HomeMy Public PortalAbout07. Blais & Associates Agreement Amendment1►0
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1997 -
File #: 4464
Claremont City Council
Agenda Report
TO: ADAM PIRRIE, CITY MANAGER
FROM: JAMIE EARL, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
DATE: NOVEMBER 22, 2022
SUBJECT:
Item No: 7.
Reviewed by:
City Manager: AP
Finance Director: NB
AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND THE EXISTING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH
BLAIS & ASSOCIATES TO INCREASE COMPENSATION FOR GRANT RESEARCH AND
MANAGEMENT SERVICES (FUNDING SOURCE: GENERAL FUND)
SUMMARY
The City has contracted with Blais & Associates for professional grant management services since
2015. The City has secured over $8.6 million in grant funding to date with the assistance of Blais &
Associates. The current agreement has a total not -to -exceed amount of $75,000. The total not -to -
exceed amount for fiscal year 2021-22 was $50,000 and the current not -to -exceed amount for fiscal
year 2022-23 is $25,000.
Due to an increase in grant activity and application development, it is necessary to increase the total
contract amount to fund grant applications and monthly costs through the end of the current fiscal
year. Staff recommends that the City Council authorize an amendment to the current Blais &
Associates professional services agreement to add $25,000 in compensation, bringing the total
agreement amount to $100,000 (not -to -exceed $50,000 for fiscal year 2022-23).
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute an amendment to the
existing Professional Services Agreement with Blais & Associates adding $25,000 in compensation
and increasing the total agreement not -to -exceed amount to $100,000.
ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the staff recommendation, there are the following alternatives:
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• Request additional information from staff.
• Do not authorize the amendment.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
City Council approval of an additional $25,000 is necessary for Blais & Associates to perform
additional work. This will increase the total not -to -exceed amount of the agreement from $75,000 to
$100,000 (not -to -exceed $50,000 for 2022-23).
The additional $25,000 will pay for the development of grant applications and to continue using the
services offered by Blais & Associates through the end of the fiscal year. Funding is available in the
2022-23 Administrative Services Department budget, and no additional appropriation is necessary.
The staff cost to prepare this report is estimated at $500 and is included in the operating budget of
the Administrative Services Department.
ONAI YRIR
Since May 2015, Blais & Associates has provided professional grant research, bi-monthly grant
activity report calls, and grant writing services to the City. Blais & Associates has assisted the City in
securing $8.6 million in grant funds to date, the work product by the firm has been high quality, and
all services have been completed in a timely manner.
With the assistance of Blais & Associates, staff recently submitted an application for grant funds for
the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy's Wildfire Prevention
Program. The application requests $734,764 for the project, which if awarded, will provide habitat
restoration and wildfire prevention in the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park, including the removal of
high -fire risk invasive plants and restoration with native plants; equipment to support ongoing wildfire
reduction work and habitat protection; and wildfire prevention education.
Due to the amount of grant research, and the complexity of current grant applications Blais &
Associates is assisting with, it is expected that the contract amount will be fully expended before the
end of the fiscal year. The total not -to -exceed amount for 2021-22 was $50,000 and the current not -to
-exceed amount for 2022-23 is $25,000. To proceed with grant applications that are in progress and
to continue using the services offered by Blais & Associates, it is necessary to increase
compensation by $25,000, bringing the agreement total to $100,000 (not -to -exceed $50,000 for 2022
-23).
RELATIONSHIP TO CITY PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Staff has evaluated the agenda item in relationship to the City's strategic and visioning documents
and finds that it applies to the following: Council Priorities, General Plan, and the 2022-24 Budget.
CEQA REVIEW
This item is not subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or
reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and Section 15060(c)(3) (the
activity is not a "project" as defined in Section 15378).
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PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to
interested parties. If you desire a copy, please contact the City Clerk's Office.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Jamie Earl Katie Wand
Assistant City Manager Assistant to the City Manager
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