1 TO: City Council
FROM: Andrew Vialpando, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Juan Ibarra, Senior Management Analyst
MEETING DATE: January 21, 2025
SUBJECT: Approval of a Professional Services Agreement with Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3) to Conduct a Community Priority Survey
RECOMMENDATION
Approve a Professional Services Agreement with Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz and Associates (FM3) in an amount not to exceed $33,250 to conduct a resident budget and priority survey, and appropriate $33,250 to the City Manager’s Department from General Fund Available Balance.
BACKGROUND
In 2019, FM3 conducted an updated survey in preparation for the City’s strategic plan and goals workshop to further assess the priorities, desires, and concerns of the community to ensure that the City’s goals and budget priorities most accurately reflect those of our residents. In 2023, FM3 conducted second community survey to update the City’s data concerning residents’ priorities and satisfaction in preparation for the City’s budget and goal setting session. The results and findings of the survey were presented to the City Council, and similar to previous surveys, the results have guided City staff and the City Council in preparing budget priorities and proposed work plans for future goals.
DISCUSSION
State law allows local taxing authorities (i.e. City of Lomita) to access portions of the sales tax allotment beyond the 1% Bradley-Burns local return. Lomita voters overwhelming passed Measure L in 2020, providing an additional ¾-cent portion of transaction and use sales tax to be collected and used exclusively in Lomita for general services such as public safety and infrastructure.
CITY OF LOMITA
CITY COUNCIL REPORT
Item No. {{section.number}}m
2 The recent passage of Los Angeles County’s Measure A for Countywide homeless services included the repeal of Measure H, which was implemented in 2017 as a ¼-cent transaction and use tax. The repeal of Measure H has created a situation where any local taxing authority may access this newly available ¼-cent sales tax portion with voter approval. Numerous agencies such as AQMD, Metro, and LA County may attempt to introduce a measure on the 2026 ballot to access this ¼-cent unused portion of sales tax, resulting in the possibility of local sales tax revenue being redirected for purposes outside of Lomita. However, Lomita has an opportunity to access the ¼-cent sales tax if approved by voters through a ballot measure.
Based on their familiarity with Lomita and its extensive polling experience, FM3 was asked for a proposal and cost estimate to conduct a Community Priority Survey to gauge residents’ priorities. The proposal (Attachment A) includes a 20-minute dual mode survey (online and by telephone) among a random sample of between 250 and 300 City of Lomita residents who are registered to vote and deemed likely to vote, featuring between 55-70 unique questions that can be administered either via telephone (in English or Spanish) or online. FM3’s proposal is comprehensive, and includes all costs for questionnaire design, Spanish translation, sample acquisition and preparation, programming, email invitations, survey hosting, multilingual telephone interviewing, data entry and analysis, and reporting. After execution of the survey, FM3 will complete an analysis on the results and present the findings to the City Council for consideration Staff recommending approval of a Professional Services Agreement with FM3 to conduct a Community Priority Survey to examine such issues as whether voters perceive there is a need for additional funding, assess whether a potential measure is viable and identify how voters would like potential funding to be used.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed agreement is for an amount not to exceed $33,250. If approved, an additional $33,250 will be appropriated from the General Fund Available Balance. This project will be paid for from the City Manager’s General Fund Contractual Services Account.
OPTIONS
1. Approve the Recommended Action.
2. Provide alternative direction.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Professional Services Agreement with Proposal (Exhibit A) 3 Approved by:
_______________________
Andrew Vialpando
City Manager
Reviewed by:
_______________________
Susan Kamada
Administrative Services Director
Prepared by:
__________________________
Juan Ibarra, Senior Management Analyst