Water Rate Increase Hearing

On June 15th, 2022 at 9am, the Board of Estimates will have a hearing for the Department of Public Works' proposed rate increases for water, wastewater, and stormwater charges.

Per ART. 24, § 3-1 (b) (3), the Board of Estimates, "shall afford an opportunity for the Council members and the public to make recommendations" on water rates or changes. Background information on the water rate proposal can be found on the DPW's website for the hearing.

To submit comments on the proposal, members of the public have the below options:

• Virtual. Testify via Webex by dialing (408)-418-9388; access code: 2339 873 3079.
  • Members of the public MUST sign up by Tuesday, June 14th at 4:30 to testify virtually.
• In person. Testify at City Hall in the Board of Estimates Chambers, 100 N. Holliday St.
• Submit comments by filling out the form below.

Board Agenda

The Board of Estimates agenda for the June 15th meeting is now available. It can be found on the Comptroller’s website under the Board of Estimates tab.

Items of note

These are transactions we find interesting or may be of interest to the public, organized by agency. A separate list of items on the non-routine/ discussion agenda are announced at the BOE meeting.

Audits

Page 96, Items 1 and 2, Dept. of Audits, Financial Audit for Dept. of Public Works for Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2109 and Independent Auditor’s Report on Applying Agreed-Upon Procedures for Unidentified Receipts Process Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2020. 

BDC

Pages 12-13, Dept. of Finance/BDC, Termination of Sponsorship Agreement with Royal Farms.  This is the termination of naming rights for the Baltimore Arena and payment of $131,250 to Royal Farms.

 BPD

Page 8, DGS, Transfer of Funds. A $949,953 transfer to pay for roof replacement at the Southwest Police District. 

Pages 98-101, BPD, Travel Requests.  This is a series of three travel requests for seven senior BPD officers to travel to Boston for Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP) training.  Costs per attendee are roughly $10,200-$10,350. 

Pages 130-131, Item #1, Bureau of Procurement, Renewal of Contract 08000 for Paper Targets with The Target Shop, LLC.  End-user is BPD.  The renewal extends the contract through June 25, 2024 and adds $30,000 in value. 

Pages 140-141, Item #9, Bureau of Procurement, Increase and Extension for Contract 08000 for RMSPremium Annual Support with Intergraph Corporation t/a Hexagon Safety & Infrastructure.  End-user is BPD.  The extension brings the contract expiration date to June 30, 2023 and the increase adds $82,394.88 in value for a total value of $878,725.52.

Pages 143-144, Item #11, Bureau of Procurement, Award of Contract 08000 for Erase Sperm Kits with PTC Laboratories, Inc.  End-user is BPD.  Award amount is $31,030.

City Council

Pages 18-25, Charitable Solicitation Applications.  Councilman Zeke Cohen has submitted four charitable solicitation applications for the following purposes: funding a Leadership for Educational Equity Public Policy Fellow in his office; supporting staffing and interns for Healing City Baltimore; planning and execution of the 2023 Healing City Baltimore Summit and related events; planning and execution of trauma-informed trainings for City agencies and local communities.

DGS

Page 6, DGS, Grant Award.  This a grant from the Maryland Energy Administration for $519,924 under the Low- and Moderate-Income grant program.  Funds will be used for projects that increase energy efficiency in LMI households, as well as in seven City-owned buildings. 

DPW

Pages 111-112, DPW, Extra Work Order No. 1 under WC 1406, On-Call Fiber Reinforced Polymer Large Water Main Repairs.  EWO amount is $2 million, contractor is Structural Preservation System, LLC. 

Pages 114-116, DPW, Ratification Amendment No. 1 under Project 1236R, On-Call Stormwater Study and Engineering Design Services.  The Amendment “revives” the contract, which expired on June 1, 2021.  Also, the contractor, Rummel Klepper & Kahl, LLP is not in compliance with the MWBOO goals. 

Page 117, DPW, Baltimore County Water Rates—FY2023 Water Rate Increase.  Water rates are proposed to increase 4.7%. 

Pages 135-136, Item #5, Bureau of Procurement, Renewal of Contract 08000 for Cityworks Master License and Maintenance Agreement with Azteca Systems, Inc.  End-user is DPW.  The no-cost renewal extends the contract through August 2, 2023. 

DOT

Page 34, DOT, Extra Work Order No. 13 under TR 03319, Replacement of Harford Road Bridge over Herring Run.  EWO amount is $501,997.06.

DHCD

Pages 47-50, DHCD, CDBG Grant Agreements.  This is a series of CDBG grant agreements, all of which are retroactive:

• Page 47, $150,000 grant to Caroline Friess Center. Award period is 9/1/21-8/31/22.
• Page 48, $48,000 grant to CHAI. Award period is 7/1/21-6/30/22.
• Page 49, $90,000 grant to Park Heights Renaissance. Award period is 7/1/20-6/30/21.
• Page 50, $60,000 grant to Reservoir Hill Improvement Council. Award period is 11/1/21-10/31/22.

