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APPROVE MOTION TO AWARD A STANDARD AGREEMENT TO 4LEAF, INC. FOR TEMPORARY CONTRACTED PROFESSIONAL CODE ENFORCEMENT SERVICES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $5,569,852.00
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve a motion to:
1. Approve findings pursuant to Stockton Municipal Code §3.68.070(A)(3) and City policies 17.05.020(5)(A)(iii) and 17.05.060(D)(3) in support of an exception to the competitive bidding process by allowing negotiated contracts following the solicitation of competitive proposals (RFP); and
2. Approve the award of Request for Proposal (RFP) PUR 26-005 to provide temporary contracted professional code enforcement services for the Stockton Police Department to 4LEAF, Inc. of Pleasanton, CA; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute a Standard Agreement to outsource the professional code enforcement services to 4LEAF, Inc. of Pleasanton, CA, in the amount of $5,569,852.00 for the term of the contract, which is three (3) years, with the option to renew for two (2) additional one-year extension; and
4. Authorize the City Manager to take necessary and appropriate actions to carry out the purpose and intent of this motion.
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Summary
The Neighborhood Services Section (NSS) is currently experiencing significant operational challenges due to a high vacancy rate among Code Enforcement Officers (CEOs). At present, 5 of the 21 allocated positions are unfilled, representing nearly a 24 percent shortage in personnel. These chronic staffing shortages severely impact our ability to effectively address code violations and maintain community standards. Adding to this strain, the enforcement of current ordinances, combined with the anticipated responsibilities from new initiatives like the commercial vacant property and vacant lot ordinance, places an even greater burden on the section without a corresponding increase in permanent staffing.
To mitigate immediate risks and prevent further deterioration of neighborhood conditions, the department was authorized to proceed with a formal solicitation for temporary contract code enforcement services. This short-term solution will allow NSS to handle the current backlog of cases, maintain timely response to new complaints, and effectively enforce the expanded scope of duties. This contract is intended as a temporary measure to bridge the gap until recruitment efforts yield permanent staff; as the City successfully fills internal vacancies, the number of contracted positions will be proportionally reduced.
DISCUSSION
Background
The NSS is responsible for enforcing the Stockton Municipal Code and all other policies and codes adopted by the City Council. This work supports community safety, quality of life, and consistent application of City standards.
Historically, the NSS’s operations were primarily complaint driven and it had limited capacity for proactive enforcement. In recent years, its responsibilities have continued to expand to include new programs, additional municipal code requirements, responses to emerging citywide issues, and a greater emphasis on proactive enforcement and public education. These expanded responsibilities have been absorbed without any increase in CEO positions.
In addition to these operational demands, the NSS has been unable to achieve full staffing for several years. This challenge persists despite ongoing recruitment efforts and updates to the CEO classification and compensation structure.
Present Situation
To mitigate the immediate impact of vacancies and increased workload, and to ensure the continued delivery of essential code enforcement services, the Stockton Police Department (SPD) issued PUR 26-005, an RFP for temporary contracted professional code enforcement services, on August 28, 2025. On September 18, 2025, four (4) proposals were received from the following firms:
|
Firm Name |
Firm Location |
|
4LEAF, Inc. |
Pleasanton, CA |
|
Willdan Engineering |
Elk Grove, CA |
|
CSG Consultants |
Sacramento, CA |
|
LanceSoft, Inc. |
Herndon, VA |
The Selection Committee was comprised of three (3) members of the Neighborhood Services Section (NSS) staff. The selection committee reviewed all proposals and independently scored each proposal based on the evaluation criteria in the RFP, which included firms' qualifications, professional experience, industry expertise, capacity, and cost. The cost was evaluated separately by Procurement. Based on all evaluation factors, 4LEAF, Inc. was determined to be the most qualified and highest-ranked firm. The intent to award was issued to 4LEAF, Inc. and contract negotiations were successfully conducted with the firm.
It is recommended that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute a Standard Agreement to outsource professional code enforcement services to 4LEAF, Inc. of Pleasanton, CA in the amount of $5,569,852.00 for a three (3)-year contract term, with the option to renew for two (2) additional one-year extensions.
Findings
Pursuant to Stockton Municipal Code (SMC) Section 3.68.070(A)(3) and City Policies 17.05.020(5)(A)(iii) and 17.05.060(D)(3), the City Council may approve findings that support an exception to the competitive bidding process by allowing negotiated contracts following the solicitation of competitive proposals (RFP). The following findings are presented:
1. The City lacks sufficient staff resources to effectively manage the workload; therefore, SPD is requesting to outsource the professional code enforcement services.
2. Outsourcing the professional code enforcement services will ensure continued efficient and effective enforcement of City codes and ordinances during a period of staff vacancies within the NSS.
3. The use of the RFP process is appropriate for this service contract and was conducted in line with procurement best practices through an open, competitive, and transparent solicitation process, adhering to all applicable procurement laws and regulations. The evaluation of proposals was based on each firm’s professional qualifications, experience, industry expertise and cost as the basis for the award to the best value proposal. Use of the evaluation criteria ensures the selection of a vendor that will provide the highest quality services, which is in the public interest.
4. The City successfully negotiated the Standard Agreement with 4LEAF, Inc. following solicitation and evaluation of competitive proposals in accordance with SMC §3.68.070(A)(3).
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget for these services is appropriated within the Police Department’s General Fund. The contract will be funded through savings generated by unfilled positions, and it is not intended to duplicate NSS services. As vacancies are filled, the use of contracted services will be reduced accordingly. Future expenditures will continue to be incorporated into the annual budget appropriation process.
Attachment A - Standard Agreement