REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director
Planning and Development Department
PHIL SKEI, Assistant Director
Planning and Development Department
BY: KRISTINE LONGORIA, Project Manager,
Housing Production Division
SUBJECT
Title
Approve a Consultant Services Agreement between the City of Fresno and Beacon Integrated Professional Resources Incorporated, dba Hamner Jewell & Associates, in the amount of $125,000 to perform Professional Relocation and Real Estate Acquisition Consultant Services on an as-needed basis for various projects and real estate acquisitions with a contract performance period through January 31, 2028; and authorize the City Manager or designee to sign the agreement on behalf of the City.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council approve the Consultant Services Agreement between the City of Fresno and Hamner, Jewell & Associates to perform Professional Relocation and Real Estate Acquisition Consultant Services (see attached Consultant Agreement) on an as-needed basis for Planning & Development Department Housing projects, not to exceed $125,000 over three years, and authorize the City Manager or designee to sign the Agreement on behalf of the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On September 11, 2024, the Planning & Development Department’s Housing Production Division released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) requesting a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ’s) from organizations to provide on-call as-needed professional relocation and real estate acquisition services for various projects. The RFQ resulted in seven SOQ’s being received by the required October 14, 2024, deadline, all of which were deemed to be responsive and responsible.
A selection committee evaluated the SOQs for qualifications and proposed fees, and Hamner, Jewell & Associates was selected as the most qualified Consultant to perform professional relocation and real estate acquisition consultant services on an as-needed basis for the Planning & Development Department’s housing projects.
Hamner Jewell & Associates will be reimbursed for hours worked at the hourly rates specified in the Schedule of Fees (Exhibit B of attached Consultant Agreement) included in the Consultant’s respective Agreement, not to exceed $125,000 over three years, with no guarantee expressed or implied that the $125,000 will be authorized under the respective Agreement.
BACKGROUND
The City of Fresno’s Planning & Development Department’s Housing Production Division is dedicated to advancing its efforts in creating new affordable housing projects. Through partnerships with developers and securing federal and state funding, the Division aims to significantly increase the city’s affordable housing stock. In compliance with federal regulations, the Division employs relocation consultants for various projects to ensure that displaced individuals are properly assisted and all regulatory requirements are met.
To streamline the process and ensure the city adheres to both federal and state guidelines, the Division seeks to establish an Agreement for On-Call Professional Relocation Services. This agreement will provide the City of Fresno with the flexibility to engage relocation consultants as needed, allowing staff to efficiently and effectively manage relocation tasks in a timely manner. This will ensure that housing projects are completed in accordance with all applicable regulations, meeting the needs of displaced individuals while supporting the City's affordable housing goals.
The Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, or the Uniform Act, (URA) is a federal law that establishes minimum standards for federally funded projects that acquire real property or displace people and provides fair compensation and assistance for businesses displaced by public projects. The purpose of the URA is to provide uniform, fair and equitable treatment following 49 CFR Part 24 regulations.
The Planning & Development Department’s Housing Production Division issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on September 11, 2024, in accordance with Fresno Municipal Code Chapter 4, Article 1 and Administrative Order 6-19, via Planet Bids and published to The Business Journal seeking qualification proposals for an on-call relocation and acquisition consultant for various projects on an as needed basis, Bid File No 12500530.
The RFQ resulted in seven SOQ’s being received by the required October 14, 2024, deadline, all of which were deemed to be responsive and responsible. A selection committee met to evaluate the qualifications from the proposals received. Hamner, Jewell and Associates was selected unanimously as the most qualified consultant for these services.
The Consultant’s scope of services will include but are not limited to the following: relocation analysis of funding requirements and program mandates, planning and cost estimating, market surveys, resource analysis, drafting relocation guidelines, relocation plans, and replacement housing plans, preparing and issuing all required noticing implementing relocation assistance programs, including advisory assistance, claim preparation, payment distributions, and required file documentation.
Staff recommends City Council approve the agreement between the City and Hamner, Jewell & Associates to provide professional relocation consultant services on as an needed basis for housing projects, for three years, to be reimbursed for hours worked at the hourly rates specified in the Schedule of Fees included in the Consultant’s respective Agreement, not to exceed $125,000, with no guarantee expressed or implied that the $125,000 will be authorized under any respective Agreement, and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to sign the Agreement on behalf of the City.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the contract documents as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, a consultant agreement for relocation and acquisition services on an as-needed basis does not qualify as a project as defined by CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable because of the use of state funds.
FISCAL IMPACT
This Agreement will be funded through State grants, the amounts of which are yet to be determined and will be allocated on a project-by-project basis. This Agreement will have no impact on the General Fund.
Attachment:
Consultant Agreement