SR-416-000-01 (6)
COUNCIL MEETING: July 24, 2001 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Amendments to Existing Professional Services Contracts for Plan Check,
Geotechnical and Engineering Report Review and Related Services
INTRODUCTION
This staff report recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to
negotiate and execute amendments to contracts for plan and report review services for
the Building and Safety Division. Staff recommends additional authorizations of:
$130,000 for Contract No. 7740 (CCS) with EsGil Corporation for construction plan
reviews; $87,000 for Contract No. 7741 (CCS) with EQE International for seismic retrofit
plan & report reviews; and $60,000 for Contract No. 7742 (CCS) with Bing Yen &
Associates for review of geotechnical & engineering geologist reports.
BACKGROUND
Staff originally requested qualifications from seven firms that specialize in construction
plan review services for municipalities, seven structural engineering firms that specialize
in plan review services for seismic retrofit, and five geotechnical engineering firms for
review of geotechnical reports. On June 27, 2000, Council authorized contracts for
construction plan review services with Esgil Corporation, seismic retrofit reviews with
EQE International and geotechnical services with Bing Yen and Associates.
DISCUSSION
The regional increase in building construction may be waning but in Santa Monica
construction activity continues to exceed the staffing capacity of the Building and Safety
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Division. To manage the workload and maintain acceptable levels of service to the
public, the Building and Safety Division must contract for assistance for its plan review
function during overflow periods. Esgil Corporation has provided general plan review
services during the previous two fiscal years and EQE International has provided
specialized seismic plan and report review services during the last fiscal year. The
addition of plan check staff in FY 2000/2001 has decreased the need for these outside
services from $560,600 in FY99/00 to an estimated $217,000 in FY 01/02.
Due to liquefaction potential and other geologic hazards, state law requires the City to
require, review and approve geotechnical and/or engineering geologist reports prior to
construction permitting on most major projects. The reports must demonstrate
geotechnical feasibility and appropriate mitigation of any seismic related hazards. By
law, the City must use licensed geotechnical engineers and engineering geologists to
review and approve the feasibility and mitigation reports. Bing Yen & Associates has
provided these review services during the previous fiscal year.
BUDGET/ FINANCIAL IMPACT
The Building and Safety Division collects user fees to reimburse the General Fund
expenditures for plan check services. On April 24, 2001, Council passed new user fees
for the review of engineering reports. Pursuant to state law, these new fees became
effective June 25, 2001. These fees will cover the cost of providing these services.
Contract ConsultantProfessional ServiceAdditional Total
Number Authorization Contract
7740 (CCS)Esgil CorporationConstruction plan reviews$130,000 $390,000
7741 (CCS)EQE InternationalSeismic retrofit plan and $ 87,000 $174,000
engineering report
reviews
7742 (CCS)Bing Yen & Geotechnical/engineering $ 60,000 $120,000
Associatesgeology report reviews
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Funds are available in Account #01321.555060 consisting of $130,000 for plan review
services, $87,000 for seismic retrofit services and $60,000 for geotechnical reports for a
total of $277,000.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute amendments to professional service contracts in the following cumulative
not-to-exceed amounts: $390,000 for Contract No.7740 (CCS) with EsGil Corporation
for construction plan reviews, $174,000 for Contract No. 7741 (CCS) with EQE
International for seismic retrofit plan & report reviews, and $120,000 for Contract
No.7742 (CCS) with Bing Yen & Associates for the review of geotechnical &
engineering geologist reports.
Prepared by:
Suzanne Frick, Director, Planning and Community Development
Timothy P. McCormick, P.E., Building Officer
Manuel M. Mendizabal, S.E., Plan Check Supervisor
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