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HomeMy WebLinkAbout25D - PLAN CHECK SVCSREQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: NOVEMBER 5, 2007 TITLE: AGREEMENT WITH WILLDAN FOR PLAN CHECK SERVICES G~, CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDED ACTION CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: APPROVED ^ As Recommended ^ As Amended ^ Ordinance on 1S` Reading ^ Ordinance on 2"d Reading ^ Implementing Resolution ^ Set Public Hearing For_ CONTINUED TO FILE NUMBER Direct the City Attorney to prepare and authorize the City Manager and Clerk of the Council to execute an agreement with Willdan for plan check services in an amount not to exceed $55,000. DISCUSSION Over the past two years, the City has made substantial improvements in the plan check process. Results of these improvements have included better service at the counter, where plans for smaller projects are often checked while the customer waits. Another result has been a dramatic reduction in the time it takes to check plans for larger development projects--from an average "turn-around time" of about nine weeks in 2005 to three or fewer weeks at present. According to staff surveys, this turn-around time is the fastest of any city in Orange County. These improvements have resulted in development projects beginning and being completed sooner. The strategy behind these improvements relied on setting ambitious goals, streamlining internal procedures, hiring a part-time contract plan check engineer devoted to the public counter, hiring one additional full-time plan check engineer and outsourcing plan checking services whenever the volume of plan submittals is such that the City cannot otherwise meet its three-week turn-around goal. The agreement proposed herein represents the portion of the strategy focused on maintaining an improved level of service for customers at the public counter. Willdan is a private consulting firm that provides contract services exclusively to public agencies. This is the fourth year the City has contracted with Willdan. The firm was selected after circulation of a Request for Proposals and review of proposals from eight firms. 25D-1 Agreement with Willdan November 5, 2007 Page 2 All funds under the existing contract will be expended within a few weeks. This recommended action would continue the contract services of Willdan for a part-time plan checker on an "as needed" basis at a rate of $75 per hour using funds in the current year budget allocated for this purpose. Over the past three years, Willdan has been able to meet the City's requirements for professional staffing in a timely manner. FISCAL IMPACT Funds in the amount of $55,000 are available in the Planning and Building Agency's account for other contractual services (account no. 11-508-6291). APPROVAL AS TO FUNDS AND ACCOUNTS: M. Trevino Executive Director Planning and Building Agency Francisco Gutierrez G~ Executive Director Finance & Management Services Agency SB:rb sb\RFCA's\07-08\Wildan Plan Check Nov 07 25D-2