14-G
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 a ction to authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 2 to Agreement File No. 7 14.4, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with Advanced Avant-Garde Corporation for Housing Consultant Services .
DATE: October 27, 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 Partnership s Program (“HOME”) and Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”) programs are in compliance with complex United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD ”) regulations under Agreement File No. 714.4 (the “Agreement”). Amendment No. 2 to the Agreement increases Avant-Garde’s compensation for fiscal year 2025-26 by $12,125. The contract increase will fund the development of the Housing Conditions Report for the CDBG Code Enforcement Program.
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL
1) Authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 2 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
The costs related to this amendment will be charged to the CDBG Code Enforcement Contract Services Account No. 900-42054-4152.
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Staff Report – Amendment No. 2 to AFN 714.4
October 27, 2025
DISCUSSION
Avant-Garde has provided Housing Consultant Services to the City since 2016 to ensure the City’s HOME and CDBG programs comply with complex HUD regulations. To comply with HUD requirements and CDBG Guidelines for Bellflower’s CDBG Code Enforcement Program activity, Avant-Garde will prepare and develop a Housing Conditions Report (“Report”). The Report will include the identification and creation of maps of deteriorated properties and/or deteriorating areas located within low-and-moderate income census tracts throughout the City to ensure HUD compliance . Tasks outside of the original scope of services have been added as Task 3 – CDBG Code Enforcement Program as shown in the attached Amended Exhibit A – 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 S
Amended Exhibit A – Scope of Services………………………………………………………3 Exhibit B – CDBG Code Enforcement Program Proposal …………………………………..6
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.
Task 3 – CDBG Code Enforcement Program
A. CONSULTANT will develop workplan inclusive of criteria for identifying and qualifying deteriorated or deteriorating areas under the CDBG program guidelines (areas in which at least 25% of the residential properties experience deteriorated or deteriorating conditions).
B. CONSULTANT will conduct windshield surveys and study within the City’s low- and-moderate income areas to delineate area of Bellflower that meet the criteria of deteriorated or deteriorating under the CDBG program guidelines.
C. CONSULTANT will document and maintain the records of the boundaries of the area and the conditions.
D. CONSULTANT will coordinate and prepare the CDBG Housing Conditions Report.
E. CONSULTANT will develop the following four (4) maps:
1) Housing Stock of 1960
2) Survey Results (from Survey Area)
3) Deteriorated/Deteriorating Parcels
4) Summary of Qualifying Areas
807 S Lemon Ave, Diamond Bar, CA 91789
tel: 909-895-7146 • fax: 909-859-3881 • www.avant-garde-inc.com
September 17, 2025
Jim DellaLonga, Director of Economic Development
Economic Development Department
City of Bellflower
16600 Civic Center Drive
Bellflower, CA 90706
Subject: Amendment No. 2 to Agreement No. 714.4 for the Housing Consultant Services for the Development of the Housing Conditions Report for the CDBG Code Enforcement Program
Dear Mr. DellaLonga,
It is with great pleasure that I provide you this proposal to provide assistance with the development of the Housing Conditions Report for the CDBG Code Enforcement Program funded with CDBG funds administered through the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Our years of practice have resulted in a solid foundation of experience and technical expertise and a dedication to integrity, excellence, and quality. We are proud of our strong reputation in meeting aggressive schedules and our ability to multi-task to provide our clients specialized attention and service. Services offered by our firm include:
• Grant Writing and Administration
• Program Management
• Funding Administration
• Compliance Management including Labor Compliance
• Construction Coordination (Bid development, analysis, etc.)
Advanced AVANT-GARDE Corporation was incorporated in September 2002 and our corporate office from which services will be provided is located at 807 S. Lemon Ave, Diamond Bar, CA 91789. AVANT-GARDE is a 100% woman-owned California Corporation. Furthermore, AVANT- GARDE is a certified minority business enterprise, women business enterprise, disadvantaged business enterprise and small business enterprise (MBE, WBE, DBE, SBE).
The professional staff of AVANT-GARDE well understands the many ways that a single project may affect the entire organization as well as its desired growth and development. We believe in working as a team and bringing our collective strengths to the table to complement each other’s efforts, ultimately resulting in options and services that best serve the client’s goals and objectives. We have extensive experience in serving municipalities with our success achieved through close attention to detail, emphasis on meeting the particular needs of each client and prompt delivery of products, studies and services.
AVANT
GARDE
807 S Lemon Ave, Diamond Bar, CA 91789
tel: 909-895-7146 • fax: 909-859-3881 • www.avant-garde-inc.com
Our understanding of federal and state requirements, funding administration, and the complex diversity of Southern California make AVANT-GARDE uniquely qualified to perform the services requested from inception to conclusion; and administer Federal, State and regional required submittals and reporting.
The City’s Code Enforcement Program, which is funded partially with CDBG funds, is intended to arrest the decline of primarily residential areas that have been deemed deteriorated or deteriorating. It is our understanding that City of Bellflower is seeking qualified consultant to provide professional services for the Economic Development Department for the preparation and development of Housing Conditions Report.
We have prepared this proposal, which will address the following: (A) our proposed scope of work (B) our consulting fees.
A. Scope of Work
• Develop workplan inclusive of criteria for identifying and qualifying deteriorated or deteriorating areas under the CDBG program guidelines (areas in which at least 25 percent of the residential properties experience deteriorated or deteriorating conditions)
• Conduct windshield survey and study within the City’s low-and-moderate income areas to delineate areas of Bellflower that meet the criteria of deteriorated or deteriorating under the CDBG program guidelines • Document and maintain the records of the boundaries of the area and the conditions;
• Coordination and preparation of CDBG Housing Conditions Report; • Development of four (4) maps- Housing Stock of 1960, Survey Results (from Survey Area), Deteriorated/Deteriorating Parcels, and Summary of Qualifying areas
B. Consulting Fees
We have established a not-to-exceed fee of $12,125, breakdown of services noted below. Our fee will be billed on a time and material basis. As additional consideration, Consultant new not-to-exceed during FY 2025-2026 is $87,125.
AVANT
GARDE
807 S Lemon Ave, Diamond Bar, CA 91789
tel: 909-895-7146 • fax: 909-859-3881 • www.avant-garde-inc.com
Hours Rate Hours Rate Hours Rate Hours Rate Hours Cost
150$ 135$ 125$ 110$
Conduct Survery; Collect &
Analyze Data ( 10 days)-$ -$ -$ 90
9 ,
9 0
0 $ 90
9 ,
9 0
0 .
0 0
$
Development Housing Condition
Report 2 300$ 5 675$ -$ -$ 7 975.00$ Developing Four (4) Maps
-$ -$ 10
1 ,
2 5
0 $ -$ 10
1 ,
2 5
0 .
0 0
$
107
1 2
,
1 2
5 .
0 0
$
12,125.00$
*Hours may be interchanged amongst staff based on the needs identified a *No additional costs will be billed to the City; such as travel, duplication of materials, binding, mailing etc.
Total
City of Bellflower Cost Proposal
Tasks Program Director Program Manager
Senior Program
Coordinator Program Coordinator
If you have any questions, or if I can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact me at 909-979-6587 or 323-371-5530.
Sincerely,
Approved to proceed:
Ana LeNoue
Ana LeNoue
President __________________________ City Representative
AVANT
GARDE