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CC - CONSENT ITEM: (1) Waiver of Competitive Bidding Procedures Pursuant to Culver City Municipal Code Section § 3.07.075.F.3; and (2) Approval of a Five-Year General Services Agreement with RLA Conservation, LLC., for Specialized Art Conservation and Related Coordination Services in an Aggregate Amount Not-To-Exceed $77,797.50 ($15,559.50 Per Fiscal Year).
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Meeting Date: June 8, 2026
Contact Person/Dept: Sam Lee/Office of Economic & Cultural Development
Phone Number: (310) 253-6001
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date:
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (06/04/2026)
Department Approval: Sally Unsworth, Cultural Affairs Manager (05/18/2026)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council (1) approve a waiver of competitive bidding procedures pursuant to Culver City Municipal Code Section (CCMC) § 3.07.075.F.3; and (2) approve a five-year professional services agreement with RLA Conservation, LLC., for specialized art conservation and related coordination services in an aggregate amount not-to-exceed $77,797.50 ($15,559.50 per fiscal year).
BACKGROUND
RLA Conservation, LLC. (formerly known as Rosa Lowinger & Associates) is a current vendor that is under contract with Culver City for art conservation and regular maintenance of specific City-owned artworks. The original contract, which had a maximum compensation not to exceed $86,427, was executed on August 5, 2021, and was amended on January 17, 2024 to change the business name, extend the term, and increase maximum compensation. The term of the existing agreement ends on June 16, 2026.
DISCUSSION
The City desires to enter into a new multi-year agreement with RLA Conservation, LLC. for continuation of specialized art conservation, annual maintenance and related coordination services beginning on July 1, 2026. Pursuant to CCMC Section § 3.07.045, in the event the same vendor has been utilized for a period of five consecutive years, competitive bidding procedures shall apply. CCMC Section § 3.07.075.F.3, provides that the Council may waive, by a majority vote, bidding requirements if it is deemed to be in the City’s best interest and authorize a negotiated contract.
RLA Conservation, LLC., a leading local art conservation firm, is assigned to treat specified City-owned public artworks based on their technical characteristics and maintenance requirements. Staff confirm that this art conservator is highly qualified, has demonstrated the skill necessary for the dedicated art treatments, and is able to support the City’s annual art maintenance mandate of its permanent public art collection. The proposed agreement is not commodity-based but instead relies on specialized art conservation services and the firm’s familiarity with its assigned artworks. Conducting a traditional competitive process would not materially improve the quality or alignment of services and may delay the implementation.
Assigned artworks include the following items.
1) Film Strip, U.S.A. by Natalie Krol (located at Veterans Memorial Building)
2) Homage to Ballona Creek by Lucy Blake-Elahi (located at Culver City Park)
3) Path of Life by De L’Esprie (located at the Culver City Senior Center)
4) Moving Pictures [seven zoetropes] by Wick Alexander & Robin Brailsford (locations around Downtown)
Based upon the attached Maintenance Proposal from RLA Conservation, staff anticipates that $15,559.50 ($14,145.00 + 10% contingency) per year will be sufficient for routine annual maintenance and conservation.
Additional repairs and conservation for these and other artworks may be added, if the needs arise due to damage, defacement, weather, and other conditions. Staff proposes including the 10% contingency allocation per year for these situations. This amount is based upon the following rates and estimates provided by the vendor.
• Conservator $160 per hour
• Technician $100 per hour
• Administrative $80 per hour
• Travel Billed at the current GSA rate per mile
• Materials Cost plus 7%
FISCAL ANALYSIS
Staff anticipates allocating Cultural Trust Fund support from CIP Account No. 4138000.730100.PZ634 (Art Maintenance). The Revised Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 includes $173,469 in PZ634.
Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) Section 15.06.115 stipulates that no more than 15% of the money deposited into the Cultural Trust Fund (CTF) in the prior fiscal year be allocated for art maintenance in the subsequent year.
ATTACHMENT
1. 26-06-08_ATT RLA Conservation Multiple Artworks Annual Maintenance Proposal.pdf
recommended motion
MOTIONS
That the City Council:
1. Waive competitive bidding procedures pursuant to Culver City Municipal Code Section 3.07.075.F.3; and
2. Approve a five-year agreement with RLA Conservation, LLC. for specialized art conservation and related coordination services in an aggregate amount not-to-exceed $77,797.50 ($15,559.50 per fiscal year);
3. Authorize the City Attorney to review/prepare the necessary documents; and
4. Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the City.