REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JENNIFER K. CLARK, Director
Planning and Development Department
BY: PHIL SKEI, Assistant Director
Planning and Development Department
ERICA CASTANEDA, Project Manager
Community Development Division
SUBJECT
Title
Approve a consultant services agreement with JSA Environmental Consulting in an amount not to exceed $200,000.00 to provide professional lead-based paint inspections, testing, risk assessments, and consultant services for the City’s housing rehabilitation programs.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve a $200,000.00 two-year consultant services agreement with the option of a one-year extension, with JSA Environmental Consulting to perform specialized lead-based paint services for the City’s housing rehabilitation programs; and authorize the City Manager or designee to sign all necessary implementing agreements as approved to form by the City Attorney.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The consultant services agreement with JSA Environmental Consulting will allow the Community Development Division to meet the federal Lead Safe Housing Rule (24 CFR Part 35) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule (RRP) requirements for all housing built prior to 1978 participating in the City’s housing rehabilitation programs.
BACKGROUND
The Community Development Division implements federally funded housing rehabilitation programs for owner-occupied homeowners throughout the City of Fresno. The division expects to complete approximately 20-30 projects annually which will require lead inspection and assessment services. Depending on the age and condition of the house and the amount of federal assistance provided for housing rehabilitation repairs certain Lead Safe Housing Rule and EPA requirements apply. These require that a certified lead-based paint inspector risk assessor determine the presence and location of lead-based paint hazards by conducting inspections, risk assessments, and laboratory testing of dust wipe samples to determine the level of lead-based paint on surfaces, soil, and dust found in a home. Only a lead inspector risk assessor certified by the California Department of Public Health can test for lead-based paint and identify lead hazards.
On May 24, 2023, a Request for Qualifications for consultants interested in providing specialized inspections, testing, clearance, and consulting services for the Community Development Division’s housing rehabilitation programs as needed was released on Planet Bids and published in the Business Journal. Two proposals were received in response to the RFQ by the deadline of June 23, 2023, one from JSA Environmental Consulting and the other from Provost & Pritchard. The qualifications of the respondents were evaluated and scored by a committee of staff from the Community Development and Housing Finance Divisions. The committee determined that JSA Environmental Consulting has the capacity and experience necessary to provide the services outlined in the RFQ, and proposed significantly lower fees that will result in cost savings for repairs of houses participating in the program.
Staff recommends entering into a consultant services agreement with JSA Environmental Consulting to provide specialized lead inspections, testing, clearance, and consulting services. The amount of the proposed agreement shall not exceed $200,000.00 over a term of two years, from September 1, 2023, to October 31, 2025, with an option for a one-year extension.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a “project” for the purpose of CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines.
The National Environmental Policy Act broad level environmental review for home repair activities is complete and will require a site-specific tier II review.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable because of the use of federal funding.
FISCAL IMPACT
The funding for this agreement is included in the Community Development Block Grant funds allocated to housing rehabilitation programs identified in the Annual Action Plan.
Attachment: Consultant Services Agreement with JSA Environmental Consulting