14-F
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
ATTENTION: Ryan Smoot, City Manager
FROM: Jim DellaLonga, Director of Economic Development
SUBJECT: Consideration and possible action to authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 1 to Agreement File No. 714.4, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with Advanced Avant-Garde Corporation for Housing Consultant Services.
DATE: June 23, 2025
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Advanced Avant-Garde Corporation (“Avant-Garde”) has been providing the City with Housing Consultant Services to ensure the City’s Home Investment Partnerships Program (“HOME”) and Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”) programs comply with complex United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) regulations. Amendment No. 1 to Agreement File No. 714.4 would increase the compensation for fiscal year 2024-25 by $17,000 for additional work associated with the administration of Community Development Block Grant – Corona Virus Relief (“CDBG- CV”) funding and an increase in volume of Home Improvement Program applications.
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL
1) Authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 1 to Agreement File No. 714.4, in a form approved by the City Attorney; or
2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds are available in the Economic Development Contract Services account (510- 42054-4002) for this amendment.
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Staff Report – Amendment No. 1 to AFN 714.4
June 23, 2025
DISCUSSION
Avant-Garde has provided Housing Consultant Services to the City since 2016 in order to ensure the City’s HOME and CDBG programs comply with complex HUD regulations.
Avant-Garde has since successfully provided housing consultant services and has ensured that the City is in compliance with HUD regulations.
Due to additional time required for the completion of CDBG-CV Public Services agreements with area non-profits, the re-allocation of remaining CDBG-CV funding, and an increased volume of residential rehabilitation applications, additional consulting services in the amount of $17,000 were necessary. Additionally, CDBG-CV tasks, outside of the original scope of services have been added as Task 1(G) and Task 2(O) as shown in the attached Amended Scope of Services.
The Scope of Work for housing consultant services includes tasks such as, assisting with the administration of the City’s Home Improvement Program (“HIP”), HOME ARP funding, CDBG Community Development Housing Organization (“CHDO”) affordable housing projects; preparing HUD reports such as the Annual Action Plan and Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (“CAPER”); review of CDBG-CV grant applications, documentation, and reimbursement requests, and updating/maintaining the City’s project and activity information in HUD’s online monitoring system.
ATTACHMENT
Amended Scope of Services ........................................................................................... 3
CITY OF BELLFLOWER
AGREEMENT FILE NO. 714.4 – EXHIBIT A
ADVANCED AVANT-GARDE CORPORATION
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The following scope of services is for housing consulting services.
CONSULTANT will perform the following functions, which include but are not limited to:
Task 1 – Technical Assistance
A. CONSULTANT will provide technical assistance to amend the 5 -Year Consolidated Plan, Action Plan, Citizen Participation Plan, as needed and/or in obtaining HUD approvals.
B. CONSULTANT will provide technical assistance in the review of private-public partnerships, sit and neighborhood standards, income determinations, and similar program criteria.
C. CONSULTANT will provide technical assistance with updating the CDBG and HOME Program Manuals as needed.
D. CONSULTANT will assist in determining eligible and ineligible CDBG and HOME activities such as eligible project cost, eligible administrative and planning cost, and similar program criteria.
E. CONSULTANT will provide technical assistance in evaluating affordable housing projects, especially HOME CHDO/HOME ARP projects, including maximum subsidy per unit, underwriting requirements, and subsidy layering.
F. CONSULTANT will provide technical assistance on other federal requirements including without limitation: affirmative marketing; minority outreach; the preparation of environmental review documentation; displacement; relocation; acquisition; opportunity; disclosure requirements; debarred, suspended, or ineligible contractors; and drug-free workplace.
G. CONSULTANT will provide technical assistance with the administration, re- allocation and expending of the remaining CDBG-CV funds.
Task 2- Program Administration
A. CONSULTANT will assist with the administration of the City HOME funded Housing Improvement Program (“HIP”).
B. CONSULTANT will assist with the administration of the HOME/CDBG project monitoring and unit inspections.
C. CONSULTANT will assist with program administration involving HOME agreements, Integrated Disbursement Information Systems (“IDIS”) input and management, program income receipt and expenditures, inspections, audit, close-out, record-keeping, and performance reports.
D. CONSULTANT will prepare all required HUD plans and reports such as the Annual Action Plan, 5-Year Consolidated Plan/Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, and the Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (" CAPER").
E. CONSULTANT will attend necessary City Council and/ or Public Hearings when necessary, conduct presentations, and respond to HUD follow- up questions needed to receive the necessary HUD approvals.
F. CONSULTANT will update and maintain the City' s project and activity information; input into and manage IDIS.
G. CONSULTANT will train/ assist City Staff on IDIS and HUD regulations and requirements.
H. CONSULTANT will gather available and necessary documents for HUD audits/ monitoring events, act as a liaison between HUD and the City, and prepare the follow- up correspondence.
I. CONSULTANT will provide technical expertise in responding to any HUD audit findings and/or concerns, take corrective actions, answer questions, and follow up with any other information as requested and/ or needed.
J. CONSULTANT will provide a high standard of internal and external customer services. In order to effectively provide this support, it is required that the selected Proposer provide at least one dedicated staff person to the City with a minimum of 6 office hours per week at City Hall.
K. In conjunction with City Staff, review and analyze Public Service Agency (PSA) applications received for each pending Program year, make CDBG funding recommendations to staff and various Commissions. If requested, provide a funding recommendation presentation.
L. CONSULTANT will conduct Performance audits of the funded PSAs for federal regulatory compliance.
M. CONSULTANT will provide day- to- day Administration, consultation, and coordination with HUD, advise staff of federal and state program compliance issues, recommend approval of HUD allowed expenditures, recommend updates for the Home Improvement Program and other program brochures, forms, and other reference material.
N. CONSULTANT will provide knowledge of successor housing agency regulations and legislation, as well as annual reporting requirements, and assistance with the preparation of the housing successor annual report as needed.
O. CONSULTANT will assist with the administration and programing of CDBG-CV funding associated with the completion of the CDBG-CV Public Services program and the reprogramming of remaining CDBG-CV funds to an eligible public infrastructure project.