Adelanto council approves grants, firewall purchase and contract extensions in business roundup

At its Dec. 9 meeting the Adelanto City Council approved a series of administrative and technical actions in a single business block.

Key actions included acceptance of a $16,189 Homeland Security grant to purchase cybersecurity equipment; finance staff recommended buying a new firewall from CDW/G for $12,747.88 (lowest of three quotes) and the council approved the purchase and an amendment to the operating budget (Resolution No. 20-68).

The council also approved (through the city's Public Utility Authority) procurement to prepare the 2020 Urban Water Management Plan, with staffing/consultant costs not to exceed $62,500 to be paid from APUA funds. Dan Best presented the scope and schedule tied to the Department of Water Resources deadline of July 1, 2021.

In contract actions, the council approved one-year extensions and not-to-exceed amounts for two professional services providers: TKE (not to exceed $600,000 for calendar year 2021) and Pacific Code Compliance (not to exceed $960,000 for calendar year 2021). Council discussion covered invoice oversight and that both firms bill hourly; finance staff said invoices are vetted before payment.

A nomination by Councilmember Savannah Evans to reappoint Jayshawn Johnson to the Planning Commission failed for lack of a second; councilmembers discussed waiting until Mayor Pro Tem Hernandez could comment but noted appointment opportunities at the first January meeting.

Why it matters: these routine but consequential approvals provide staffing, planning and security capacity for the city and set procurement terms and support for upcoming regulatory deadlines.

Speakers quoted or paraphrased: Ward Comers (finance director), Dan Best (consultant), Brian Wolf (city engineer), Savannah Evans (councilmember) and others.