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Title:
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Approval of an Amendment to the Existing Professional Services Agreement with Stephen Whipple for Farmers’ Market Management Services.
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City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council approve an amendment to the existing
professional services agreement (Amendment) with Stephen Whipple for
Farmers’ Market management services through June 30, 2014, with options to
administratively approve two (2) one-year extensions.
BACKGROUND:
On July 15, 1996, the former Culver City Redevelopment Agency Board (Former
Agency Board) approved a Professional Services Agreement (Agreement) with
Stephen Whipple to manage the Culver City Certified Farmers’ Market (Market).
The Former Agency Board subsequently approved eleven amendments to the
original contract. As a result of Assembly Bill 26 (AB 26), Redevelopment
Agency funding for this program is no longer available. Staff therefore
recommends the City Council approve a twelfth amendment to the Agreement.
There is no proposed increase to the level of funding.
Mr. Whipple’s weekly duties include physical set-up of the Market, supervision of
assistants and volunteers, selection of farmers and vendors, allocation of space
to farmers and vendors, collection and remittance of fees, preparation of financial
reports, resolution of farmers’ disputes, public relations and marketing.
Staff is recommending this Amendment due to Mr. Whipple’s performance and
results over the past twelve years. Under Mr. Whipple’s management, the
Market, which was previously Redevelopment Agency-subsidized, has become
Meeting Date: 06/24/2013 Item Number: C-4
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: Approval of an Amendment to the Existing
Professional Services Agreement with Stephen Whipple for Farmers’ Market
Management Services.
Contact Person/Dept.:
Glenn Heald/ CDD
Todd Tipton/CDD
Phone Number:
(310) 253-5752
(310) 253-5783
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [] Attachments: []
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date: _______________
Public Notification: (Email) Meetings and Agendas – City Council (06/18/13); (Email)
Mr. Stephen Whipple (05/08/2013)
Department Approval:
Sol Blumenfeld (6/13/13)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol A. Schwab (by H. Baker) (06/18/13)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (by M. Noller) (06/18/13)
City Manager Approval:
John M. Nachbar (06/18/13) City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
financially self-sufficient, typically returning annual net revenue of approximately
$30,000.
DISCUSSION:
The proposed Amendment will extend the terms of the Agreement through June
30, 2014 and potentially to June 30, 2016 if both one-year options are exercised,
and maintain Mr. Whipple’s compensation at $32.00 per hour, without benefits,
for a maximum of 25 hours per week.
Mr. Whipple utilizes an assistant whose salary was funded by the former
Redevelopment Agency through reimbursement to Mr. Whipple at $14.00 per
hour for a maximum of 20 hours per week, plus additional expenses as approved
by the former Redevelopment Agency’s Executive Director. This arrangement
allowed Mr. Whipple to assemble and supervise the workforce required to
successfully operate the Market|1010|.
These professional services are excepted from the formal competitive bidding
requirements per Culver City Municipal Code Section § 3.07.085.A.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
The Farmers’ Market provides approximately $30,000 in net revenue annually.
The Amendment to Mr. Whipple’s contract maintains the annual expenditure
amount of $56,160 per fiscal year and $168,480 for the term of the Twelfth
Amendment if both one-year extension options are exercised. Sufficient funds
have been included in the City Council Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year
2013/2014 to meet this expenditure for Fiscal Year 2013/2014. If the City
Council approves this Amendment, a similar amount may be requested as part of
the Fiscal Year 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 budget processes.
|1010| In addition to his weekly duties of organizing, setting up and dismantling the Market and
supervising the activities, Mr. Whipple initiates special event promotions and prepares marketing
materials for these events, distributes flyers to the elementary schools, participates in the
Growing Great school program and provides Market gift baskets as prizes to local non-profit
groups.
Mr. Whipple is an advocate for certified farmers’ markets and continues to receive education and
training in organic farming. He works well with the public, the vendors, the businesses on Main
Street, as well as the City of Los Angeles to ensure the market operates smoothly every Tuesday
from 2-7 pm. His extensive experience at the Farmers’ Market allows him to select and maintain
respected and diverse produce and product vendors within the limited area allotted for the
Market.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
MOTION:
That the City Council:
1. Approve an amendment to the existing professional services agreement with
Stephen Whipple for Farmers’ Market Management Services which (1)
extends the initial term through June 30, 2014 with two one-year options for
Fiscal Years 2014/2015 and 2015/2016; (2) maintain the hourly rate of $32.00
with an aggregate not-to-exceed amount of $56,160 per fiscal year (including
reimbursement of approved Farmers’ Market related expenses); and to
reimburse Mr. Whipple for Market assistants at an annual rate of $14,560 for
the term of the Amendment; and,
2. Authorize the City Attorney to review/prepare the necessary documents; and,
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the City.