SR-913-000 (2)
PCD:SF:AA:F:\PLAN\ADMIN\MISCPROJ\CIVCTR\RAND\RINCON.DOC
Council Meeting: December 14, 1999 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation to (1) Authorize the Acting Assistant City Manager to
Negotiate and Execute a Contract with Rincon Consultants, Inc., in the
amount of $150,000 including contingency, to Prepare an
Environmental Impact Report for the Proposed RAND development on
Main Street in the Civic Center area; and (2) Direct Staff to Prepare a
Resolution of Intention to Amend the Civic Center Specific Plan.
INTRODUCTION
This report recommends that the City Council: (1) authorize the Acting Assistant City
Manager to negotiate and execute a contract with Rincon Consultants, Inc., in the
amount of $150,000 including contingency, to prepare an Environmental Impact
Report for the proposed new headquarters facility for the RAND Corporation on Main
Street in the Civic Center area; and (2) direct staff to prepare a resolution of intention
to amend the Civic Center Specific Plan.
BACKGROUND
On October 26, 1999, the City Council approved the Redevelopment Agency?s
purchase of over 11.3 acres of RAND property between Main Street and Ocean
Avenue in the Civic Center area. Under the terms of the agreement, RAND retained
approximately 3.5 acres of their property on Main Street immediately north of the
Pacific Shores Hotel. On November 23, RAND submitted an application for a
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Development Agreement for a new institutional headquarters to be built on their
retained 3.5-acre parcel on Main Street. The proposed project includes consolidation
of all RAND facilities in the Civic Center into a single, approximately 300,000-square
foot, five-story building.
CONSULTANT SELECTION
The Planning and Community Development Department has determined that an
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will be required to evaluate the proposed project.
The EIR will examine a number of environmental issues regarding the proposed
project. Once a draft of the EIR has been prepared, there will be a public comment
period during which interested persons can review and comment on the
environmental analysis. The Planning Commission and City Council will conduct
public hearings before taking action on the proposed project.
Staff solicited proposals to prepare the EIR from five planning and environmental
analysis firms. Three firms responded with proposals by the stated deadline. Staff
recommends that Rincon Consulants, Inc. be selected to prepare the EIR on the
basis of their experience with similar reports, methodology and approach to the
project, experience and availability of key project personnel, and reasonable fee
proposal.
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AMENDMENT TO THE CIVIC CENTER SPECIFIC PLAN
The Civic Center Specific Plan (CCSP), which was approved by the City Council in
1993, provided for the development of the RAND Corporation offices on 3.6 acres on
Ocean Avenue, south of the Interstate 10 freeway. The RAND development is
proposed to be located on their retained parcel on Main Street, which is inconsistent
with the land use designations of the CCSP. An amendment to the CCSP is
necessary for the project to be developed. At this time, staff recommends that the
Council authorize preparation of a resolution to amend the CCSP. The resolution will
return to the City Council for adoption within the next 90 days. The Planning
Commission and City Council will conduct public hearings before taking action on the
proposed amendment to the CCSP. The EIR for the RAND development will also
consider the environmental impacts of the proposed CCSP amendment.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT
The City?s costs of $150,000 for this EIR will be fully paid in advance by the
applicant. Funds from the applicant will be deposited into the General Trust and
Agency Fund Account Number 80.201172.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Authorize the Acting Assistant City Manager to negotiate and execute a
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contract with Rincon Consultants, Inc., in the amount of $150,000 including
contingency, to prepare an Environmental Impact Report for a proposed new
headquarters facility for the RAND Corporation on Main Street in the Civic
Center area; and
2. Direct staff to prepare a resolution of intention to amend the Civic Center
Specific Plan.
Prepared by: Suzanne Frick, Director
Andy Agle, Deputy Director
Planning and Community Development Department
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