That the City Council approve and authorize an appropriation of funds for additional "On Call" Public Works Inspection services with Onward Engineering in the amount of $74,000 from the City's General Capital Projects Fund as a result of cost savings associated with the Russell Storm Drain project.

The Public Works Engineering Division currently has several vacancies, including a vacant Inspector position due to a recent staff retirement. A recruitment to fill this vacant position has been started and is anticipated to take between three and six months to complete.  In order to avoid project delays and ensure that projects continue to be inspected, staff proposes to secure the services of an "On Call" contract engineering consultant to perform daily inspections related to Capital Improvement Projects and private development projects and permits.

The City currently has a contract with Onward Engineering for up to $250,000 per year to provide contract engineering services. Staff has contacted Onward Engineering who have indicated that they have experienced staff who can provide the types of professional inspection services necessary to ensure Capital Improvement Projects and private development projects continue as scheduled. As the existing agreement with Onward Engineering is funded with Gas Tax and Measure M2 capital funds, it will be necessary to allocate up to $74,000 from the City's General Fund to pay for general inspection services since the types of projects the contract inspector will be responsible for are not street or road projects; and therefore, cannot be charged to those dedicated fund sources. There is a cost savings of $74,000 from General Capital Projects Funds from the Russell Street Storm Drain Project that can be used to fund general inspection services and, if this appropriation request is approved, the cost of the inspection services can be absorbed within the existing $250,000 agreement with Onward Engineering for engineering services.