DATE: SEPTEMBER 15, 2026
DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS
FROM: DAVID T. JACOBS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
THRU: ADRIANA ROBLES, CITY ENGINEER
BY: MARIA CONTRERAS, MANAGEMENT ANALYST
TITLE: Professional ServiceS Agreement for Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan Update RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to approve a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement, and any amendments or extensions thereto, with Bureau Veritas Technical Assessments, LLC, to conduct a comprehensive ADA Self-Evaluation and ADA Transition Plan update, in a not-to-exceed amount of $563,830.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City of Salinas is updating its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan. The Self-Evaluation will identify accessibility barriers in City programs, services, facilities, and public rights-of-way, establishing recommendations and priorities for achieving compliance with federal and state regulations. The ADA Transition Plan update will provide a comprehensive framework for addressing those identified accessibility barriers. Staff conducted a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process and recommend awarding a Professional Services Agreement to Bureau Veritas Technical Assessments, LLC, the highest-ranked qualified consultant, in an amount not to exceed $563,830.
BACKGROUND:
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability and requires public agencies to provide individuals with disabilities equal access to their programs, services, activities, facilities, and public rights-of-way. Under ADA Title II, state and local governments must identify and remove accessibility barriers. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 establishes similar nondiscrimination and accessibility requirements for programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. As a Local Public Agency (LPA) receiving federal funds administered through Caltrans, the City of Salinas is required to comply with the requirements of Caltrans ADA and Section 504 Program, including Self-Evaluation, Transition Plan, and periodic program assessments.
The ADA Self-Evaluation is intended to provide a comprehensive assessment of the City’s programs, services, activities, policies, procedures, facilities, and public right-of-way infrastructure to identify barriers to accessibility and establish prioritization criteria for mitigation. The ADA Transition Plan builds upon the ADA Self-Evaluation establishing priorities and schedules for barrier removal, identifying methods for achieving accessibility, and assigning responsibility for implementation. Because the City has over 50 employees, an ADA Transition Plan is required. Together, the ADA Self-Evaluation and the ADA Transition Plan provide a framework for maintaining accessibility, supporting the City’s ADA Non-Discrimination Policy and Grievance Procedures, and demonstrating continued compliance with federal and state requirements. Said documents are to be periodically reviewed and updated to reflect current programs, facilities, infrastructure, and accessibility needs.
The City of Salinas has steadily updated its accessibility program since completing its initial Facilities Transition Plan in 1995. An ADA Five-Year Improvement Plan subsequently followed in 1997, through Resolution No. 16177. In 2021, the City adopted Resolution No. 22135, establishing the City’s Grievance Procedures and ADA Non-discrimination Policy, and Resolution No. 22199 updated the ADA Transition Plan. The 2021 ADA Transition Plan supplemented the 1995 Facilities Transition Plan and incorporated an ADA self-evaluation of the City’s programs, procedures, and practices completed in 2016, and public right-of-way (PROW) infrastructure, including the high-priority City facilities assessments completed in 2016 and 2019. The comprehensive review evaluated approximately 492 miles of sidewalks, 5,641 curb ramps, 813 pedestrian signals, 309 bus stops, and 24 City facilities were evaluated and identified accessibility deficiencies, estimated corrective improvement costs, and established prioritization and funding strategies for addressing identified barriers.
An updated ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan is necessary to reflect changes to the City’s programs, services, facilities, public right-of-way infrastructure, policies, and regulatory requirements since the previous comprehensive assessments. The update will provide the City with a current inventory and assessment of accessibility barriers, identify appropriate corrective actions, establish priorities and implementation schedules for barrier removal, and support continued compliance with the ADA and Section 504 program requirements. To support this effort, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to conduct a comprehensive ADA Self-Evaluation and update its ADA Transition Plan. In response to the RFP, the City received five (5) proposals. A selection committee consisting of staff from the Public Works Department and the Community Development Department evaluated the proposals in accordance with the criteria established in the RFP. The selection committee identified Bureau Veritas Technical Assessments, LLC, as the highest-ranked qualified consultant.
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize a Professional Services Agreement with Bureau Veritas Technical Assessments, LLC, to conduct a comprehensive ADA Self-Evaluation of the City’s programs, services, activities, facilities, public right-of-way facilities, and infrastructure and to update the City’s ADA Transition Plan in an amount not to exceed $563,830 (Attachment 1).
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
Not a Project. The City of Salinas has determined that the proposed action is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378). In addition, CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 includes the general rule that CEQA applies only to activities which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Because the proposed action and this matter have no potential to cause any effect on the environment, or because it falls within a category of activities excluded as projects pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378, this matter is not a project. Because the matter does not cause a direct or foreseeable indirect physical change on or in the environment, this matter is not a project. Any subsequent discretionary projects resulting from this action will be assessed for CEQA applicability.
CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES:
Yes.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
This action supports the City’s 2025 Strategic Plan Infrastructure and City Services goals by identifying and setting a path to correct ADA barriers, promoting equitable access to City services and fostering inclusive development, providing high-quality customer service, and engaging residents and improving communication with the community.
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION:
Public Works will lead the project in coordination with City departments and divisions responsible for facilities, programs, services, public rights-of-way, GIS, and other ADA-related areas. The City will also coordinate with Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) to incorporate its recent bus stop facilities self-evaluation into the City’s ADA Transition Plan.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
The total cost of the Professional Services Agreement with Bureau Veritas Technical Assessments, LLC, the highest-ranked qualified consultant, shall not exceed $563,830.
The proposed action will utilize existing appropriations from CIP 9618, City-Wide ADA Transition Plan. No additional funding is requested.
Fund
General Ledger Number (Operating/CIP)
General Ledger Account Name
Remaining Budget Appropriation
Amount Requested
2401
5800.50.9618
Outside Services - Professional Services
$1,200,000.00
$563,830.00
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
Attachment 1: Professional Services Agreement
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CITY OF SALINAS
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT