Agenda Item Wording:
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Extend Consultant Services Contract - Authorize the City Manager to extend the contract for building safety plan check, inspection and related services to Interwest Consulting Group Inc for an amount not to exceed $300,000 for an additional six months ending April 7, 2027.
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Agenda Date: 10/19/2026
Prepared by:
Jason Huckleberry, Director of Eng & Building, jason.huckleberry@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4495
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that Council authorize the City Manager to extend the contract for building safety plan check, inspection and related services to Interwest Consulting Group Inc for an additional six months, ending April 7, 2027, for an amount not to exceed $300,000.
Summary:
The Building Safety Division relies upon Interwest Consulting Group Inc for both plan review and inspection services to assist with periods of high demand from the building community. When utilized, consulting services are intended to provide services directly related to meeting the division goals for processing permits and timely inspection services.
The meet the required timeframes for permit processing, plans submitted to the City may be routed expeditiously tot eh plan review consultant for review. In these cases, reviews are completed by Interwest on an expedited timeframe. When completed, the plans are returned to City staff for final review before going back to the applicant for either corrections to be made or approved for issuance.
Additionally, in order to keep up with the caried demand for inspection services, Interwest provides inspection staff to assist with daily inspections. Presently the City is utilizing two to three consulting inspectors seated within the division. In these cases, the consultant inspectors work adjacent to the City’s full-time inspection team, meeting and conferring regularly to ensure continuity amongst the inspection staff. The consulting inspectors are required to utilize the same permit system software and applications, correlating to a seamless experience to the public. These consultants have been critical in allowing the division to meet the high demands of the public, while maintaining an acceptable level of inspection services that meet building code requirements.
Background Discussion:
On September 16, 2019, the City Council approved and awarded Interwest Consulting Group an annual contract for building division plan check (including building inspection and permit technician services) not to exceed $100,000 annually. The contract was subsequently amended on September 21, 2020, to not exceed $300,000 annually, and then again amended on September 7, 2021, to not exceed $600,000. Staff has prepared a Request for Proposals to readvertise these services in 2026 but will need to extend the current contract that was originally approved in 2019 on an emergency basis for an additional 6-months to allow for time to advertise, review and award a new contract for these services.
Although used sparingly, the Building Safety Division staff continue to utilize Interwest Consulting Group for 3rd party plan check review services. The division specifically utilizes the consultant for plan review during times of high-volume permit submittals and when large, complex projects are submitted that may be difficult to meet the adopted plan review deadlines. When operating with staffing shortages, this contract will play an important role in ensuring the ability to continue to meet and exceed established plan review timeframes for the community. When requested to perform plan check services, Interwest Consulting Group receives 65% of the total plan review fee charged by the City of Visalia. The City of Visalia retains the remaining 35% of the plan review fee. The fees are collected in the Building Safety Enterprise Fund and the vendor is paid from that fund.
In addition to plan check services, for the last several years, the City has experienced a high volume of inspection requests, routinely exceeding the amount of inspections our staff are able to perform daily. Additionally, the last several years have brought several large industrial and commercial projects that require extensive inspection hours which impacts our ability to meet the needs of the community. As such, the contract with Interwest Consulting Group Inc has consistently been used for building inspection services and has been highly successful. Currently the inspection team is short two staff members and a recruitment is pending now to backfill these positions. This effort will continue under this contract extension until inspection volumes decrease, and existing staffing levels are able to consistently meet the needs of the community.
Fiscal impact including annual maintenance and operating costs:
The contract is paid for out of the Building Safety Enterprise Fund from fees paid through building permits obtained by developers, contractors, and property owners. Interwest Consulting Group is paid 65% of City plan Check review fees for “standard” plan review. The current annual budget for this service is $500,000.
Prior Council Action:
On October 6, 2025 City Council approved a one-year emergency extension of the Interwest Consulting Inc contract at an amount not to exceed $600,000 for Building Safety Division Plan Review and Related Services, contract ending October 7, 2026.
On November 4, 2024 City Council approved a one-year extension of the Interwest Consulting Inc contract at an amount not to exceed $600,000 for Building Safety Division Plan Review and Related Services, contract ending October 7, 2025.
On September 7, 2021 City Council approved an amendment to the contract with Interwest Consulting Group Inc in an amount not to exceed $600,000 for Building Safety Division Plan Review and Related Services.
On September 21, 2020 City Council amended the contract with Interwest Consulting Group Inc in an amount not to exceed $300,000 for Building Safety Division Plan Review and Related Services, including the addition of Building Inspection and Permit Technician Services.
On September 16, 2019 City Council awarded a contract to Interwest Consulting Group Inc in an amount not to exceed $100,000 (renewable for four more years) for Building Safety Division Plan Review and Related Services.
Alternatives:
City Council may elect to deny the request. If this is the case, delays in permit processing and inspections may be experienced by the community.
Recommended Motion (and alternative motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to approve a 6-month extension of the annual contract with Interwest Consulting Group for Building Safety plan check and related services in an amount not to exceed $300,000.
Environmental Assessment Status:
N/A
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Review:
N/A
Deadline for Action: 10/19/2026
Attachments:
1. Copy of Service Contract with Interwest Consulting Group Inc
2. Updated Interwest Billing Rates
Strategic Goal: Indicates which City Strategic Goal(s) this item supports. Select all that apply.
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