200 S. Anaheim Blvd.
Suite 162
Anaheim, CA 92805
Tel: (714) 765-5139
Fax: (714) 765-5280
www.anaheim.net
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
City of Anaheim
PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT
DATE: MARCH 7, 2023
FROM: PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: AMENDMENTS TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
AGREEMENTS FOR AS-NEEDED PLAN CHECK, PERMIT
PROCESSING, AND INSPECTION CONSULTING SERVICES
FOR THE PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT
ATTACHMENT (Y/N): YES ITEM # 10
GOVERNMENT CODE § 84308 APPLIES: YES
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council, by Motion, take the following actions:
1) Approve the First Amendment to Professional Services Agreements with CSG Consultants, Inc. increasing the compensation amount by $750,000 for a total compensation amount of $2,000,000; and with Jason Addison Smith Consulting Services, Inc. increasing the compensation amount by $750,000 for a total compensation amount of $2,000,000; for as-needed plan check, permit processing, and inspection consulting services for the Planning and Building Department; and
2) Authorize the Planning and Building Director, on behalf of the City, to execute the individual Amendments and other related documents necessary to implement the Amendments.
DISCUSSION:
The Planning and Building Department utilizes professional consultant support to provide core services to its customers. The use of consultants to supplement staff is necessary to maintain high levels of customer service in light of the significant development activity in the city. In the area of building services, staff utilizes professional consultants to support building inspection, plan check, and permit processing services. The use of consultants benefits the department and its customers by ensuring responsive and timely services, while simultaneously providing the flexibility necessary to meet fluctuations in workload on an as-needed basis. The cost of the consultant services are assumed by project applicants through the City’s fee structure; consequently, there is no direct impact on the City’s finances.
Amendments to Professional Services Agreements for As-Needed Plan Check, Permit Processing, and Inspection Consulting Services for the Planning and Building Department
March 7, 2023
The department has seven firms under contract for building inspection and plan check services:
Bureau Veritas of North America, Inc., CSG Consultants, Inc., Interwest Consulting Group, Inc., Jason Addison Smith Consulting Services, Inc., Scott Fazekas and Associates, Inc., The Code Group, Inc., dba VCA Code, and 4 Leaf, Inc. The agreements were approved by the City Council in June 2020 following a competitive request for proposal process. The agreements are for three-year terms and are set to expire on June 30, 2023. The agreements give the Planning Director the authority to extend the initial term of the agreements two times, in one year increments. Each agreement has a not-to-exceed contract amount of $1,250,000.
Because of the extraordinary volume of planning and building activity over the course of the past three years, staff requests an increase to the maximum compensation limit for CSG Consultants, Inc., and Jason Addison Smith Consulting Services, Inc. by $750,000 each to cover the remaining term of the contract, including anticipated extensions, which would take the contracts to June 30, 2025. This would increase the total compensation for CSG Consultants, Inc., and Jason Addison Smith Consulting Services, Inc. to $2,000,000 each. The increase is the result of the high volume of building activity that has occurred since the contracts were approved, and anticipated for the remainder of the term of the contracts. In addition, staff vacancies in the areas of plan check and inspections have required the Building Division to rely more heavily on contract staff to complete the required work and maintain our commitment to timely service. While staff has the flexibility to call on the services of all seven firms, CSG Consultants, Inc., and Jason Addison Smith Consulting Services, Inc. have been used more extensively because of their competitive hourly rates and proven success in providing qualified contract staff to meet the Department’s needs.
The ability to utilize consultants greatly facilitates timely plan check, permitting, and inspections services which allows building projects to be evaluated and approved in an expeditious manner. It also ensures that technical support is immediately available to assist staff and project applicants on more complex development projects. Therefore, staff recommends that the City Council approve the proposed amendments to the Agreements with CSG Consultants, Inc., and Jason Addison Smith Consulting Services, Inc. and authorize the Department Director to execute the amendments.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
Funding for consulting services are included in the Department’s budget. All contract expenses will be offset by revenues, as applicants are required to pay for all costs associated with plan check and inspections associated with building projects.
Respectfully submitted,
Ted White
Planning and Building Director
Amendments to Professional Services Agreements for As-Needed Plan Check, Permit Processing, and Inspection Consulting Services for the Planning and Building Department
March 7, 2023
Attachments:
1. First Amendment to Professional Services Agreement with CSG Consultants, Inc.
2. Professional Services Agreement with CSG Consultants, Inc.
3. First Amendment to Professional Services Agreement with Jason Addison Smith Consulting Services, Inc.
4. Professional Services Agreement with Jason Addison Smith Consulting Services, Inc.