Palo Alto City Council to Review New Guidelines for Consultant Engagement, Following Scrutiny Over Costs and Performance
The Palo Alto City Council is set to discuss a newly completed 'best practices' document aimed at reining in the city's reliance on outside consultants. This initiative comes after significant public and council member criticism regarding the escalating costs, which exceed $20 million annually, and the perceived subpar quality of some consultant work. Examples cited include reports with incorrect city names, copy-pasted information, and recommendations that ignored environmental impacts or provided disservice to city initiatives. The new document, developed by an inter-departmental team, covers various aspects of consultant engagement, from procurement and budgeting to community involvement and contract tracking. City Manager Ed Shikada's report acknowledges the critical role consultants play while emphasizing the need for clear expectations and valuable work products. Notably, the consulting firm Baker Tilly, which took over the city auditor function in 2020, provided a supplemental review for this docume...
