It has been months since Costa Mesa issued 200 layoff notices as part of their initial plan to outsource many of the city’s services. Citing rising pension and compensation costs, the city council decided that it must reduce current and future payroll. However, in the last six months, no one has lost their jobs and no city services have been eliminated. That hasn’t kept the proposal out of courts or out of controversy.

However, the city approved the first of the RFPs for their outsourcing plan, on Tuesday, setting the stage for what is sure to prove to be the next chapter in the battle over outsourcing. The first RFPs will cover building inspection, jail services, and video production.

The next challenge for the city, however, is developing metrics for evaluating the various proposals. Part of the pitch for outsourcing was that services would either be maintained or enhanced, but establishing concrete definitions to those terms may prove to be elusive.

From the Voice of the OC:

It’s been just over six months since a new Republican majority aiming to outsource most city services swept into power in Costa Mesa.

Yet despite more than 200 layoff notices last March, a worker suicide, national headlines, lawsuits and months of ensuing protests at council meetings that drag on well into night, not one job has been outsourced.

On Tuesday night, it took a 4-1 council majority well past 10 p.m. to issue their first requests for proposals (RFPs), which call for outsourcing jail services, video production and building inspection.

Read the full article here.