HomeMy WebLinkAbout14 C38750B Willdan Engineering - Plan and Inspection SvcsSTAFF REPORT
CITY OF PALM DESERT
BUILDING AND SAFETY DIVISION
MEETING DATE: April 8, 2021
PREPARED BY: Russell A. Grance, Building Official
REQUEST: Authorization to Increase Plan Review / Inspection Service Contract
___________________________________________________________________________
Recommendation
By Minute Motion, authorize an additional expenditure of $45,000 as part of the
professional service agreement to Willdan Engineering (Contract No.
C38750B) for building administrative services for the fiscal year 2020/2021.
The new cumulative total for these services will be $270,000. Funds are
available in the FY 2020/2021 budget.
Strategic Plan
Economic Development Priority No. 4: Expand and raise awareness of business-friendly
services in order to retain and attract businesses.
Providing business-friendly services, by maintaining timely commercial development
inspections, is an ongoing operations function. Timely commercial and residential
construction inspections help improve the economy and make Palm Desert a safer, more
attractive place to live.
Background Analysis
On June 11, 2020, City Council approved an extension of the professional service
agreements with Scott Fazekas & Associates, Willdan Engineering, and the Interwest
Consulting Group for building plan review services for FY 2020/2021 in an amount not to
exceed $150,000. The original $150,000 is for “Plan Review” services only and not
supplemental “Inspection Services” or “Administrative Support”. On October 15, 2020,
City Council authorized an additional $75,000 for a total authorization of $225,000 for
professional services. This new request is for an additional $45,000 for a total
authorization of $270,000 which is needed to continue contracting for certain
administrative functions through the remainder of the fiscal year.
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City did not fill several vacant positions within
the Building & Safety Division. Earlier in the year, two building inspectors left the
organization and another was promoted to the facilities supervisor position within the
Public Works Department, creating three vacant building inspector positions. In addition,
a management specialist retired effective October 1, 2020. The Building Division has
been utilizing a contract administrative support to backfill for the retiring management
specialist.
April 8, 2021 - Staff Report
Plan Review/Inspection Contract Services
Page 2 of 3
Table 1 identifies the balance of the approved contracts as of late March 2021. Table 2
projects the cost to continue to contract for administrative support. The balance of the
approved contracts in Table 1 is less than the projected costs identified in Table 2.
Table 1: Assessment of Current Contracts
Authorization by Contract
Scott Fazekas & Associates $55,000.00
YTD Expenditure (39,489.27)
Balance Under Scott Fazekas &
Associates $15,510.73
Willdan Engineering $170,000.00
YTD Expenditure (167,352.50)
Balance Under Willdan $2,647.50
Total Remaining on the Approved
Contracts $18,158.23
Table 2: Projected Cost to Maintain One (1) Contract Position through 06/30/2021
Position HRS Cost Total Cost
Administrative Support 704 $60.00 $42,240.00
Total Estimate $42,240.00
While the COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating impacts at a local, state, and national
level, building permit and inspection activity has remained fairly constant. From July 1,
2020 through March 28, 2021, the City received 2,003 building permits and conducted
9,972, inspections (4-FTE performed 6,718, 3-Contract performed 3,254) as compared
to 2,003 building permits and 8,928 inspections (5-FTE) over the same period the prior
year. This fiscal year to date the division has performed 1,080 plan reviews and have only
sent 63 projects to the consultants for structural review.
The current reorganization of Development Services and Building and Safety coupled
with sustained workload supports the continuation of the contract services through the
end of the fiscal year while the City analyzes vacant positions.
April 8, 2021 -Staff Report
Plan Review/Inspection Contract Services
Page 3 of 3
Fiscal Analysis
There are monies available within the division 's budget, including the salary savings from
several positions that are currently vacant , to cover this request.
Building and Safety Budget
Description of Available Budget : Budget Available : Amount of This Request : t-----'------------------........ ------------
S a I a r i es & Benefits Saving s $ 100,800
Conference s/Meetings Savings $ 22 ,700
Professional Services $ (81 ,000)
Printing Savings $ 2,500
Amount Available for this contract : $ 45,000
Bolded amounts are the subject of this request
LEGAL REVIEW DEPT. REVIEW FINANCIAL ASSISTANT
REVIEW CITY MANAGER
N/A ~ J'fu.H.d.c.U 9-(JW,\,e:r 1'11. 1'110 0'1,,e; .J'lnay :Fires t in e
Robert W . Hargreaves Ryan Stendell Janet M . Moore Andy Firestine
City Attorney Director of Community Director of Finance Assistan t City Manag er
Development
City Manager L. Todd H ileman
L. Too!o! HHew.,ClV\,
CITY COUNCIL A.CTI ON APPROVED _ _,L_ ____ DENIED _____ _
RECEIVED OTHER _____ _
MEETING D~ ~ · _& · ·W 1d_
AYEs kica:n v obd-ihtin ,. Nestimde,Quint4njllct, ;J,, jc::e//lj NOES:_~_o __ Y) _______________ _
ABSENT: _N __ o-'!'n'!"'e ___________ _
ABSTAIN: ND h..f VERIFIED_B_Y:_: '"'"""""l{!;~~,...~R.~/-,..'S-Y'5 ______ _
I
Original on File with City Clerk's Office
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