Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Consent
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER APPROVING THE AFFILIATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF CARSON AND CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, DOMINGUEZ HILLS' OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PROGRAM, AND CONSIDER APPROVING THE CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH DR. PAUL L. PENOLIAR (C-18-007), TO PROVIDE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST SERVICES AT THE JOSEPH B. JR. AND MARY ANNE O’NEAL STROKE CENTER (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
In June of 2015, the City of Carson entered into a three-year Affiliation Agreement with the Occupational Therapy Department at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) that provides students with hands-on experience at approved City field work sites. At that time, the City also approved a contract with Dr. Paul L. Penoliar to serve as the program’s Field Educator. Under the supervision of the Fieldwork Educator, students did fieldwork at the Stroke Center and various Therapeutic Recreation programs. In June of 2018, the Affiliation Agreement was extended for another three years, and Dr. Paul L. Penoliar was given a new three-year contract. The City Council is now asked to approve a new three-year Affiliation Agreement between the City and California State University Dominguez Hills (Exhibit No. 1), as well as a contract amendment with Dr. Penoliar (Exhibit No. 2). This action will ensure that both the agreement and the contract terms align and will avoid a lapse in service for stroke survivors who rely on the program. It should be noted that despite the temporary closure of the Stroke Center due to the pandemic, Dr. Penoliar has continued to provide Occupational Therapy to stroke survivors remotely via telehealth.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
TAKE the following actions:
1. APPROVE the use of the sole source purchasing exception pursuant to Carson Municipal Code Section 2611(e).
2. APPROVE the Affiliation Agreement between the City of Carson and the California State University, Dominguez Hills’ (CSUDH) Occupational Therapy Department. (Exhibit No. 1; the “Affiliation Agreement”).
3. APPROVE Amendment No. 1 to the Contract Services Agreement with Dr. Paul L. Penoliar, Occupational Therapist, authorizing a three-year contract extension for Mr. Penoliar to serve as Field Coordinator for CSUDH’s Occupational Therapy students working at the Joseph B. Jr. and Mary Anne O’Neal Stroke Center, at a total cost of $144,000 for the three additional years, or $48,000 annually (Exhibit No. 2; the “Contract Amendment”).
4. AUTHORIZE the Mayor to execute the Affiliation Agreement and the Contract Amendment following approval as to form by the City Attorney.
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III. ALTERNATIVES
The City Council can take any other action deemed appropriate.
IV. BACKGROUND
In 2015, the City entered into a three-year Affiliation Agreement with CSUDH’s Occupational Therapy Department that allowed its students to gain vital hands-on experience at the Stroke Center and various Therapeutic Recreation programs. At the same time, the City approved a contract with Dr. Paul L. Penoliar, who serves as the students’ Fieldwork Educator, to perform Occupational Therapy services. The agreement was extended for a three-year term, and Dr. Paul Penoliar was given a new three-year contract in 2018. Staff is now recommending that the City Council approve a new Affiliation Agreement with CSUDH and a contract extension with Dr. Penoliar.
Since these relationships were initiated, regular attendance at the Stroke Center has increased. Under the direction of Dr. Penoliar, the culture for those who receive Occupational Therapy has been greatly improved and enhanced. After nearly six years on the job, demand for an appointment with Dr. Penoliar is so high that staff implemented attendance and engagement standards: Survivors must attend at least twice weekly to be eligible for Occupational Therapy services, and they must commit to completing “homework” between sessions to ensure that their progress continues.
Dr. Penoliar’s education and experience as a CSUDH Professor and Occupational Therapist who specializes in traumatic brain injuries make him uniquely qualified to perform the services he provides pursuant to his existing contract with the City (Exhibit No. 3). He currently serves a dual role at the Stroke Center: He is a licensed Occupational Therapist who treats survivors one-on-one when students are not present, and he also acts as the Fieldwork Educator for student interns when they are onsite. As a result of his work and that of his students, the reach of the program has greatly expanded.
Given the unique services provided by Dr. Penoliar, the City has the authority to enter into this contract as a sole source contract, pursuant to Section 2611 of Chapter 6 of Article II of the Carson Municipal Code.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
There are no funds associated with the Affiliation Agreement, but the full cost of Dr. Paul Penoliar’s three-year contract extension is $144,000, or $48,000 per year. The funding has been included in the proposed FY 2021-22 budget, in account number 101-90-980-249-6004.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Proposed Affiliation Agreement (pgs. 4-7)
2. Proposed Contract Amendment (pgs. 8-13)
3. Existing Penoliar Contract (pgs. 14-41)
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Prepared by: Dani Cook, Human Services Supervisor, and Robert Lennox, Community Services Director