El Cerrito’s Continued Reliance on Consultants: A Costly and Unsustainable Cycle

The City of El Cerrito’s latest request for proposals (RFP) from consulting firms specializing in economic development, affordable housing, and financial strategies might seem like a step toward progress. However, this pattern raises pressing concerns about sustainability, financial recovery, and the long-term impact on the city’s workforce. The recurring reliance on consultants is not just a financial choice—it reflects deeper issues in governance and operational strategy that could harm the city’s long-term prospects.

The Sustainability Paradox

Sustainability isn’t just about environmental stewardship; it’s about creating systems that endure over time. By continually outsourcing critical tasks, El Cerrito creates a cycle of dependency that is anything but sustainable. Consultants come and go, often delivering one-time solutions without building the internal capacity needed to maintain those solutions or adapt them to future challenges.

True sustainability would mean investing in city staff, equipping them with the skills and resources necessary to address El Cerrito’s economic and housing challenges. When the knowledge and expertise reside in-house, the city can respond more dynamically to its needs without waiting for an external firm to step in.

The Illusion of Financial Recovery

Consultants are often brought in under the premise of cost-effectiveness. However, the reality is that outsourcing expertise frequently costs more in the long run. Each new RFP brings with it fees, onboarding costs, and a steep learning curve for consultants to understand the city’s unique circumstances. And when they leave, the institutional knowledge they’ve gained leaves with them. This creates a revolving door of short-term fixes rather than sustainable solutions, forcing the city to pay again and again for similar services.

Investing in permanent staff not only reduces recurring consultancy costs but also builds a knowledgeable workforce that can tackle future issues with consistency and historical context. Financial recovery requires more than balancing the immediate budget—it demands strategic, long-term planning that prioritizes internal strength over external dependence.

Eroding Employee Pride and Capacity

Reliance on consultants also sends a demoralizing message to city employees. By outsourcing critical work, El Cerrito signals that it lacks confidence in its workforce’s ability to deliver. This can undermine employee pride and diminish morale, as staff see external firms trusted with tasks they are perfectly capable of handling if given the opportunity and resources.

Furthermore, the city’s ability to attract and retain talent is compromised when skilled professionals recognize that their expertise may be undervalued. Empowering employees to lead projects fosters a culture of ownership, innovation, and pride in their work—qualities that benefit the city far beyond the immediate tasks at hand.

The Long-Term Costs of Knowledge Loss

When consultants complete a project, they take with them not just their fees but also the insights, strategies, and lessons learned during their tenure. This leaves El Cerrito starting from scratch each time it engages a new firm, paying repeatedly for the same foundational work. Worse, the lack of continuity can lead to fragmented efforts and misaligned strategies, further hindering progress.

The city wants some level of continuity. Which is why the city keeps hiring the same firms who often conduct sub par work products – but that’s a blog all by itself!

In contrast, cultivating institutional knowledge within city staff ensures that expertise remains in-house. Employees who understand the city’s history, challenges, and goals can build on their experiences, delivering more cohesive and effective solutions over time.

Rethinking El Cerrito’s Approach

El Cerrito’s latest RFP, framed as an opportunity for consulting firms, should be a wake-up call for the city’s leadership. Instead of continuing this cycle, the city should prioritize building internal capacity. This includes:

• Investing in Professional Development: Equip employees with the training and resources needed to take on complex projects.

• Creating Incentives for Talent Retention: Foster an environment where skilled professionals feel valued and see opportunities for growth.

• Reevaluating Budget Priorities: Redirect funds from consultancy fees toward hiring and developing permanent staff.

• Fostering Transparency and Accountability: Ensure that all decisions, including those about consultants, align with the city’s long-term goals for sustainability and resilience.

El Cerrito’s financial and operational challenges cannot be solved by outsourcing alone. It’s time to shift from a reactive reliance on consultants to a proactive investment in the city’s workforce and infrastructure. True recovery and sustainability lie not in external expertise but in empowering the city’s employees to lead with pride, innovation, and accountability.

Instead of another RFP for consultants, El Cerrito should issue a new kind of call—to its own staff and residents—to join together in building a resilient, sustainable future.