High Springs Outsourcing Planning Services

HIGH SPRINGS – The High Springs City Commission approved an agreement with Kimley-Horn for on-call planning support services at their Feb. 27 City Commission meeting. Although North Central Florida Planning Council (NCFPC) currently provides planning support to the City, the Kimley-Horn services would be provided during periods of high activity or staff turnover.

The agreement calls for a Kimley-Horn representative to provide application review, representation before City boards, the Commission and City committees, preparation of planning and zoning-related staff reports and responses to planning and zoning-related questions from the public.

The City agreed to pay Kimley-Horn an hourly fee, based on the type of service being provided, but not-to-exceed $3,000 per month. According to the agreement “direct reimbursable expenses such as express delivery services, fees, air travel and other direct expenses will be billed at 1.15 times cost.” A percentage of labor fee will be added to each invoice to cover certain other expenses related to these tasks such as telecommunications, in-house reproduction, postage, supplies, project-related computer time and local mileage.”

The agreement lists 12 basic services Kimley-Horn’s representative will provide. A small portion of those services include analyzing projects for compliance with the City’s Comprehensive Plan, Land Development Code, subdivision standards and other specific City plans and policies, reviewing plan review checks, zoning clearances, sign permits, etc. and meeting with developers.

A rate schedule attached to the agreement specified that the agreement will expire in April, unless terminated sooner by one or the other party. Concern over whether a price increase may be requested at that time led to the city’s attorney saying he would discuss the matter will Allison Megrath, Kimley-Horn’s representative, and suggest the company hold their prices at the same rate for the entire first year.

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