The Bainbridge Island City Council was hesitant to hire its favorite Texas-based firm to guide the evaluation process of its city manager.

Strategic Government Resources previously offered to run a council retreat at a cost of $10,275. The council, however, felt the price was too high.

The firm came back with a new offer Monday, June 10, according to City Manager Doug Schulze.

“It’s half of what their original proposal was in terms of cost,” Schulze told the council on June 12. “But they are proposing to do the same level of work.”

The retreat is largely aimed at reviewing Schulze’s performance, who has now spent more than six months on the job.

A review process for the city manager has long been desired by the council. Strategic Government Resources proposed an extensive list of exercises and evaluation materials to take on the job.

Schulze said that Ron Holifield, Strategic Government Resources’ CEO, was eager to do a full evaluation and has offered the city a deal.

“He is giving the city a discount because we’ve been a previous client,” Schulze said.

The council had originally proposed to hold the retreat on June 30, but conflicts have recently made the scheduling of the meeting difficult to accommodate. The council may push the retreat to a date in July.