Item 108/2026
Final
City of Garden Grove
INTER-DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM
To:
Lisa L. Kim From: Niki Wetzel
Dept:
City Manager Dept: Community Development
Date: 4/14/2026
Subject: Approval of Amendment No. 9 to the Agreement with Scott Fazekas & Associates, Inc. to provide on-call Building Plan Review Services. (Cost: $250,000)(Action Item)
OBJECTIVE
For the City Council to approve Amendment No. 9 with Scott Fazekas & Associates, Inc. (SFA) for on-call Building Plan Review Services on an “as-needed” basis.
BACKGROUND
The need for plan review has remained high as commercial and residential developments continue across the City. The Community Development Department (CDD) utilizes SFA for on-call building plan review services to complete plan reviews in a timely manner, ensure projects are not delayed, and meet State -mandated timelines for plan reviews. Therefore, staff is requesting an increase in compensation to the SFA agreement to continue utilization of SFA for plan review services.
DISCUSSION
CDD has operated with one staff Plans Examiner for several years after several unsuccessful recruitments. CDD was successful in hirin g one additional Plans Examiner last month. The two Plans Examiners will review residential plans, and overflow residential and commercial plans will continue to be reviewed by SFA.
SFA has invoiced CDD an average cost of $60,000 per month. While we expec t this cost to decrease with the hiring of an additional Plans Examiner, staff will continue to rely on SFA for commercial and overflow residential plan review services. The current SFA contract compensation amount of $500,000 is not sufficient to continue plan review services.
Therefore, to ensure services are not disrupted and maintain a high level of customer service, CDD is requesting an authorized increase in compensation to the current SFA agreement.
Staff requests an increase in the contract compen sation amount by $250,000 to a total not to exceed $750,000 to be expended as needed. Staff will continue to monitor contract budget.
Item 108/2026
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Amendment No. 9 to the SFA contract will increase the contract amount by $250,000. Funds will be expend ed only as needed. The additional cost is included in the Community Development Department’s adopted Fiscal Year 2025-26 operating budget, and no additional appropriation is required to approve this amendment.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council:
Approve Amendment No. 9 to increase the compensation to the agreement with Scott Fazekas & Associates, Inc. in the amount of $250,000 for on-call Building Plan Review Services;
Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute Amendment No. 9 with Scott Fazekas & Associates, Inc., and make minor modifications as appropriate thereto, on behalf of the City; and
Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to exercise option year amendment terms, for the current year and available option year.
By: Kenneth Le, Administrative Analyst
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. SFA Amendment No. 9
2. Exhibit A - SFA FY25-26 Fee Rate