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Title:
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Consideration of an Amendment to a Professional Consulting Services Agreement with Civic Solutions, Inc. to Provide General Planning Services.
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City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve an amendment to a professional
consulting services agreement with Civic Solutions, Inc. in an amount not to exceed
$30,000 to provide General Planning Services.
BACKGROUND:
On May 2, 2005, the City Council amended its contract with Civic Solutions, Inc. to
provide for an increase in their professional services contract to a maximum amount
of $510,000 for General Planning Services. This authorized contract amount is
nearly exhausted.
During the past two years, Civic Solutions, Inc. has provided much needed contract
planners to augment the significant shortage of personnel in the Planning Division.
When the initial contract was awarded, almost one-third of the budgeted staff
positions were vacant, including the position of the Deputy Community Development
Director/Planning Manager. These vacancies were in the division’s most
experienced positions who handled the more complex and controversial
assignments.
Currently, all of these vacancies have been filled with the exception of one Assistant
Planner position.
Meeting Date: 5/22/06 Item Number: C-5
AGENDA ITEM: Consideration of an Amendment to a Professional Consulting
Services Agreement with Civic Solutions, Inc. to Provide General Planning
Services.
Contact Person/Dept.: Susan Yun Phone Number: (310) 253-5755
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [] Attachments: []
Public Notification: Civic Solutions, Inc. (05/04/06); Master Notification List (05/18/06).
Department Approval:
Susan Evans (05/10/06)
CAO Approval:
Jerry Fulwood (05/18/06)
City Controller Approval:
Marlee Chang (05/16/06)City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
DISCUSSION:
During the past two years, Civic Solutions has provided key staff members to the
Planning Division (one Senior Planner, one Associate Planner, and one Assistant
Planner). The Senior and Associate Planners primarily worked on the Zoning Code
Update and the Assistant Planner primarily provided front counter and plan check
services.
Civic Solutions has provided excellent service and assisted in the Planning
Division’s completion of the Zoning Code Update, one of the highest priority and
most critical components of the Planning Division’s work program. One outstanding
crucial element to the Zoning Code Update is to bring the General Plan Map and
Zoning Map into conformance.
Currently, Civic Solutions provides one Senior Planner, Mr. Masa Alkire, to manage
complex current planning projects and to lead the Zoning Code and General Plan
Map consistency effort.
Civic Solutions was originally selected to assist the City with professional planning
services in December 2003 based on a competitive process which took into account
their rates and professional planning experience. Civic Solutions has agreed to
continue to provide Planning services at the same rate that they have been
charging. Staff has recently compared these rates to the rates of other professional
planning services companies and finds that these rates remain competitive.
Civic
Solutions
Hourly Rate
Wildan
Hourly Rate
Hogle-Ireland
Hourly Rate
Senior
Planner
$95.00 $115.00 $100.00
Civic Solutions was selected due to their unique and extensive public sector
planning experience and competitive rates.
The requested contract amendment with Civic Solutions (Mr. Masa Alkire) would
allow the efficient completion of the General Plan and Zoning Map consistency
project. Mr. Alkire was a key person who assisted in the Zoning Code Update and is
the most knowledgeable and appropriate person to finish this high priority project
which is approximately 80% complete.City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
The Planning Division budget for Fiscal Year 2005-2006 includes sufficient funds for
the proposed contract amendment. The contract will be funded though the division’s
Other Contractual Services account (10152100.619800). No new funds are being
requested from the General Fund.
The Council is requested to amend Civic Solution’s contract by increasing the
maximum authorization to $540,000.
MOTION:
That the City Council:
1. Authorize an amendment to the professional services agreement with
Civic Solutions, Inc., increasing the contract total amount to $540,000;
2. Instruct the City Attorney to prepare the amendment; and,
3. Authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to sign the amendment on behalf of the
City.