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Title:
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Approval of an Amendment to the Existing Professional Services Agreement with The Nickerson Company for General Public Works Inspection Services
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City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: 01/25/2010 Item Number: C-11
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: Approval of an Amendment to the Existing
Professional Services Agreement with The Nickerson Company for General Public
Works Inspection Services
Contact Person/Dept.: Mate Gaspar/PW 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 (01/20/10); (E-Mail) The
Nickerson Company (01/20/10)
Department Approval:
Charles D. Herbertson (01/14/10)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (01/20/10)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Mark Scott (by N. Kimball) (01/21/10)
City Manager Approval:
Mark Scott (01/21/10)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve an amendment to the existing
professional services agreement with The Nickerson Company to support the Public
Works Department/Engineering Division for general public works inspection, for an
additional not-to-exceed amount of $75,000 with the agreement expiring on
December 31, 2010.
BACKGROUND:
The Public Works Department/Engineering Division operating budget includes
consultant support for general public works inspection. There has been a marked
increase in the number of large projects over the past several years in the private
development sector such as the Fox Hills Mall renovation/expansion, Sony Studios
new office buildings and parking structure adjacent to Culver Boulevard and Motor
Avenue, and Culver Studios expansion. All these projects include considerable
grading, site drainage improvements, and new sewer lines to serve the
developments. In order to provide public works inspection services on these large
projects, utility companies’ work, and other private development, it is proposed that
consultant inspection services continue to supplement the existing full time public
works inspector. This arrangement has worked successfully over the past four fiscal
years and it is recommended that it continue for a fifth fiscal year. Although large
planned development projects have been cancelled or postponed due to the
economic downturn, there is considerable utility work requiring inspection that is
proposed this calendar year.
DISCUSSION:
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
In April 2008, the City Council approved an amendment to the existing agreement
with The Nickerson Company for an additional amount of $100,000 and extending
the agreement to June 30, 2009. Staff has utilized The Nickerson Company to
provide the inspection services at $80 an hour. Mr. Vernon Nickerson of The
Nickerson Company is a retired Culver City Senior Public Works Inspector who has
been conducting these general public works inspections. Staff is satisfied with his
inspection services. (In addition to the above inspection work, the Nickerson
Company provides support for construction management and inspection services for
some of the projects in the capital improvement program as one of the construction
inspection firms on the City Council approved on-call list. This work is not covered
by this professional services agreement for general public works inspection
services.)
Staff is recommending amending the existing professional services agreement with
The Nickerson Company to increase the contract amount by $75,000 for general
public works inspection services The proposed amendment will change the
expiration date to December 31, 2010. The City retains the right to terminate the
agreement upon thirty days’ notice at any time during the term of agreement. Also,
the City will have the right to contract with other inspectors when it is in the City’s
best interest.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
The Nickerson Company’s hourly rate charge for public works inspection services is
$80 an hour. Staff asked Mr. Nickerson if he can lower his hourly billing rate. Mr.
Nickerson responded and declined to lower his hourly billing rate. Currently this
hourly rate is lower than other hourly rates the City has received for public works
inspection services.
Per the adopted fee resolution, Public Works charges inspection fees that will offset
the cost of using these contract inspection services.
MOTION:
That the City Council:
1. Approve an amendment to the existing professional services agreement with
The Nickerson Company for general public works inspection services for an
additional not-to-exceed amount of $75,000 and extending the expiration of the
Agreement to December 31, 2010; 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.