Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, February 05, 2019
Consent
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE SIXTH AMENDMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH TCM GROUP INC., A HILL INTERNATIONAL COMPANY, TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF SERVICES TO INCLUDE PROVIDING AN INTERIM CONSTRUCTION INSPECTOR FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FOR A PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
Currently only two staff members, one Construction Inspector and one Construction Inspector Supervisor, handle all construction inspections within the public right-of-way. Considering the volume of construction activity in the City, it is unrealistic for current staff to adequately accommodate the demand. A sixth amendment to the current agreement with TCM Group Inc. is requested to augment staff by providing a temporary Construction Inspector for the Construction Inspection Services Division of the Public Works Department. This contract would be in place for three months in order to allow time for the completion of position modifications and a successful recruitment.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
TAKE the following actions:
1. APPROVE the Sixth Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with TCM Group, Inc., a Hill International Company, to provide staff augmentation to the Construction Inspection Division of the Public Works Department for the term of three months, in an amount not to exceed $60,000.00.
2. AUTHORIZE the Mayor to execute the Sixth Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with TCM Group, Inc., a Hill International Company, following approval as to form by the City Attorney.
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III. ALTERNATIVES
1. DO NOT APPROVE the Sixth Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with TCM Group, Inc., a Hill International Company.
2. TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate and consistent with the requirements of the law.
IV. BACKGROUND
The Carson Successor Agency and the City of Carson retained the services of TCM Group, Inc., a Hill International Company (“Hill”) to provide construction management (CM) services for Project No. 919: Wilmington Avenue Interchange Modification at the I-405 Freeway. In addition to CM services, Hill is capable of providing other construction related staffing needs to public agencies, including construction inspection services within the public right of way.
There are currently only two staff members within the Public Works Department handling various construction inspection activities, and it is extremely difficult to meet the demands associated with utility companies, private developments and the City’s own Capital Improvement Projects (CIP).
Over the past two years there have been recruitments for an additional construction inspector. Although a pool of qualified applicants was secured, the most qualified candidates declined the employment offers. Additionally, in 2018, the Senior Inspector position was vacated. Public Works is working closely with Human Resources to ensure that the next recruitment effort is successful, but in the interim, there is an urgent need to augment staff with a temporary construction inspector who can assist with the workload.
Staff is recommending that the City Council approve the Sixth Amendment (Exhibit No. 1) for staff augmentation in the Construction Inspection Division of the Public Works Department for the period of three months for a negotiated fee not-to-exceed $60,000.00.
A preliminary meeting with AFSCME 809 took place on January 3, 2019 to discuss the consulting needs. On January 24, 2019, a Meet and Confer took place with AFSCME Local 809 regarding the contract as well the staffing makeup within the Construction Inspection Services Division. For the last several years, this Division has included a Construction Inspection Supervisor, a Senior Construction Inspector and a regular Construction Inspector. In early 2018, the Senior Construction Inspector position was vacated and as is customary, an evaluation of the duties and responsibilities was evaluated to determine next steps related to the role. Based on the functions of the division, it is recommended that the Senior Construction Inspector position (vacant) be downgraded to a regular Construction Inspector. Additionally, after two failed recruitments for a Construction Inspector, an evaluation of the necessary skill level and the pay in similar cities was conducted, and it was determined that prior to beginning a new recruitment, the job specification needed to be updated and the salary adjusted accordingly.
The HR Department has provided AFSCME Local 809 with a redlined version of the proposed job specifications for the Construction Inspector and will soon provide the associated pay scale. Downgrading the Senior Construction Inspector to a regular Construction Inspector and subsequently updating the job specification and increasing the pay for a regular Construction Inspector will allow the City to simultaneously recruit for two positions and ultimately secure the resources necessary to adequately staff the Construction Inspection Services Division.
Staff anticipates bringing the revised job specifications for the Construction Inspector at the February 19 Council meeting.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
No additional funding is being requested as part of this staff report. Budgeted funds associated with the current vacancies in the Construction Inspection Services Division will be used to cover the interim staffing expense.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Sixth Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with TCM Group, Inc., a Hill International Company. (pgs. 4 - 12).
Prepared by: Dr. Maria Slaughter, Director of Public Works