HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2506-4781CITY OF PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
Monday, June 16, 2025
Council Chambers & Hybrid
5:30 PM
Agenda Item
17.Approval of Contract Amendment No. 4 to Contract Number C19171363 with
Professional Account Management LLC, dba Duncan Solutions, to Extend the Contract
for one year to June 30, 2026, and to Adjust Billing Rates, Without an Increase to
Compensation, for a Not -to-Exceed Amount of $767,000 for Parking Permitting and
Citation Management Services; CEQA Status -- Not a Project. Updated Consent
Questions
City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: Transportation
Meeting Date: June 16, 2025
Report #:2506-4781
TITLE
Approval of Contract Amendment No. 4 to Contract Number C19171363 with Professional
Account Management LLC, dba Duncan Solutions, to Extend the Contract for one year to June
30, 2026, and to Adjust Billing Rates, Without an Increase to Compensation, for a Not -to-
Exceed Amount of $767,000 for Parking Permitting and Citation Management Services; CEQA
Status -- Not a Project.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve and authorize the City Manager or designee to
execute Contract Amendment No.4 to Contract No. C19171363 with Professional Account
Management LLC, dba Duncan Solutions, to extend the contract term for an additional year
through June 30, 2026 and adjust billing rates, without an increase to Compensation.
Not To Exceed (NTE) amount of $767,000.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This action is part of a phased process to potentially transition to a new permit management
and citations service provider over the course of the next fiscal year, to streamline the
management of the City parking programs. The Office of Transportation (OOT), in coordination
with the Administrative Service Department, the City Clerk’s Office, and the Police Department
(PAPD), have selected a new parking permit and citation management service provider. That
contract approval is currently scheduled to come to Council for approval in August 2025. The
new service provider will begin to support the administration of parking permit programs, first
in the commercial districts (California Avenue and University Avenue, and then the remaining
programs), and to facilitate parking citation processing and collection. The attached
amendment with Duncan Solutions extends their term for the current contract to support OOT
administration of several Residential Preferential Parking programs while the new service
provider takes on program support and administration over the course of the new fiscal year.
BACKGROUND
1
2
3
1 City Council, June 24, 2019, Agenda Items #5, SR #10241
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Public/CompiledDocument?meetingTemplateId=2713&compileOutputType=
1
2 City Council, February 22, 2021, Agenda Item #9, SR#11492
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/2/agendas-minutes-reports/reports/city-manager-reports-
cmrs/year-archive/2021/id-11492.pdf
3 City Council, April 1, 2024, Agenda Item #6, SR#2402-2689
The attached Amendment #4 with Duncan Solutions extends their term to support OOT
administration of several Residential Preferential Parking programs while the new selected
service provider takes on program support and administration over the course of the new fiscal
year, streamlining management of services in a phased approach, and maintaining continuity of
service for residents. Not approving the extensions would jeopardize the City’s ability to
enforce its parking polices and issue parking citations.
ANALYSIS
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
ATTACHMENTS
APPROVED BY:
AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO CONTRACT NO. C19171363A
BETWEEN THE CITY OF PALO ALTO AND
PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT, LLC
This Amendment No. 4 (this “Amendment”) to Contract No. C19171363 (the “Contract” as defined
below) is entered into as of April 21, 2025, by and between the CITY OF PALO ALTO, a California chartered
municipal corporation (“CITY”), and PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT, LLC, a Wisconsin limited
liability company, located at 663 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1600, Milwaukee, WI, 53203 (“CONSULTANT”).
CITY and CONSULTANT are referred to collectively as the “Parties” in this Amendment.
R E C I T A L S
A. The Contract (as defined below) was entered into by and between the Parties hereto for the
provision of parking citation processing and collection services, as detailed therein.
B. The Parties now wish to amend the Contract in order to extend the term for one year from June
30, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and to adjust billing rates, without an increase to compensation, as detailed
in Exhibit C-1.
.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants, terms, conditions, and provisions of this
Amendment, the Parties agree:
SECTION 1. Definitions. The following definitions shall apply to this Amendment:
a. Contract. The term “Contract” shall mean Contract No. C19171363 between
CONSULTANT and CITY, dated May 20, 2019, as amended by:
Amendment No.1, dated September 9, 2020
Amendment No.2, dated March 6, 2024
Amendment No.3, dated October 17, 2024
b. Other Terms. Capitalized terms used and not defined in this Amendment shall have the
meanings assigned to such terms in the Contract.
SECTION 2. Section 2, “TERM” of the Contract is hereby amended to read as follows:
“The term of this Agreement shall be from the date of its full execution through June 30, 2026, unless
terminated earlier pursuant to Section 19 of this Agreement.”
