City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: 08/03/09 Item Number: _A-3
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD AGENDA ITEM: Approval of a Tenth
Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Stephen Whipple for
Farmers’ Market Management Services.
Contact Person/Dept.: Glenn Heald
Community Development
Phone Number: 310-253-5752
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: []
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date: _______________
Public Notification: Steve Whipple (06/26/09); (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas –
Redevelopment Agency (07/29/09).
Department Approval:
Sol Blumenfeld (07/27/09)
Agency General Counsel Approval:
Murray Kane: (07/24/09)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (by M. Noller) (07/29/09)
Executive Director Approval:
Mark Scott (07/29/09)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the Redevelopment Agency Board (the Board) approve: (1) the
Tenth Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement (the Amendment) with
Stephen Whipple for Farmers’ Market management services through June 30, 2011,
including funding to hire, train and supervise two market assistants, and (2)
increased compensation for Mr. Whipple from $30.00 to $32.00 per hour for an
annual increase of $2,600.00 for a not to exceed total of $41,600 per fiscal year plus
funding for assistant salaries of $14.00 per hour for a maximum of 20 hours per
week for a not to exceed total of $14,560 per fiscal year for a total amount of
$56,160 per fiscal year and $112,320 for the term of the Amendment.
BACKGROUND:
The Agency originally approved a Professional Services Agreement with Stephen
Whipple to manage the Culver City Certified Farmers’ Market (the Market) on July
15, 1996 at the rate of $25.00 per hour. The Board has previously approved nine
amendments to the original contract, during which time Mr. Whipple’s compensation
has risen to $30.00 per hour. 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 of fees, preparation
of financial reports, resolution of farmers’ disputes, public relations and marketing.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
DISCUSSION:
The proposed Amendment to Mr. Whipple’s contract would extend the terms of the
agreement through June 30, 2011 and will increase his compensation from $30.00
to $32.00 per hour (without benefits) which is in the mid-point of farmers’ market
manager salary rates for comparable cities. When Mr. Whipple assumed
management of the Market in 1996, the Market cost more to operate than it
generated in revenue and was thus subsidized by the Agency. Under Mr.
Whipple’s management, the Market has operated successfully and has been a
revenue source for the Agency for some time, with last year’s annual revenues
exceeding expenses by approximately $30,000. Mr. Whipple’s last rate increase
occurred as part of the ninth amendment, increasing the rate from the below market
rate of $25 per hour to $30 per hour.
Given the above history, staff believes there is a reasonable expectation that
ongoing marketing efforts and expanded services of the Market may well result in
increased revenues that completely offset this increase in salary. Otherwise, the
increase will be adequately covered by the profit currently realized by the Market.
Mr. Whipple will continue to have limited billable hours, not to exceed 25 hours per
week.
In the past, Mr. Whipple’s market assistant(s) had been individually contracted to
the Agency. This arrangement proved inefficient because it placed supervisory
responsibility upon Mr. Whipple without granting him contractual authority and did
not provide for back up assistance should the assistant be unable to work. Staff
believes it prudent to, instead, confer upon Mr. Whipple both authority and
responsibility for the assistant staffing, with funding for salaries of up to $14.00 per
hour for a maximum of 20 hours per week, plus expenses as approved by the
Executive Director. Mr. Whipple operates another Farmers’ Market in Westwood
and already has a pool of several assistants available to work at the Market.
Utilizing the same, established system in Culver City will allow for the Market to
always have the workforce required to operate the Market successfully.
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 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. Mr. Whipple has expert knowledge of
produce and can quickly recognize any change in the quality of the farmers’
produce from week to week. This expertise assures a consistently high standard of
produce and collateral items offered at the Market. Mr. Whipple is instrumental in
the Agency’s ongoing process of finding and assessing potential new venues in
anticipation of a possible relocation of the farmers’ market. City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
The Tenth Amendment to the contract will increase the hourly rate paid to Mr.
Whipple from $30.00 to $32.00, for a not to exceed total of $41,600 per fiscal year
plus funding for assistant salaries of up to $14.00 per hour for a maximum of 20
hours per week for a not to exceed total of $14,560 per fiscal year for a total
amount of $56,160 per fiscal year and $112,320 for the term of the Amendment.
The revenues from the Farmers’ Market will cover the increased cost and there are
sufficient funds allocated to Account Number 55096800.619800 “Other Contractual
Services” to meet this expenditure for fiscal years 2009-10 and 2010-11.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
MOTION:
That the Redevelopment Agency Board:
1. Approve the Tenth Amendment to the existing Professional Services Agreement
with Stephen Whipple for Farmers’ Market Management Services to extend the
term through June 30, 2011, increase Mr. Whipple’s hourly rate to $32.00 for a
not to exceed amount of $41,600 per fiscal year plus funding for market
assistant salaries of up to $14.00 per hour for a maximum of 20 hours per week
for a not to exceed total of $14,560 per fiscal year for a total amount of $56,160
per fiscal year and $112,320 for the term of the Amendment, plus approved
expenses; and,
2. Authorize the Agency General Counsel to review/prepare the necessary
documents; and,
3. Authorize the Executive Director to execute such documents on behalf of the
Agency.