1 TO: City Council
FROM: Andrew Vialpando, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Juan Ibarra, Senior Management Analyst
MEETING DATE: April 21, 2026
SUBJECT: First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Blais & Associates (B&A) for Grant Consulting Services
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Approve the First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Blias & Associates (B&A) for grant consulting services to extend the term for one year for $50,000.
BACKGROUND
At its meeting on May 6, 2025, the City Council approved an agreement with B&A for grant consulting services. Founded in 2000, B&A has over 20 years of experience providing strategic grant research, grant writing, and grant management services to municipal governments, Council of Governments and regional public agencies.
The City of Lomita provides a wide range of municipal services to its residents, including Public Works, drinking water treatment and distribution, Parks and Recreation, Planning, Capital Improvement Projects and other special initiatives. These services are delivered by a relatively small workforce of employees and contractors, supported by a limited General Fund of approximately $16 million. As the City continues to maintain and expand on these services and projects with constrained resources, securing alternative funding sources such as grants, remains essential.
DISCUSSION
Since the approval of the agreement, B&A has demonstrated value to the City by helping secure a highly competitive grant from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District (RPOSD). The $500,000 award will support planning and design efforts for the Lomita Sports and Community Center (formerly Navy Fields). Throughout the
CITY OF LOMITA
CITY COUNCIL REPORT
Item No. 7f
2 term of the agreement, B&A staff has also maintained regular communication with City staff regarding current and upcoming grant opportunities.
The City continues to have several projects that will benefit, and in many cases depend on, grant funding to move forward. While some projects have made meaningful progress over the past year, others require securing additional funding sources to advance. The following projects represent key priorities for the City which B&A can provide support through grant research, consultations, and when applicable, grant development and submittal.
1) Lomita Sports Complex: With the success of acquiring half a million dollars from the RPSOD grant, the City will soon begin the planning and design efforts of the Lomita Sports Complex. These efforts may include but not limited to; Conceptual and schematic designs, preparation of construction documents, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) analysis, site assessments and community engagement. At the conclusion of the planning and designing phase, the Lomita Sports Complex will be construction ready and competitive for additional grant opportunities.
2) Port of LA Waterfront Red Trolly Car (Red Car): The City Council approved receipt of a Red Car Trolley replica from the Port of LA for display at Annex Park adjacent to the Lomita Railroad Museum. This project includes construction of a new display structure, relocation of existing tracks, landscape grading, ongoing maintenance, and possible transportation/set-up costs. The cost of the project is estimated to be around $300,000. The City is looking to offset these costs through grant funding. Upon completions, the project will establish a new home for the trolley enhancing the park as a community destination where residents and visitors can appreciate its historic significance, engage in educational opportunities, and support its long-term preservation.
3) Teuchert Park: The City’s newest park, Louis and William J. Teuchert Park was dedicated on April 25, 2017. Teuchert Park was a former residential home transformed into a park location for residents and visitors to enjoy. The residential home is dilapidated, and its layout needs improvement to make it a more traditional park space for residents and visitors to enjoy. The City is looking at either reconstructing/renovating the house to transform it into a potential museum or removing the house to make more space and further expand the landscape.
This project includes reconstruction and renovation of existing structures and infrastructure or possible removal, and landscape grading. 4) Civic Center Improvement Project (Circle of Honor): The City currently has a Circle of Honor garden outside of City Hall dedicated to prominent community figures who have displayed significant local civic achievement, historical importance, and/or outstanding City service to the City of Lomita. The City would like to expand on the idea of garden and transform it into a monument and enhance the area to benefit the entire community. The monument would be 3 incorporated into a stage with lightning where City events can be hosted for residents and visitors. The project would require renovation of the existing public space, monument signs installations, planting, concrete work, stage enlargement and lightning equipment to be installed. The total cost of this project is estimated to be approximately $380,000.
5) Sewer Replacement: The City of Lomita seeks funding for the Wastewater System Improvement Project. The City’s Sewer System Master Plan hydraulic modeling identified a 1930’s sewer line that is nearing capacity and will become deficient as more housing is built. This aged sewer line currently runs through private properties and needs to be rerouted to the public right-of-way. Rerouting to the public right-of-way will allow crews to quickly address any sewer overflows which will benefit public health and safety. The original cost estimate for this project was initially $7,907,938. However, due to the drastic pricing changes of materials and services that have been occurring, the new estimate for this project is expected to be approximately $20,000,000.
6) Citywide School Loading Zone Study: The Citywide School Loading Zone Study examines traffic conditions around schools in Lomita, evaluates existing school loading zones, and assesses safe travel for pedestrians and bicyclists.
The study evaluated pedestrian, bicyclist and traffic safety in the vicinity of the following four Lomita schools; Alexander Fleming Middle School, Lomita STEAM Magnet School, St. Margaret Mary School and Eshelman Avenue Elementary School. The infrastructure improvement recommendations include near-term and long-term solutions that are contingent upon the City receiving grant funding to implement.
The City’s current agreement with B&A is set to expire on May 5, 2026, with the option to renew if mutually agreed on by both parties. B&A has agreed to extend the agreement for an additional one-year term with no increase to the existing rate structure. Given the City‘s ongoing need to advance unfunded special projects, coupled with the successful acquisition of grant funding to date, staff recommends renewing the agreement with B&A to ensure continuity of these services. Under the proposed amendment, B&A will continue to provide key grant-related services to the City, including grant research, monitoring, consultations, and the development and submittal of grant proposals.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed amendment will extend the term to May 5, 2027 for an additional $50,000.
Funding for this contract is included in the Adopted Budget.
VISION, MISSION, VALUES, AND STRATEGIC OUTCOMES
The City’s Vision, Mission, and Values set the standard for the organization, establish priorities, uniformity and guidelines; and provide the framework for policy decision making. The Strategic Outcomes were implemented to provide a pathway to achieving 4 the City’s Vision. This item aligns with Strategic Outcome No. 4: Quality of Life & Livability – Creating vibrant spaces and services for all ages.
OPTIONS
1. Authorize the execution of the amendment.
2. Provide alternative direction.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Original agreement with B&A
2. Amendment No 1. to the Agreement with B&A
Reviewed by: Approved by:
_______________________ ______________________
Lina Hernandez Andrew Vialpando
Assistant City Manager City Manager