September 16, 2025
Community Development
DATE: September 16, 2025
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Lina Velasco, Director of Community Development
Avery Stark, Planning Manager
Subject:
PermiTech Solutions Contract Amendment No. 1
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed total one-year not to exceed cost of $149,900 is included within the approved fiscal year
2025-2026 Community Development/ Planning
Professional Services budget and will be budgeted
accordingly in subsequent fiscal year budgets (Account
String: 15061219 – 400201). If the two, one-year options are exercised, the total contract amount would be
$450,000, over a three-year term.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Community Development Department’s Planning
Division is seeking approval of a contract amendment
No. 1 with PermiTech Solutions Corporation to increase
the contract amount by $140,000 to continue providing
on-call wireless permit application review and support.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE a contract amendment no. 1 with PermiTech
Solutions Corporation to add an additional $140,000, for a total contract amount not to exceed $149,900, for a
term ending on June 30, 2026, with two, one-year,
$150,000 extension options (totaling $449,900 over a
three-year term if options are exercised), to provide on- call wireless permit application review and support to be AGENDA
REPORT
September 16, 2025
paid using applicant fees – Community Development
Department (Lina Velasco/Avery Stark 510-620-6714).
DISCUSSION:
PermiTech Solutions Corporation (“PermiTech”) is the successor to Telecom Law Firm, PC (“TLF”), the City’s long-time provider of specialized wireless legal, permitting and planning services. While TLF has served the City for many years, its senior attorney, Dr.
Jonathan Kramer, is transitioning into semi-retirement and members of his legal team, have joined the law firm of Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley. Lory Kendirjian, who has led TLF’s permit consulting division for over 11 years, is now positioned through PermiTech to continue delivering wireless permitting review services without interruption. Dr. Jonathan Kramer will continue to serve as an advisor to PermiTech, ensuring that the same trusted professionals—working in essentially the same roles— will remain available to support the Planning Division in this complex area of practice.
Upon notification of TLF’s closing, the Community Development Department executed a sole-source contract with PermiTech for $9,900 to continue providing these needed on- call services while Council was on recess. In short, the proposed contract amendment provides the City with uninterrupted access to highly specialized expertise, preserves institutional knowledge, and ensures continued compliance with complex state and federal regulations related to wireless facilities.
PermiTech will provide wireless permit application review and Planning Department support services, including: (a) initial and subsequent completeness reviews; (b) analysis for compliance with federal and state wireless regulations; (c) specialized consultation on aesthetics and design standards for wireless facilities; (d) evaluation of planned and actual radio frequency emissions for compliance with Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) rules; (e) preparation of recommended conditions of approval for wireless permits; (f) management of timelines in accordance with federal and state shot clocks, which may differ from the California Permit Streamlining Act; and (g) wireless site inspections as required by the City.
CONCLUSION:
The requested contract amendment is needed to ensure continuity of services for wireless communication application reviews that have specific federal and state processing timeframes and also to ensures continued compliance with complex state and federal regulations related to wireless facilities.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Contract Amendment No. 1
Attachment 2 – Original Contract