Legislation Details

File #: HIST-23456    Version: 1 Subject:
Type: Historical Status: Consent Agenda
In control: City Council Meeting Agenda
On agenda: 10/14/2013 Final action: 10/14/2013
Title: Approval of an Amendment to the Existing Professional Services Agreement with Barry Kurtz for Support Services for the Traffic Engineering Section of the Public Works Department in an Additional Not-To-Exceed Amount of $47,000.
Attachments: 1. Approval of an Amendment to the Existing Professio - C-3__13-10-14__PW-Eng__CITY COUNCIL__Kurtz Contract Extension - FINAL.pdf
City of Culver City, California Agenda Item Report Meeting Date: 10/14/2013 Item Number: C-3 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: Approval of an Amendment to the Existing Professional Services Agreement with Barry Kurtz for Support Services for the Traffic Engineering Section of the Public Works Department in an Additional Not- To-Exceed Amount of $47,000. Contact Person/Dept.: Mate Gaspar/Public Works Phone Number: (310) 253-5602 Fiscal Impact: Yes [x] No [] General Fund: Yes [x] No [] Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [] Attachments: [] Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [x] Date: _______________ Public Notification: (E-Mail) Agenda and Meetings – City Council (10/08/12); (E-Mail) Barry Kurtz (10/09/12) Department Approval: Charles D. Herbertson (10/03/13) City Attorney Approval: Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (10/03/13) Chief Financial Officer Approval: Jeff Muir (by M. Noller) (10/08/13) City Manager Approval: John M. Nachbar (10/08/13) RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the City Council approve an amendment to the existing professional services agreement with Barry Kurtz, T.E. (California Registered Traffic Engineer) to increase the not-to-exceed amount of the contract by an additional $47,000 for part-time support to the traffic engineering section of the Public Works Department. BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION: On October 8, 2012, the City Council approved extending the contract with Barry Kurtz in the amount of $47,000 to provide traffic engineering support to development and regional transportation projects. This spending authority has been exhausted. On July 1, 2012, Max Paetzold became a part-time City employee (in the capacity of Traffic Engineering Manager) in order to be in compliance with CalPERS rules regarding CalPERS’ retirees working for CalPERS contract agencies (like the City). Mr. Paetzold continues to provide support to the traffic engineering and traffic signal maintenance staff on local neighborhood traffic concerns and system operations including the citywide traffic control system. Based on the workload of the Traffic Engineering section, staff recommends that the arrangement of utilizing a consultant (Barry Kurtz) to oversee traffic issues related to development and regional projects and a part time Traffic Engineering Manager (Max Paetzold) as discussed above, while freeing up the full-time Traffic Engineering Analyst to focus on parking and local neighborhood traffic concerns, continues to be City of Culver City, California Agenda Item Report the best solution. Without this assistance, given current staffing levels, it would be difficult to properly address the existing workload. Current and proposed development projects that are being reviewed by Mr. Kurtz include • 700 Corporate Pointe • Sony Studios Expansion – main campus • Washington Boulevard/Marcasel Avenue south side • Development on vacant lot, south east corner of Sepulveda Boulevard and Washington Place intersection. • 8810 Washington Bl. – The Platform Project • Addition of car wash and mini-market at Chevron, north east corner of Sepulveda Boulevard and Washington Place • 8770 Washington Bl. – Legado • Projects in the City of Los Angeles, adjacent to Culver City Mr. Kurtz periodically provides input at the City Council and Planning Commission meetings for traffic and transportation issues related to development projects. Also he reviews transportation planning projects as they affect Culver City such as the City of Los Angeles’ Westside Mobility Plan. Lastly, since Mr. Kurtz is a registered traffic engineer, he can oversee the work of the full-time Traffic Engineering Analyst. To continue to support this effort, staff is recommending that the City Council approve extending the contract with Mr. Barry Kurtz in the amount of $47,000 to support the traffic engineering section on development projects on an as needed basis. Mr. Kurtz has an hourly rate of $90 an hour and this rate has been the same for the past several years. Barry Kurtz is a retired Los Angeles County Department of Public Works traffic engineer that has over 45 years of experience in the field of traffic engineering, with many of those years spent in the review of development projects. Pursuant to Culver City Municipal Code § 3.07.085.A, the award of professional services agreements are not subject to the formal competitive bid process. FISCAL ANALYSIS: The cost of the contract is budgeted in the Engineering Division’s FY 2013-2014 operating budget under Traffic Engineering Services, 10160150.612800. MOTIONS: That the City Council: City of Culver City, California Agenda Item Report 1) Approve an amendment to the existing professional services agreement with Barry Kurtz to provide part-time support for the Traffic Engineering section on public and private development projects, in an additional not-to-exceed amount of $47,000; 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.