That the City Council:
A. Waive formal bidding requirements per the La Habra Municipal Code, Chapter 4.20.080 (B) when a service firm has established such a successful past history of work with the City that it is clearly in the public interest not to negotiate with any other source;  

B. Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 2 to the existing Agreement for Services with John L. Hunter and Associates, Inc. (JLHA) to extend the term of the Agreement through June 30, 2027, for continued support over the management of the City's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) / National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Program for Fiscal Year 2026-2027; and,

C. Authorize Staff to issue a Purchase Order in an amount not-to-exceed $99,980 to JLHA to fund Amendment No. 2 to the agreement.

The City of La Habra is required to comply with the conditions of its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit, issued under the federal Clean Water Act and administered by the State Water Resources Control Board through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. The MS4 Permit mandates a range of compliance activities, including comprehensive stormwater management planning, public education and outreach, illicit discharge detection and elimination, implementation of construction and post-construction best management practices (BMPs), and the submission of annual reports. 

On June 15, 2020, the City entered into a professional services agreement with a qualified consultant, John L. Hunter and Associates, Inc., (JLHA) for a five-year term to provide technical support, regulatory compliance assistance, program implementation, attend regional meetings on behalf of the City, perform inspections, and reporting services necessary to meet the City’s MS4/NPDES obligations. Additionally, JLHA assists with reviewing Water Quality Management Plans for new private development projects as well as public works projects. On June 2, 2025, the City Council approved Amendment No. 1 to the agreement to extend the term for one-year, which expires on June 30, 2026.

JLHA has provided high-quality work for the City for the past eleven years, and they have consistently provided professional and expert support for the City's stormwater management efforts. To ensure uninterrupted delivery of these essential environmental compliance services, staff is requesting that the City Council waive formal bidding requirements in accordance with the City of La Habra Municipal Code, Chapter 4.20.080 (B), which permits such action when a service provider has demonstrated a strong record of successful performance with the City, and it is clearly in the public interest to forgo a competitive process. Accordingly, staff recommends approval of Amendment No. 2 (attached), which will extend the existing agreement for one (1) additional year. This extension will allow the City to maintain compliance with the MS4/NPDES Permit while providing staff time to complete the RFP process to secure a new long-term consultant agreement for program support.

The total cost for Amendment No. 2 is $99,980 and it is a General Fund expense. This cost is budgeted for annually and will be included in the Fiscal 2026-2027 proposed budget, if approved by Council. 

General Plan Relevance/City Council Goals and Objectives:
WQ1.1 NPDES and Regional Quality Control Board
WQ1.2 Orange County Discharge Area Management Plan and Water Quality Management Plan
WQ1.3 Low Impact Development
WQ1.4 Protection of Water Bodies
WQ1.5 New Development
WQ1.6 Site Development
WQ1.7 Integration Regional Water Management
WQ1.8 City Department Integration
WQ1.9 Education

Goal 2: Management of Public Revenues and Fiscal Assets
Objective B Regularly review and evaluate programs, services, and professional agreements to assess effectiveness and identify opportunities for greater efficiencies and cost containment.