CITY OF COMMERCEAGENDA REPORTCITY OF COMMERCEAGENDA REPORT
CITY OF COMMERCE
AGENDA REPORT
CITY OF COMMERCE
AGENDA REPORT
Item No. Item No.
Item No.
Item No.
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: City Manager
SUBJECT: Approve A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Commerce, California, Approving an Agreement with Lead Tech Environmental for Asbestos and Lead-Based Paint Consulting Services in Conjunction with the Home Preservation Grant Program [Project No. 6010674-17 Community Development Block Grant Program] Meeting Date: May 9, 2023
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the Resolution approving an agreement with Lead Tech Environmental for asbestos and lead-based paint consulting services in conjunction with the Home Preservation Grant Program and assign the number next in order.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Commerce is a participant city in the County of Los Angeles Small Cities Block Grant Program that distributes Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds. Each year, the City receives an allocation of funding administered by the Community Development Commission of Los Angeles County for programs and projects that benefit low to moderate-income persons. With CDBG funds, the City has provided a variety of programs and projects over the years, which includes the Home Preservation Grant Program.
On February 8, 2022, the City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2022/2023 CDBG Program funding budget for the Home Preservation Grant Program in the amount of $107,000.00. The purpose of the Home Preservation Grant Program is to assist low-moderate income households throughout the City with the repair and rehabilitation of their single-family owner-occupied home. The grant provides up to $25,000 to conduct non-cosmetic home improvement repairs such as new roofing, exterior paint, window replacement and to conduct asbestos and/or lead-based paint testing and remediation and/or abatement of these hazardous materials.
ANALYSIS:
The Economic Development and Planning Department’s housing consultant has reviewed and identified four (4) to six (6) eligible projects to participate in the 2022/2023 Home Preservation Grant Program. Prior to initiating the solicitation of bids for each of the projects, federal requirements require that a lead-based paint and/or asbestos test be performed on buildings constructed prior to 1978 for lead based paint hazards and on buildings constructed prior to 1980 for asbestos containing material by a certified and licensed lead or asbestos professional. Three (3) of the six (6) eligible projects were constructed prior to 1980 and therefore, will be required to comply with the lead-based paint and/or asbestos testing requirement.
On March 1, 2020, the City’s funding agent, Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA), informed participating Cities that they had executed new five-year contracts with four (4) firms to provide asbestos and lead-based paint consulting services. Participating cities were encouraged to use the contracts to reduce the administrative workload required to conduct their own procurement process. The initial contracts were valid through March 1, 2020, but could be renewed each year for an additional five (5) years, until February 28, 2025. Attached is a copy of the LACDA’s 2020-25 Consultant List For Asbestos, Lead, and Mold Consulting Services, for reference.
One (1) of the four (4) asbestos and lead-based paint consulting firms contracted by LACDA is Lead Tech Environmental (LTE). The City has contracted with LTE over the last several years and is pleased with the level of service and rates provided for asbestos and lead-based paint testing services. As such, on April 6, 2023, a request for proposals was made from Lead Tech Environmental to provide asbestos and lead-based paint testing services for three (3) of the six (6) eligible projects. Attached is a copy of the proposal submitted by Lead Tech Environmental.
Contrary to prior years, the agreement with Lead Tech Environmental was signed simultaneously with the award of the construction agreement for each individual project. In order to comply with CDBG requirements, which require the execution of an agreement prior to incurring costs, staff recommends that a not-to-exceed contract in the amount $4,800.00 be approved with Lead Tech Environmental through June 30, 2023. This route is preferred instead of having individual agreements with Lead Tech Environmental for asbestos and lead-based paint consulting services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The asbestos and lead-based paint activities can be carried out using Federal CDBG funds and do not impact the City’s General Fund. The account number that the funds are available in is as follows:
29-2910-71715.10337 – Home Preservation Program Construction CDBG Fund RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC GOALS:
The issue before the Council is consistent with the Community Quality of Life Guiding Principle 5 of the City’s Strategic Action Plan: “Foster environmentally conscious initiatives and continue to identify and develop city codes that support a clean, well-maintained, sustainable community”. An Action Item titled “Pursue quality of life initiatives through the operating budget and CIP plan” was also developed to provide a pathway for the vision of the Guiding Principle to be realized.
ALTERNATIVES:
Approve staff’s recommendation
Provide staff with alternative direction
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
Lead Tech Environmental Agreement
3. LACDA’s 2020-25 Consultant List For Asbestos, Lead, & Mold Consulting Services
4. LTE’s Asbestos and Lead Based Paint Proposal 2022/2023 Respectfully submitted: Edgar P. Cisneros, City Manager Prepared by: Art Gomez, Program Consultant, MDG Associates, Inc.
Reviewed by: Viviana Esparza, Acting Director of Economic Development and Planning Reviewed by: Vilko Domic, Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Approved as to form: Noel Tapia, City Attorney
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