions. <br /> The group must have a certain "mass". <br /> It must be funded from non-general fund improvement funds at rates that are <br /> at or above those charged by consultants. <br /> The group must be of a size and experience level such that it can undertake <br /> projects of meaningful size. <br /> Projects of this magnitude must be in the City's CIP for the foreseeable <br /> future. <br /> <br />O:~PROJ\900135csm\135-2203.july99.doc <br /> <br /> 1326 Energy Park Drive · St. Paul, MN 55108 ° 651/644-4389 fax 651/644-9446 toll free 888/368-4389 <br /> <br /> <br />