Buellton council authorizes contract with Cosmont Companies to prepare economic development element

The Buellton City Council on March 12 authorized the city manager to execute a contract with Cosmont Companies to prepare the economic development element of the general plan and provide ongoing economic development advisory services.

Planning Director Andrea Kiefer described two proposed tasks: Task 1 would prepare the economic development element for a one-time $25,000; Task 2 would provide as-needed advisory services that have historically been budgeted at $20,000 per year. Kiefer said staff recommends authorizing a contract not to exceed $50,000 to cover the economic element work and ongoing services. "Task 1 is in addition to our typical annual work," Kiefer said, and staff estimated a $30,000 fiscal impact spread over this fiscal year and the next.

Cosmont vice president Joe Diaz appeared virtually and thanked the city for the opportunity, saying he looked forward to working on the general plan element. The council voted unanimously to approve the contract authorization and directed the city manager to finalize terms within the stated not-to-exceed amount.

Staff said the mix of $25,000 for the element and $20,000 ongoing advisory funding reflects prior years' arrangements and current anticipated workload for the general plan update.