For City Council Meeting May 14, 2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Tanya Williams, Acting City Manager
FROM: Toyasha Sebbag, Assistant to the City Manager
...Title
Request the City Council and Rialto Utility Authority Board to : 1) Adopt Resolution No. 8216 to Amend the Utility Services Water and Wastewater Budget in Fund 680; 2) Adopt RUA Resolution No. 08-33 to Amend the Utility Services Water and Wastewater Budget in Fund 680; 3) Approve the Fourth Amendment to Professional Services Agreement with Dopudja & Wells Consulting, Inc., a California Corporation, for As-Needed Support Activities for an Amount Not to Exceed $325,750; 4) Appropriate $162,875 from the Unallocated Wastewater Reserve Fund Account No. 5660-0000-30000; and 4) Authorize the Acting City Manager/Executive Director to Execute all Related Documents.
(ACTION)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council and Rialto Utility Authority Board: 1) Adopt Resolution No. 8216 to Amend the Utility Services Water and Wastewater Budget in Fund 680; 2) Adopt RUA Resolution No. 08-33 to Amend the Utility Services Water and Wastewater Budget in Fund 680; 3) Approve the Fourth Amendment to Professional Services Agreement with Dopudja & Wells Consulting, Inc., a California Corporation, for As-Needed Support Activities for an Amount Not to Exceed $325,750; 4) Appropriate $162,875 from the Unallocated Wastewater Reserve Fund Account No. 5660-0000-30000; and 4) Authorize the Acting City Manager/Executive Director to Execute all Related Documents.
BACKGROUND
The City of Rialto (City) and Rialto Utility Authority (RUA) are currently utilizing the professional services of Stephen Dopudja through his company Dopudja & Wells Consulting, Inc. (Dopudja & Wells). Dopudja & Wells is well versed in the issues faced by the RUA and has extensive historical knowledge related to the City/RUA’s utility operations and the Concession Agreement.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
On December 19, 2023, staff authorized a change order to the Third Amendment Professional Services Agreement (PSA) with Dopudja & Wells Consulting for Stephen Dopudja, P.E., and Jason Pivovaroff, P.E. to provide additional staffing support services for an amount not to exceed $100,000 from December 19, 2023, through April 30, 2024 while the City recruits for the vacant Utilities Manager position. This position currently remains vacant.
Since April 2021, Dopudja & Wells Consulting, have provided essential services to RUA and more recently, are indispensable in providing daily support services of attending City Council Meetings, Water Subcommittee Meetings, City Staff Meetings, and maintaining interdepartmental City functions of development meetings, responding to extraterritorial request, and guidance on the Concession Agreement. Staff recommends extending the contract with Dopudja & Wells Consulting through December 31, 2024, to provide Staffing Support Services.
Summary of Additional Scope of Work
As-Needed Staffing Support Services through December 31, 2024 - $325,750
• Advise on City/RUA’s utility operations and the Concession Agreement;
• Meeting Attendance, Coordination, and On-Going Staff Support;
• Review of Reports; and
• Engineering Studies and Planning Support Services.
The Professional Services Agreement (PSA), First Amendment, Second Amendment, Third Amendment, and Change Order for Third Amendment of the PSA are included as ATTACHMENTS 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5. The proposed Fourth Amendment to the PSA is included in ATTACHMENT 6.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The requested City Council action is not a “Project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15378(a), a “Project” means the whole of an action, which has the potential to result in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. According to Section 15378(b), a Project does not include (5) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
Approval of this action complies with the following:
Our City government will lead by example and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed the resolution and agreement and approved them as to form.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Operating Budget Impact
The total overall funding of $325,750 will affect Water and Wastewater Fund 680.
• Wastewater Contract Services Account No. 680-500-7860-2011 requires a $162,875 appropriation from the unallocated reserve fund Account No. 5660-0000-30000, which has a balance of $18 million.
• Water Contract Services Account No. 680-500-7960-2011 to encumber $162,875 for Dopudja & Wells Consulting, which has an available balance of $3.7 million.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
The proposed action does not have an impact on the Capital Improvement Budget.
Licensing
Dopudja & Wells Consulting, Inc. has an active Business License with the City of Rialto.