Title
Recommendation to Authorize the Interim City Manager to Execute an Agreement with CSG Consulting Services for Professional Plan Check Services for a 12-Month Term in an Amount not to Exceed $300,000. (Community Development 481003)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Elizabeth D. Warmerdam, Interim City Manager
Re: Recommendation to Authorize the Interim City Manager to Execute an Agreement with CSG Consulting Services for Professional Plan Check Services for a 12-month Term in an Amount not to Exceed $300,000
BACKGROUND
In June 2014, the Community Development Department (CDD) Plan Check Engineer resigned from his position with the City of Alameda. Since his departure, building plan check services have been performed by CSG Consulting Services (CSG), which is an outside plan review firm. Prior to assuming these plan check duties, CSG provided overflow plan check services for CDD and plan review services for the Fire Department. Since June 2014, CSG, along with several other plan check firms, has provided a range of plan review functions for CDD. Staff recommends that CSG continue to provide plan check services during the fiscal year and that the City Council authorize the Interim City Manager to execute the attached 12-month agreement in the amount of $300,000.00 (Exhibit 1).
DISCUSSION
Over 75% of all permits issued by CDD are issued over the counter by Planning and Building staff. The remaining 25% need to be reviewed by a structural engineer for compliance with all applicable State and local codes. Until the recent resignation of the Plan Check Engineer, the majority of these reviews were completed in-house. When necessary, the City utilized the services of CSG to perform overflow plan review.
The implementation of last year’s permit streamlining effort, “Alameda At Your Service”, has been successful largely due to retaining one company to provide plan review services for both Building Division and Fire Department. CSG has been crucial in maintaining a quick and efficient plan review turn-around in keeping with the aggressive commitments CDD has made under “Alameda At Your Service”. Staff continues to review how to efficiently and effectively provide Planning and Building plan check services to the community. During this fiscal year, CDD will be hiring additional in-house staff to provide a range of plan check services. However, staff anticipates an on-going need for outside plan check support, given the high volume of permit activity. It is recommended that the agreement with CSG Consulting be approved for the period of July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016, for an amount not to exceed $300,000.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact to the City’s General Fund. The plan review services provided by CSG are covered entirely by plan review fees collected from the permit applicant. Sufficient appropriations are available in Fund 209 to cover the cost of this contract.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a project which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15378.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
CSG will provide building plan check services consistent with the State Building Standards Code, as well as the Alameda Municipal Code.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the Interim City Manager to execute an agreement with CSG Consulting Services for professional plan check services for a 12-month term in an amount not to exceed $300,000.
Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Potter, Community Development Director
By,
Gregory J. McFann, Building Official
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. CSG Contract