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APPROVE MOTION TO EXECUTE A FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH SAN JOAQUIN GREATER VALLEY CONSERVATION CORPS FOR LITTER AND GRAFFITI ABATEMENT IN AN ANNUAL AMOUNT OF $115,000.00 AND A NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT OF $575,000.00 OVER THE FIVE-YEAR TERM OF THE AGREEMENT
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve a motion to:
1. Authorize the City Manager to execute a five-year Agreement between the City of Stockton and San Joaquin Greater Valley Conservation Corps for litter and graffiti abatement services not to exceed $575,000.
2. Approve findings pursuant to the Stockton Municipal Code section 3.68.070 in support of an exception to the competitive bidding process.
3. It is further recommended that the City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to make any and all expenditures and appropriations on behalf of the City as appropriate and necessary to carry out the purpose and intent of this motion.
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Summary
The City is responsible for removing litter and graffiti from public rights-of-way. On February 6, 2018, the City Council received a presentation on Cleanup Programs and Services, which included services provided under the current contract with San Joaquin Greater Valley Conservation Corps (SJGVCC). In an effort to meet the goals and priorities set by City Council regarding blight reduction, and to efficiently limit the response time for complaints of litter and graffiti in public rights-of-way, staff recommends renewing the contract with the San Joaquin Greater Valley Conservation Corps (SJGVCC) to perform these services for a five-year term not to exceed $575,000.
DISCUSSION
Background
The City currently provides several forms of graffiti and litter removal, including contracting with the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office for assistance by its inmate cleanup crew for slough areas, the Public Works Department uses the services of the Alternate Work Program to service public streets and parks, and the Police Department’s Neighborhood Services Section employs four Graffiti Abatement Technicians to handle private property. The services currently provided by the SJGVCC include removal of garbage, junk, and debris from private property, graffiti, signs, and posters found on public property. They provide two trucks each day and are able to work proactively and in response to immediate concerns as identified by Neighborhood Services.
On April 14, 2014, Council participated in a strategic planning workshop and, as a result, Council approved nine priority goals and seven strategic targets to provide direction to staff. Reducing blight was identified as a high-level priority for funding. On November 25, 2014, Council approved a motion allocating a total of $350,000 for use toward strategic priorities. A portion of that funding ($80,000) was allocated for graffiti and litter removal services to be provided by the SJGVCC as a component of the Marshall Plan. On January 13, 2015, Council approved, by Motion 2015-01-13-1203, an Agreement with the SJGVCC for litter and graffiti abatement. The SJGVCC employs local youth, provides them with on-the-job training, community interaction and team building as part of their program.
In 2017, the SJGVCC removed over 75,000 cubic feet of garbage, junk, and debris from private property. In addition to other services, the SJGVCC has cleaned and removed graffiti from 5,900 street signs around the City, removed signs and posters and painted over 91,000 square feet of graffiti found on public property.
Present Situation
As the City continues its economic recovery, it is important to dedicate resources to high priority quality-of-life issues. Awarding this five-year contract furthers the partnership with the SJGVCC and helps the City to effectively work towards meeting City Council priority goal: Focus on crime reduction, blight reduction, and outreach for “Hot Zones” and “Hot People.”
The Agreement scope of work (Attachment A) outlines the professional services which the SJGVCC will continue to provide, including graffiti abatement projects which shall include removal of graffiti from signs, posters, sound walls, post office boxes, and public rights-of-way. Litter abatement projects shall include removal of litter from highly visible public areas and highly frequented areas for illegal dumping. In addition, the SJGVCC will participate in Saturday clean-up projects as assigned by the Neighborhood Services Section.
In determining whether to request an extension of the existing services provided by SJGVCC, staff reviewed the work load and availability of Public Works Staff, the current contracted services offered by the Rotating Contractor’s List used for abatements, the current landscaping maintenance contract with Marina Brightview Landscaping, and Odyssey Landscaping. The services provided by the SJGVCC are more cost-effective than what a contractor would be paid per the City’s Rotating Contractor List and than the City’s current landscaping maintenance contracts which serve a different purpose, but do offer this type of service as an add-on and only upon request and pre-approval of cost. SJGVCC staff is paid approximately $20 per hour for their services. This includes unlimited graffiti removal, and when transporting litter to an approved dump site, there is no dump fee. Per the Rotating Contractor’s List; graffiti removal is paid at the rate of $1 per square foot, and dump fees can be billed up to $100 per truckload in addition to the hourly rate of $55 per hour per employee.
Findings
Pursuant to Stockton Municipal Code (SMC) section 3.68.070, Council may approve findings which support an exception to the competitive bidding process. These findings include:
1. The City does not have adequate staffing to address the volume of graffiti and litter removal from public areas.
2. The services requested under this contract are unique and not regularly or routinely offered by landscaping contractors or other trades.
3. The City is not able to provide the level of community cleanup event support needed without additional contracted assistance.
4. Compared to other contractors used for City abatement services, SJGVCC exhibits they can perform the same services at a more cost-effective price.
5. SJGVCC is uniquely qualified to provide these services by having the workforce, supervision, equipment, and experience in working with the City.
6. SJGVCC is a proven partner in the City’s effort to support sustained clean-up in blighted areas, more particularly identified as Neighborhood Betterment Team zones.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The annual cost of the contract is $115,000. Funding for this Agreement, in the amount of $115,000, will be included in the Fiscal Year 2018-2019 budget proposal to Council in the General Fund Police Department Neighborhood Services Account number 010-2425-530. Future Agreement costs for the subsequent years will be budgeted in the same account and subject to Council approval during the annual budget development process. The total not-to-exceed cost of this contract over a period of five years is set at $575,000.
Attachment A - San Joaquin Greater Valley Conservation Corps (SJVCC) Agreement