An arranged deal, but still a good one

We recognize that Baker City Manager Steve Brocato’s proposal to hire a private contractor to run the planning department is, in essence, a pre-arranged deal.

But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad deal.

It’s hardly a secret that the privatization idea is designed to accommodate Don Chance.

Chance, whom Brocato hired as planning director in 2007, wants to spend more time at his home in Richland, Wash.

Brocato solicited proposals from contractors in March. Not coincidentally, Chance’s company, which is based in Washington rather than Oregon, was one of the four that responded.

Nor were we surprised when Brocato told city councilors Tuesday that he thinks hiring Chance’s company is “the obvious choice.”

Chance has a decided advantage over his three competitors: He works for Brocato.

But Chance has other, more important qualifications that lend credence to Brocato’s contention that contracting with Chance is the city’s best option.

Chance, who has earned a doctorate in environmental planning and design as well as a master’s in urban and regional planning, has more than 30 years’ experience.

Chance’s knowledge would be valuable to the city as officials undertake the complicated, lengthy process of revising the city’s comprehensive plan. That’s the blueprint for how the city will grow (if, indeed, it does.)

Also, Chance is offering his expertise at an attractive price.

His bid of $171,900, which includes Chance working three days per week, plus two full-time assistants, undercuts the second-lowest by $25,000.

Compared with the cost of keeping Chance as a full-time city employee, along with two assistants, hiring Chance as a private contractor could save the city $75,000 during the fiscal year that starts July 1. (That figure presumes Chance will hire planning tech Jennifer Bachman. If he doesn’t, the savings could be less because a union contract requires the city to retain Bachman.)

Of course saving money is no bargain if city residents lose services they depend on.

But we don’t believe that will be the case if the city hires Chance.

We’re confident he’s capable of guiding the city through the comprehensive plan revision even working fewer hours.

Chance predicts he would stay on as a contractor for three to four years. After that, he told councilors Tuesday, “I will disappear and leave behind a senior, well-developed planning staff.”

The city, meanwhile, will have modernized its comprehensive plan and possibly saved more than $200,000.

That’s a deal worth making.