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Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 6.G
Meeting Date: June 28, 2023
From: John Corella, Director of Engineering/Public Works Title: Consulting Agreement for Christiansen and Co. for Engineering Land Development Management Support
City Council
RECOMMENDATION:
To approve a Professional Services Agreement with Christiansen & Company to provide Land Development Engineering Support Management Consulting Services for the not to exceed total of $93,000; and authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement.
BACKGROUND:
Cathedral City is still experiencing growth with new developments continually being submitted to the Development Services Department. These projects are in the queue and moving through the planning stages. Again, this year’s development expansion provides increased opportunities for the City.
Even though these new development projects are submitted through the City’s Development Services Department, the City’s Engineering Division is significantly involved in the pre-submittal process, submittal process, the entitlement process (Planning Commission); and after entitlement, the actual plan preparation, permitting process and construction process. Evidence of these efforts is seen on the projects that have been constructed and issued certificates of occupancy.
At this time, the Engineering Division’s support for development is being managed and performed by the Director of Public Works (Director) and contracted plan checkers.
Recognizing that development is critical to the City, and that it takes significant hourly resources to manage and process the Engineering Division’s portion of the process, in September 2022, the City Council approved a full time Land Development Engineer into the Budget moving forward from that date.
DISCUSSION:
Since that approval date, the City’s Human Resources Division has provided significant resources to recruit a Land Development Engineer for the position. A quality candidate with the right qualifications has not applied.
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The Director of Public Works, Development Services and the City Engineer have reviewed the current Development Services queue to assess the current development workload and the development projects projected to be submitted. Since the Land Development Engineer position has not been filled there still is a need for additional resources. Currently, with HR Green providing development support engineering, the gap in processing development projects is tightening to ensure predictability. The process still needs a higher level of management, and this is currently provided by the Director.
Recently, Mr. Keith Christiansen of Christiansen & Company, Riverside, CA heard the City was looking for support and reached out to the Public Works Director to see if he could provide support in the management of the development process. Mr. Christiansen has over 30 years of history working with both the private and public sector on projects.
In addition, Mr. Christiansen has an excellent history of working with regional and local governments on the entitlement of projects for developers. The Director also knows Mr. Christiansen’s background and has worked with Mr. Christiansen on developer projects here at the City and in the Coachella Valley for over 30 years.
Mr. Christiansen’s experience will allow the Director to continue moving the Engineering Division’s development workload back into a more predicable process in the interim period prior to hiring a full time Land Development Engineer. This management assistance will allow the Director to work with the developers at the introductory stages and pass on the general oversight management to Mr. Christiansen. Mr. Christiansen will manage the work of the current contract plan checkers and HR Green’s personnel (currently working within the mid-level management of the process).
Mr. Christiansen will be able to support the management of the pre and post entitlement process off-site for approximately eight (8) hours a week. Initially, there may be a few days in the office to orient Mr. Christiansen on the City’s entitlement process and meet City and contract Staff. This may increase and/or decrease depending on certain milestones in various development projects being completed and others being initiated.
The estimate for these services is $93,000 and will be paid at the hourly rates in the proposal.
Mr. Christiansen has submitted a proposal, which has been reviewed and is in line with current support services provided by similar management consultants. Staff is recommending a Consulting Services Agreement be authorized for a period of one (1) year at a not to exceed $93,000 for Engineering Management Development Support Services. Once a land development engineer is hired to the Cathedral City Staff, there will be a training/transition period that will be determined at the date of hire and evaluation of all engineering development consulting services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
For FY 2023/2024, to fund the engineering development support services in the pre- entitlement phase, Mr. Christiansen’s services, directly related to a development project, will be reimbursed directly by the developer from the Development Services Department’s application deposit. This is consistent with how outside services are Cathedral City Page 3 of 3 Printed on 6/22/2023
currently paid for in this pre-entitlement phase. As a result, there will not be a budget adjustment.
The FY 2023/2024 has available salary and benefit funding for the estimated $93,000 portion of the Agreement amount will be incurred during the fiscal year. It is proposed this cost be funded from the salary savings from the unfilled Land Development Engineer position. Since the City will not incur staff labor costs, there will not be a budget adjustment for these contracted services.
Once the land development engineer is hired (planned for FY 2023/2024), a budget adjustment in a “to be determined amount” (depending on the timing of hire) may be required for the training/transition period (period to be evaluated on skill level of employee hired).
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
GOAL A: SERVE THE COMMUNITY WITH PRIDE AND DEDICATION
Objective: Through diversity, equity and inclusion driven employee programs and employee experiences, Cathedral City is the employer of choice with a workforce that is engaged, motivated and respected public stewards.
GOAL C: FISCAL STABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
Objective: Cathedral City has economically prospered by facilitating the investment of private dollars in high quality development which benefits the community. We remain financially solvent by instituting prudent fiscal policies and transparent financial practices.
Action C-12 Implement a private development entitlement and plan review system which is predictable, streamlines internal intake and review processes, and creates applicant experiences which are facilitative vs regulatory.
ATTACHMENTS:
Christiansen Company - Development Support Agreement-Final