SECTION 3. The following exhibit(s) to the Contract is/are hereby amended or added, as indicated
below, to read as set forth in the attachment(s) to this Amendment, which is/are hereby incorporated in full
into this Amendment and into the Contract by this reference:
a. Exhibit “C-1” entitled “SCHEDULE OF RATES”, AMENDED, REPLACES PREVIOUS.
Docusign Envelope ID: DEA12295-583B-4B60-AAD8-20F6593CAC82
SECTION 4. Legal Effect. Except as modified by this Amendment, all other provisions of the Contract,
including any exhibits thereto, shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 5. Incorporation of Recitals. The recitals set forth above are terms of this Amendment and
are fully incorporated herein by this reference.
(SIGNATURE BLOCK FOLLOWS ON THE NEXT PAGE.)
Docusign Envelope ID: DEA12295-583B-4B60-AAD8-20F6593CAC82
SIGNATURES OF THE PARTIES
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have by their duly authorized representatives executed this
Amendment effective as of the date first above written.
CITY OF PALO ALTO
City Manager
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Attorney or designee
PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNT
MANAGEMENT, LLC
By:
Name:
Title:
Attachments:
EXHIBIT C-1 – “SCHEDULE OF RATES, AMENDMENT NO. 4”, AMENDED, REPLACES PREVIOUS.
Docusign Envelope ID: DEA12295-583B-4B60-AAD8-20F6593CAC82
President / CEO
James Kennedy
EXHIBIT C-1
SCHEDULE OF RATES, AMENDMENT NO. 4
(AMENDED, REPLACES PREVIOUS)
CONSULTANT shall be paid per unit for processing services for the comprehensive permit and citation
managements system. Table 1 below includes the payment rates per unit for the program including pre-
defined pricing for implementation and management of the program. The compensation table shall remain
fixed for term of the Agreement.
Table Set 1 Compensation Terms
Per-permit fee $1.00 $10,500.00
Per-renewal letter fee (sent by mail) $0.65 $3,412.50
Per-renewal letter fee (sent by email) $0.00 $0.00
Per-software license fee $0.00 $0.00
Per-permit convenience fee (for web/IVR purchases) $1.00
charged to customer
Permits Solution subtotal $2.65
Estimated cost per month
Optional service
Per-permit fulfillment fee** $4.00 $42,000.00
Permit Solutions subtotal + Optional service subtotal
Estimated cost per month
*Estimate based on assumption of 10,500 permits issued and 50% of renewal letters are sent by mail. Actual
expense may be more or less than this estimate, depending on the actual number of permits issued.
**If requested by City, Consultant shall provide this service which includes Consultant: (1) scanning and
indexing all paper applications, (2) reviewing and approving scanned applications based on City rules, and (3)
reviewing and approving online applications based on City rules.
Citation Management System Pricing Seven (7) handheld enforcement devices
Item Per Unit
Est. Annual Expense
*
Docusign Envelope ID: DEA12295-583B-4B60-AAD8-20F6593CAC82
$71,801.45
$5,983.45
* Estimate based on assumption of 10,800 citations issued. Other estimates in this column are based on
other assumptions, some of which may be noted.
Docusign Envelope ID: DEA12295-583B-4B60-AAD8-20F6593CAC82
Vers.: Aug. 5, 2019
Page 6 of 8
Compensation Schedule (Estimated)
Table 2 below includes the estimated annual payment compensation schedule for the program,
based on assumed numbers of permits and citations issued, equipment utilized, and other
services provided. These are estimates only.
Table 2 Compensation Schedule
Est. Monthly
(round ed to
nearest t
Docusign Envelope ID: DEA12295-583B-4B60-AAD8-20F6593CAC82
Vers.: Aug. 5, 2019
Page 7 of 8
Permit Management System Pricing
fee (for web/IVR
Optional Service
Citation Management System Pricing – Seven (7) handheld enforcement devices
state lookups
Docusign Envelope ID: DEA12295-583B-4B60-AAD8-20F6593CAC82
Vers.: Aug. 5, 2019
Page 8 of 8
Handheld lease (per
month)
$66.95 (was $65.00) $5,623.80 (was $5,460.00)
Data plan ($60/month) $61.80 (was $60.00) $5,191.20 (was $5,040.00)
Citation Solution subtotal $73,955.70 (was
$71,801.45)
Estimated cost per month $6,162.98 (was $5,983.45)
Table 2: Compensation Schedule (Estimated)
Est.
Monthly
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Permit
Management (was
$5,000)
$46,350
(was
$61,800
(was
$61,800 $61,800 $61,800
Management (was
$6,000)
$55,620
(was
$54,000)
$74,160
(was
$72,000)
$74,160 $74,160 $74,160
Estimates (was
$11,000)
$101,970
(was
$135,960
(was
$135,960 $135,960 $135,960
Estimates (was (was (was (was (was
Docusign Envelope ID: DEA12295-583B-4B60-AAD8-20F6593CAC82
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
On behalf of City Manager Ed Shikada, please see staff responses below for questions
from Mayor Lauing and Council Member Lu on the June 16, 2025 and June 17, 2025 City
Council Meeting.
