Cotati City Council
Agenda Staff Report
Item type: CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
To: City Council
Subject: APPROVAL OF CONTRACTS EXCEEDING CITY MANAGER
CONTRACTING AUTHORITY – JOHNSTON SIGN COMPANY
INC. AND INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIVE CONSULTANTS,
LLC
Date: September 8, 2026
Written by: Angela Courter, Director of Administrative Services Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution approving:
1. An agreement with Johnston Sign Company Inc. for fabrication of park rules and wayfinding signs in an amount not to exceed $36,000; and
2. A related $50,000 budget reclassification from the Cator Field Basketball Resurfacing Project; and
3. A continuing services agreement with Independent Investigative Consultants, LLC for Police Department investigative services in an amount not to exceed $40,000.
Background
The Administrative Services Department is bringing these contracts to the City Council because each exceeds the City Manager's $25,000 contracting authority under Cotati Municipal Code §
2.12.122.
The contracts are presented together because they are routine procurement and contract approval matters. Each contract is funded differently, as described below.
Analysis/Discussion
Johnston Sign Company Inc.
The City Council previously approved the park rules and general signage program that was used to design the new park rule signs. The signs are consistent with the City's Park Use and Special Event Permit Policy adopted by the City Council on November 18, 2025. Johnston Sign Company Inc. of Petaluma has provided a proposal to fabricate the park rules signs for all City parks, as well as signs for special use facilities (basketball courts, tennis courts, etc.). The proposal totals $35,527.35, including sales tax. Staff recommends a contract amount not to exceed $36,000. Installation is not included in the proposal. Public Works staff are expected to install the signs using existing staff resources, so no additional contractor cost is anticipated for installation.
To fund the cost of these new signs, staff are recommending a reclassification of the $50,000 currently budgeted for the Cator Field Basketball Resurfacing Project to fund the signage project and related costs. The basketball resurfacing project was anticipated for next summer. Staff believe the existing court surface remains in good enough condition to postpone the project and re-evaluate at midyear. Depending on funding availability, the resurfacing project will be rescheduled at midyear or potentially incorporated into the City's next two-year budget cycle for construction early in Fiscal Year 2027/28.
Independent Investigative Consultants, LLC
The Police Department has previously used Independent Investigative Consultants, LLC (IICLLC) for investigative services and has found the firm to be a qualified resource. IIC-LLC provides administrative, personnel, internal, criminal, civil, and background investigative services to government agencies and law firms. Staff recommend establishing a continuing services agreement so the Police Department can use the firm when investigative services are needed.
The agreement will have a not-to-exceed amount of $40,000. The City will only pay for services that are requested and performed. The agreement will be funded using existing Police Department appropriations and does not require a budget amendment.
Financial Considerations
The Johnston Sign Company Inc. contract will not exceed $36,000 and will be funded through the proposed $50,000 reclassification from the Cator Field Basketball Resurfacing Project as provided in the attached proposed budget adjustment journal. The basketball resurfacing project will be postponed to midyear, or potentially into Fiscal Year 2027/28, depending on budget availability.
The IIC-LLC agreement will not exceed $40,000 and will be funded from existing Police Department appropriations. No additional appropriation or budget amendment are required.
Environmental Issues
Approving contracts for sign manufacturing and for independent investigation services can be determined with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. Therefore, the activity is not subject to CEQA review. This general rule can be applied to activities which could be subject to the CEQA process, but which logic dictates should not be subject to CEQA review. Therefore, based on the information provided above, the proposed resolution is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 14.03.021 of the CEQA Guidelines in that there is no possibility that the activity may have a significant impact on the environment.