Council Oks $46,500 For Research Of Services

Finding out the kinds of services Spokane residents want from the city comes with a $46,500 price tag.

That’s the cost of the contract the City Council approved Monday for a consulting firm to work with a group of residents toward that goal.

“We need to know what services we should be delivering, at what level and how they should be delivered,” said Councilwoman Phyllis Holmes, who described the contract as a key element to streamlining City Hall - one of the council’s five goals for 1995.

Councilman Chris Anderson cast the lone dissenting vote, saying he couldn’t believe the council could consider spending that kind of money in light of the city’s budget crunch.

“I don’t understand how we as a City Council can sit here with a straight face in light of a $5 million budget shortfall,” Anderson said.

Shortfalls in all kinds of revenues mean the city will end 1995 with nearly $4.5 million less than expected.

The contract calls for the consultant - Cary Bozeman and Associates of Seattle - to lead a series of discussions with residents to determine what kind of services they expect and how best to deliver them.

“We don’t have enough money to create the ideal community,” Holmes said, adding that the firm won’t charge the city for travel costs between Seattle and Spokane.

Ken Withey, a candidate for Bev Numbers’ council seat, wondered why the council needs a consultant to find out what residents want.

“Why don’t you just open your ears and listen?” Withey said.

Former Councilwoman Margaret Leonard told the council to read state law because “it tells you what your duties are, and I don’t think you need a consultant to do that.”

, DataTimes