Monday June 16, 2025 Council Meeting
Item 9. Approval of a Surveillance Use Policy for Security Cameras at Ada's Café at
Mitchell Park Community Center and Library; CEQA Status - Not a Project
1.Have we considered expanding this policy to any private entity that leases city
space? Or creating a director's approval process that allows this?
Staff response: Surveillance use policies are required in situations enumerated by
PAMC section 2.30.630. This includes approval of a use policy when approving
"agreements with a non-City entity to acquire, share, or otherwise use surveillance
technology or the information it provides." See PAMC 2.30.630(d). Once approved,
the City is required to produce an annual report analyzing the use of each Council -
approved technology, including its cost, any complaints received, and the number
and nature of Public Record Act requests received. See PAMC 2.30.680(a). If the
City wanted to consider allowing staff-level approvals of some or all surveillance
use policies, the City Council could adopt an ordinance amending the Surveillance
and Privacy Protection Ordinance at PAMC section 2.30.620 et seq. to allow that.
Staff is considering expanding this policy to the Palo Alto History Museum at the
Roth Building, as cameras were installed during renovation of the building. A
director approval process is not in place, but will be considered.
Item 12. Approval of a Director’s Interpretation Pursuant to PAMC Section 18.01.025
Concluding That Noncomplying Residential Gross Floor Area may not be Relocated
Within a Structure; Denial of the Associated Appeal; Direction to Prepare a Future
Code Amendment for Administrative De Minimis Exceptions to the Zoning Code;
CEQA: Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3)
1.A Councilmember questioned why a formal text amendment was not being
initiated now to address the minor adjustments recommended by staff in the
council report. This approach could avoid setting an unclear precedent and
ultimately resolve the applicant’s is sue. The Councilmember suggests
rescheduling the item once the staff recommended amendment is ready.
JUNE 17, 2025JUNE 16, 2025
Staff Response: Preparing the amendment is not currently part of the department’s
workplan. If Council authorizes and prioritizes it, the ordinance could affect the
timeline of other Council-directed efforts. While staff supports moving forward, the
intent was to schedule it in a way that minimizes disrupting existing priorities,
specifically related to bird safe glass and stream corridor protections. It typically
takes 4–6 months to prepare an ordinance, which requires Planning &
Transportation Commission and Council review.
Alternatively, the appellant could submit their own text amendment application.
This would not draw on policy planning resources but would require fees and still be
resourced after processing housing development projects, though potentially faster
overall.
Regardless of the amendment, the decision to pull the item should focus on
whether the interpretation was properly issued. If councilmembers believe it was
not, the item should be removed from consent and set for hearing, anticipated for
mid-August or early September; removing the item from consent would also delay
any Council direction on a text amendment. If councilmembers find that the
Director’s interpretation is correct, staff recommend approving the item on consent,
which would also provide direction now regarding the text amendment.
Item 17. Approval of Contract Amendment No. 4 to Contract Number C19171363 with
Professional Account Management LLC, dba Duncan Solutions, to Extend the
Contract for one year to June 30, 2026, and to Adjust Billing Rates, Without an Increase
to Compensation, for a Not –to Exceed Amount of $767,000 for Parking Permitting and
Citation Management Services; CEQA Status -- Not a Project.
1.Are there any more resources about how Duncan currently operates? Are there
any areas or practices they use to prioritize where to look? (I understand they
use automated license plate readers)
Staff response: Duncan provides permit and citation management services,
providing a website and personal staffing to permit purchases, primarily for RPP
programs (all six) and to the California Ave. business district employee program.
They also provide Citation processing services. Parking enforcement is provided by
a different contractor.
2.Are there any metrics about traffic citations by year for the last 10 years?
Staff response: Given Duncan’s limited role in RPP permit and parking citation
processing, this information is not readily available for parking and traffic citations
overall. Staff will review available information and transmit to the City Council at a
later date.
Tuesday, June 17, 2025 Council Meeting
Item 14: Approval of Professional Services Contract No. C26193874 with Palo Alto
Community Child Care in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $3,228,146 to Provide
Management of the City’s Childcare Subsidy Program for a Term of Five Years. CEQA
Status – Not A Project
1.To be clear, this is only for the administration of the subsidy, and there is no
actual subsidy or childcare included in this funding, right?
Staff response: The Fiscal Year funding allocated for this contract totals
$606,793.73. Of this amount, approximately 10% ($58,565) supports the
administration of the City’s Child Care Subsidy Program, while the remaining 90%
($538,138) is directed toward providing childcare subsidies for low -income families.
This funding supports access to childcare services for up to 45 children annually.