Ione – Less than a week after the Ione City Council approved its new General Plan Update, the council will discuss today which direction to go on several fee studies. And it could also discuss whether to keep working with its planning consultation firm, or open the nearly $200,000 in estimated work to requests for proposals, and a bidding process. The council may discuss “whether to contract directly with Pacific Management Consulting (of Rancho Cordova) or release a Request for Qualifications” for fee and funding studies. The city council discussed the item previously at its August 18th regular meeting. The council voted 3-1, with Jim Ulm against, to conduct the studies. The council then voted 2-2 to release a “Request For Proposals,” with Mayor Lee Ard and Councilman David Plank dissenting. It also voted 2-2 to contract directly with PMC, with Ulm and Vice Mayor Skip Schaufel dissenting. Councilwoman Andrea Bonham was absent from the meeting. The council will discuss the 7 different studies to conduct, look at PMC’s estimated costs for those, and weigh that against putting the studies out for bid. City Manager Kim Kerr reported that “if the city council approves the contracting with PMC, the cost for all studies would be $195,000.” But “if the city elects to go out to RFPs, then there will be costs associated with preparing the Request for Proposal, advertising the Request for Proposal, and the likelihood that the costs for these studies will be more than the cost quoted by PMC.” Kerr listed estimated costs of studies, as estimated by PMC, and their funding source in the city’s budget. A “Cost of Service and Fee Study” would be $35,000, paid through the General Plan. A Sewer Rate Study would be $29,500, from the Sewer Fund. A Development Impact Fee Nexus Study would be $48,500, from the Impact Fee Fund. A study on the formation of a Community Facilities District for city services would cost $29,500, to be paid by the CFD after it is funded with bond sales. An Affordable Housing Fee Process study would cost $30,500 from the General Fund; a Business License Tax Update would be $11,500 from the General Fund; and an Advanced Planning Fee study would be $11,500 from the General Fund. Kerr recommended 3 studies be done this fiscal year, to update the city’s Cost of Service Fees, Sewer Rates and a nexus for Development Impact Fees. She recommended the remaining studies be done in 2010-2011. Story by Jim Reece This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it