PREPARED BY: LIBBY TYLER DATE OF MEETING: 02/20/2024
SUBJECT:
TITLE
CONSIDER RESOLUTION (1) AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF $80,000 FROM THE FY2023/24 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SALARY ACCOUNT TO ITS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ACCOUNT; AND (2) AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO AMEND AN EXISTING AGREEMENT WITH INTERWEST CONSULTING GROUP, INC. FOR ON-CALL BUILDING INSPECTION SERVICES TO ADD $80,000, FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $130,000
CEQA: This action is not a project as defined by CEQA. CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(4) states that “project” does not include the creation of government funding mechanisms or other governmental fiscal activities, which do not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment.
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution
Body
Compliance statements
Providing adequate inspection services is key to ensuring the safety of San Pablo’s building stock, and “Improve Public Safety” is an adopted policy item under the FY 2023-25 Council Priority Workplan, effective May 1, 2023, amended through December 13, 2023.
BACKGROUND
On September 1, 2023 the Community Development Department’s incumbent Building Inspector resigned. This position is a vital role in the daily operations of the Department and City. In the spring and summer of 2023, the City undertook two separate searches for a new Building Inspector under the current position description and was not able to identify sufficiently qualified applicants to fill the position. As a result, the City sought to fill the position with services from a consulting service and to concurrently undertake a review of the current position description, duties, and salary range.
On September 27, 2023, the City entered into an agreement with Interwest Consulting Group, Inc. for the provision of On-Call Building Inspection Services (attached). This agreement was for an amount not to exceed $50,000, within the administrative authority of the City Manager. The Interwest Consulting Group, Inc. agreement supplements a multi-year agreement that the City has with 4-Leaf, Inc. for the provision of Residential Health and Safety inspection services.
The not-to-exceed budget allocation for the Interwest agreement will soon be met, and the agreement will need to be extended and additional funds allocated to allow for uninterrupted inspection services until such time as the City is able to hire a new Senior Building Inspector.
Because the Building Inspector position has been vacant since September 2023, the Community Development salary account (212-1755-41000) has a higher than anticipated balance due to this staff vacancy. Conversely, the Professional Services budget allocation has a remaining balance of $20,960 as of February 1, 2024; the Professional Services budget is expected to be exhausted before the end of FY 2023/24 as the Community Development Department is utilizing contractors to cover for staff vacancies.
For the remainder of FY 2023/24, additional Professional Services will need to be obtained in order to perform contracted Building Inspector work necessary for the functioning of the Community Development Department. The Community Development Director is recommending a reallocation of the existing adopted budget within the Department. The transfer of $80,000 from the Community Development Salary account (212-1755-41000) to its Professional Services account (212-1755-43600) would fund the proposed amendment to the Interwest Consulting Group, Inc. Agreement for On-Call Building Inspection Services.
Interwest Consulting Group, Inc. Agreement for On-Call Building Inspection Services
The current Agreement, effective September 27, 2023, and expiring on June 30, 2024, authorizes compensation in an amount not to exceed $50,000. The proposed First Amendment augments compensation by $80,000, for a total Interwest Consulting Group Inc. contract amount of $130,000, and also extends the term of the agreement to June 30, 2025, to allow the Department additional flexibility in filling its contract inspection needs, subject to budget availability. The proposed First Amendment provides for continued Building Inspection services eight hours per day, four days per week.
FISCAL IMPACT
Since sufficient funding exists in the Community Development Department Budget for Community Development Salary (212-1755-41000), the Community Development Director recommends reallocating $80,000 from Community Development Salary budget (212-1755-41000) to the Professional Services budget (212-1755-43600) to cover additional discretionary professional services utilized to provide for a full-time Building Inspector through June 30, 2024. As this is a reallocation of existing budgeted funds, no new funding is necessary.
ATTACHMENTS
Att A - Resolution
Att B -Executed Agreement for Consulting Services Between the City of San Pablo and Interwest Consulting Group, Inc. dated September 27, 2023
Att C - Proposed First Amendment to Agreement for On-Call Building Inspection Services Between the City of San Pablo and Interwest Consulting Group, Inc. dated September 27, 2023