REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director Public Works Department BY: RANDALL W. MORRISON, PE, Assistant Director Public Works Department, Engineering Division SCOTT TYLER, PE, Public Works Manager Public Works Department, Engineering Division SUBJECT ..Title Approve the First Amendment to the three on-call agreements with 1) Hamner, Jewell & Associates, 2) Continental Field Services, and 3) Universal Field Services, for Right of Way Acquisition Project Management Services, in the amount of $1,200,000 individually for a total compensation not to exceed $1,700,000 individually and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to execute all related documents (Citywide) ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the City Council approve three On-Call Right of Way Acquisition Project Management Services Agreement Amendments between the City of Fresno and 1) Hamner, Jewell & Associates, 2) Continental Field Service, and 3) Universal Field Services, collectively (Consultants), to provide and/or manage appraisal services, real property/right of way acquisition services, residential relocation services, and business relocation services for City-wide Infrastructure Projects, for three-year terms, 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 $1,700,000, with no guarantee expressed or implied that the $1,700,000 amount will be authorized under any of the three respective agreements, and Authorize the Director of Public Works or designee to execute the first amendments for all three consultants on behalf of the City. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Department of Public Works (DPW) Real Estate Section currently performs all right of way acquisition services and administers all property appraisal and relocation assistance services necessary to facilitate DPW Capital Projects, Development Projects, Public Utilities Projects and a variety of other real estate services. The current and projected level of services needed by the DPW Real Estate Section exceeds the capacity of the current staffing level. On November 4, 2021, the Council approved three on-call agreements for real estate acquisition services. The current on-call service agreement amounts with Hamner, Jewell & Associates, Continental Field Service, and Universal Field Services, of $500,000 each, is insufficient for the current projects and future projects over the three-year period of the agreement. City staff proposes to increase the agreement amounts to continue the use of the on-call consultants to augment our staff capacity, when needed, in order to meet critical project deadlines. BACKGROUND City Council approved three on-call agreements with Hamner, Jewell & Associates, Continental Field Service, and Universal Field Services on November 4, 2021 for the On-Call Acquisition Consultants. Capital Improvement Projects have steadily increased due to higher levels of federal, state, and local funding assistance based on the City's growing infrastructure needs for parks, fire facilities, street improvements and utility infrastructure. Development projects continue to increase due to a shortage of residential housing units and a consistent increase in market value, often involving off-site right-of-way acquisition in order to fulfill the conditions of approval. A large percentage of each of these projects require the acquisition of private real property interests to facilitate the increased number of public and private infrastructure projects. The City's need for acquisition services and the disposition of excess real property exceeds the capacity of the Department's current Real Estate Section staffing levels. Staff is recommending the City Council approve three on-call agreement amendments with Hamner, Jewell & Associates, Continental Field Services, and Universal Field Services, for Right of Way Acquisition Project Management Services; in the amount of $1,200,000 individually for a total compensation not to exceed $1,700,000 individually, with no guarantee expressed or implied that $1,700,000 will be authorized under any respective agreement, to facilitate Public Infrastructure Projects by providing and/or managing services necessary for the acquisition of real property/right of way, and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to execute the agreement, approved as to form by the City Attorney's Office, on behalf of the City. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS This is not a "project" for the purposes of CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference does not apply because the services anticipated by the Agreements include projects that are federally funded. FISCAL IMPACT These Amendments to the Agreements have no impact to the General Fund and the Agreements will service locations in all Council Districts. All funding necessary for the services of the proposed Agreements were and will be included in the current and future fiscal year adopted City budgets. Attachments: Consulting Services Agreement First Amendment - Hamner, Jewell & Associates Consulting Services Agreement First Amendment - Continental Field Service Consulting Services Agreement First Amendment - Universal Field Services