Page 74, DHCD, Land Disposition Agreement for 3520 Park Heights Avenue.  Purchase price is $7,000 and purchaser is 79 Properties Park Heights, LLC.  This item was deferred by the Council President on June 1.

Health Department

1. Pages 137-139, Item #7, Bureau of Procurement, Increase for Contract B50005924 for Personal Care and Homemaker Services with Vitalis HealthCare Services, LLC; Trustworthy Staffing Solutions, LLC; and Elizabeth Cooney Personal Care, LLC. End-user is Health Dept. The increase adds $300,000 in value for a total value of $1.3 million. Three contractors were found non-compliant by MWBOO. 

Labor

Page 1, Labor Commissioner, AFSCME AFL-CIO Council 67 and Local 558 MOU FY 2022-2023.  This a MOU for Community Health Nurses and Nurse Practitioners. 

Mayor’s Office

Pages 14-15, FY 23 Annual Financial Plan for South Baltimore Gateway Partnership.

Page 175, Approval and Authorize Execution of an Agreement with Skehan Communications for production services for 2022 AFRAM Festival. Amount is $34,588.

Procurement

Pages 139-140, Item #8, Bureau of Procurement, Increase for Contract B50004896 for Office Moving Services with Walter Relocations, Inc. End-user is “Citywide.” The increase adds $30,000 in value for a total value of $619,000.  The contract expires on July 30, 2022 and the contractor was found non-compliant by MWBOO.

Pages 150-153, Item #17, Bureau of Procurement, Extension of Contract B50005580 for Enterprise Support Staff with 13 vendors. End-user is “Citywide.” The extension brings the contract expiration date to December 31, 2022 and adds $8 million in value for a total value of $74 million.  Only one of the vendors was found compliant by MWBOO.

Pages 157-158, Item #22, Bureau of Procurement, Renewal of Contract B50005154 for Citywide Violation Towing Services with four vendors.  This item was deferred from the May 4, May 18, and June 1 agendas. 

Pages 159-160, Item #26, Bureau of Procurement, Increase for Contract B50005017 for Background Investigations with Kentech Consulting, Inc.  This item was deferred from the May 4, May 18, and June 1 agendas. 

Rec & Parks

Page 95, Rec & Parks, Extra Work Order No. 4 under RP 20809, Patterson Park Entrance Improvements.  This is a no-cost time extension.  Prime contractor is P. Flanigan & Sons.  MBE/WBE attainment is zero percent attainment and 70% of the work is complete.

Page 102, Rec & Parks, Partial Release of Retainage for RP 17806, Cahill Fitness and Wellness Center.  Release amount is $908,345.61 and contractor is Dustin Construction, Inc.  This item was deferred on June 1 by the City Administrator.

Page 108, Item #10, Bureau of Procurement, Recommendation for Award for B50006466, Street Tree Supply, Delivery, Planting & Maintenance—Spring and Fall 2022.  Recommended awardee is Baltimore Tree Trust, Inc., award amount is $1,200,000.  This item was deferred on June 1 by the City Administrator after a protest was received from Bob Dashiell on behalf of Lorenz, Inc. 

Telecommunications

Pages 146-148, Item #14, Bureau of Procurement, Extension of Contract B50004932 for Telecom Expense Management System with TeleManagement Technologies, Inc.  End-user is Dept of Telecommunications.  The extension brings the contract expiration date to June 18, 2023 and adds $27,000 in value for a total value of $194,100. 

Notices

To attend the meeting:

In person. Join us on the second floor of City Hall in the Hyman Pressman Board Room, 100 N. Holliday St.

Streaming. All meetings are streamed live on Charm TV and posted after on Charm TV's Youtube channel.

Listen in. Members of the public can call in via Webex by dialing (408)-418-9388; access code: 2340 745 0827

Watch on television. Watch Charm TV, channel 25.

To address the board:

Procedures for addressing the Board have changed. New rules for submitting Protests and Statements of Opposition are available at the Comptroller's Website. Protests (written challenges to the award of a bid) must be received by noon on the Monday prior to the Board of Estimates meeting. 

Members of the public can submit Statements of Opposition. Statements must be received by noon on the Tuesday prior to the Board of Estimates meeting. 

Protests and Statements of Opposition must be submitted to BOE.Clerk@baltimorecity.gov, cc: james.knighton@baltimorecity.gov or by mail or hand delivery to Attn: Clerk, Board of Estimates Room 204, City Hall, 100 N. Holliday Street. 

The complete regulations on procurement, protests, minority and women-owned business enterprises, and debarment/suspensions can be found on the Comptroller's website.

Schedule:

The Board meets regularly on the first and third Wednesday of each month, with the exception of June and December. Please see the Comptroller’s website for a detailed BOE meeting schedule and associated submission deadlines.

BOE Database:

Comptroller Henry has announced the debut of a fully searchable database of Baltimore City Board of Estimates (BOE) transactions. This new database will provide both transparency and easy access to searchable information for the BOE, Comptroller’s Office, internal agency customers and the public. It can be found at https://comptroller.baltimorecity.gov/boe/summaries.