Council approves $68,000 professional services agreement for citywide branding despite one dissenting council member

The Mountlake Terrace City Council voted to approve a professional services agreement with Altogether LLC for citywide branding, placemaking and marketing on Sept. 18 after a brief discussion and the removal of the item from the consent agenda.

City Manager Jeff Knighton told council members staff had checked references for the selected consultant and summarized positive feedback from other jurisdictions, including Park Ridge and Antioch, noting work products such as brand guides, marketing plans and place‑making events. “One of [Altogether’s] greatest strengths was the ability to navigate change with key stakeholders and elected officials,” Knighton said.

Council member Sanmore asked to remove the item from the consent agenda and raised objections to outsourcing the work, arguing the city’s communications and economic development staff could handle the tasks. “I think our communication specialist and economic director could handle these tasks,” Sanmore said, listing deliverables in the consultant scope including kickoff and alignment, a brand and communications audit, community survey, stakeholder listening sessions, and placemaking workshops. Sanmore described the proposed contract amount (discussed in meetings as about $68,000) as a poor return on investment given existing staff capacity.

Council member Erin Murray moved to approve the agreement; the motion received a second and passed. The vote passed during the consent‑agenda portion of the meeting with verbal “ayes” recorded. Council did not adopt a separate implementation budget at that time; staff said they would incorporate contract costs into existing appropriations and the consultant scope includes community outreach and deliverables intended to support business recruitment and placemaking.

The staff memo attached to the agenda included reference checks from several municipalities and noted the consultant’s prior work on place‑making events and marketing campaigns; Knighton said staff had contacted all listed references. Council member Sanmore said she would vote no if the item were individually considered, reiterating her view that the work was within current staff responsibilities and that the city should prioritize core services over new expenditures.

No formal amendment to the contract terms was reported on the record during the Sept. 18 meeting. The agreement moves forward with the expectation that staff will manage the consultant and report outcomes to council as part of routine project updates.