Report Prepared by: Stephanie Dietz, Assistant City Manager
Title
SUBJECT: Approve Amendment to Professional Services Agreement to Draft Public Facilities Ballot Measure and Approve Related Budget Transfer
REPORT IN BRIEF
Consider approving an Amendment to the Service Agreement to the Public Opinion Survey contract to continue to draft the Public Facilities Ballot Measure language and approving the necessary budget transfers from the Public Facilities Financing Fees - Police of $70,500.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving an Amendment to the Service Agreement to the Public Opinion Survey contract to continue to draft Ballot Measure language, and
B. Approving transfers from Public Facilities Financing Fees - Police in the amount of $35,250 from Fund 047, and $35,250 from Fund 057 to Fund 449 Public Safety CIP, and appropriating the same amount to Project #116040 New Police Headquarters.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by the Assistant City Manager; or,
2. Deny; or,
3. Refer back to staff for further study.
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Budget.
DISCUSSION
On August 7, 2017, the City Council approved the Purchase and Sale Agreement and Lease between McClatchy Newspapers, Inc. and the City of Merced for the Property at 3033 North “G” Street. During the consideration of this agreement, the Council requested that staff provide an update on the status of all Public Facilities within the City. On August 21, 2017, staff provided the Council with an update on the current condition of all City-owned facilities and presented options for construction financing. During this meeting, direction was provided to staff to take the initial step of conducting an opinion survey to determine if the community would support a ballot initiative that would directly fund the construction of a new Police Headquarters Station, a New Fire Station, the expansion of the Corporation Yard, and the remodeling of 10 bathrooms within City of Merced parks.
At the Council’s direction, staff worked quickly to secure professional services to develop and conduct a public opinion survey. The survey was conducted between October 24th and October 29th and the results were posted on the City’s website on December 7, 2017. Based on the findings of the survey, it is recommended to amend the Public Opinion Survey professional services contract to enable the City to move forward with drafting ballot language, compiling a support committee and establishing an outreach strategy to meet the necessary November 2018 ballot timeline and to strategically coordinate other ballot efforts. It is requested that the amendment be approved as of December 18, 2017 to allow for compensation for work previously completed related to the coordination of June and November ballot efforts.
A transfer of funds is recommended to support the amendment to the professional services agreement.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
Funding for these services is available from the Public Facilities Financing Fees - Police in Fund 047 and Fund 057. This report recommends a transfer in the amount of $35,250 from Fund 047 and $35,250 from Fund 057 to Fund 449, Public Safety Capital Improvement Projects, and appropriating the same to Project #116040 - New Police HQ, to support the amended professional services agreement to establish a ballot initiative for consideration by the public in November 2018.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Lew Edwards Group Contract
2. Contract Amendment