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PCD PPA SF KG AS . JUN 1 0 1997
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COUNCIL MEETING June 10, 1997 Santa MOnica, California
TO Mayor and City Council
FROM City Staff
SUBJECT Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute
a Contract with Cotton Beland Associates to Prepare an Update to the
Conservation Element and Environmental Documentation
INTRODUCTION
This report recommends that the CIty CounCil authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a contract with Cotton Beland Associates to prepare an update to the
Conservation Element The project WIll cost 5119,439
BACKGROUND
In the 1996/97 City budget, the City CounCil appropriated funds for an update to the
eXisting Conservation Element The Conservation Element was adopted In 1975 and has
not been updated since that time Many changes have occurred In the City's approach
towards conservation since the Element's adoption, particularly In the area of sustalnabllity
While the 1975 Element focused on the protection and mamtenance of natural resources,
the updated Conservation Element Will also encompass poliCies that are reflective of Santa
MOnica's ongoing Sustamable City Program
In addition, due to restructunng of the electnc utility Industry by the California Public Utilities
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JUN 1 0 1997
Commission and the California State Assembly under AS 1890, Santa MOnica IS evaluating
the potential Impact of deregulation and exploring all available options for both the
procurement and demand management of Its energy consumption The Conservation
Element Will reexamine the City's energy efficiency plan and Sustainable City Program
Indicator to establish realistic energy efficiency targets and to ensure that energy goals can
be achieved
The Conservation Element Will provide goals, objectives and poliCies for the conservation,
development and utilization of the City's natural resources The update Will revise or add
goals, poliCies, and objectives for the State law mandated areas of analysIs, Including
water, sOils, harbors, and WildlIfe Additionally, air quality, energy resources, solid waste
and recycling. flood control and storm drains, construction and development,
transportation, hazardous materials, and open space conservation Will be addressed The
Conservation Element wlllmcorporate poliCies consistent with the Land Use, Circulation.
and Open Space Elements and Santa MOnica's Sustainable City Program
The update Will also Include an Implementation Plan which translates the poliCies mto
actions, sets a time frame for these actions to occur and discusses finanCing opportunities
The consultant Will also be responSible for preparrng the environmental documentation for
the update to the element
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CONSUL TANT SELECTION PROCESS
A Request for Proposal was Issued In April, 1997 to 20 firms Proposals were submitted
by three consulting teams who were then mtervlewed by City staff These three teams
Included Cotton Beland Associates (with Rincon Associates for analysIs of sustamablllty
Issues and Alternative Energy and Environmental Engineering for energy usage analysIs),
Crawford Multan & Clark Associates (with Environmental SCience Associates for
environmental document preparation), and Katz HolliS (with M I G for public participation,
Ridge and Associates for energy usage analysIs, and Ecological Life Systems Institute for
analysIs of sustalnablhty Issues) After the interviews and complete reference checks, the
Cotton Beland Associates team was chosen for the follOWing reasons
0 The Cotton Beland team has slgnrflcant expenence In preparing General
Plan documents and updates, Includmg Conservation Elements, for over 40
Callfornra Cities
0 The Cotton Beland team has knowledge of the Wide range of polley deCISions
facing the City, and has the technical expertise needed to prepare a
Conservation Element update, including expertise In sustalnablllty and
energy Issues
0 The Cotton Beland team has a good understanding of the public partiCipation
reqUIrements for thiS project
0 The Cotton Beland team understands the environmental review requirements
for a Conservation Element update
0 The Cotton Beland team had the lowest cost proposal of the three teams
Interviewed
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PUBLIC PROCESS FOR UPDATE
Public process will be an mtegral component of the update The Planning CommISSion
Subcommittee on Sustamable Development, which consists of three Planning
Commissioners and one member of the Task Force on the Environment, will serve In an
advIsory capacity on the project They Will hold the public scoplng forum and other public
meetings during the preparation of the Draft Conservation Element The Planning
Commission and the Task Force on the EnVironment Will review and conduct public
hearings on the Draft Element and forward their recommendations to City Council for
conSideration as part of the approval process City staff Will organize the public process.
With outreach to encourage the partiCIpation of neighborhood organizations, City reSidents.
the Chamber of Commerce. the bUSiness community, the School DistriCt. Santa Monica
College, and others Interested In the update
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT
This staff report recommends that the City Manager negotiate and execute a contract With
Cotton Beland ASSOCiates for an amount not to exceed $119,439 to prepare an update to
the Conservation Element This amount Includes $10,000 for preparing an energy usage
analYSIS Funds totaling $109,439 are Included In the 1996/97 budget In account #01-210-
266-00000-5506-00000, and funds totaling $10,000 for prepanng the energy portion of the
Conservation Element are mcluded In the 1996/97 budget In account # 01-500-401-00000-
5506-00000
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RECOMMENDA TION
It IS recommended that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a contract with Cotton Beland Associates for an amount totalmg $119,439 to
prepare an update to the Conservation Element
Prepared By Suzanne Frick, Director
Karen Ginsberg, Planning Manager
Amanda Schachter, Semor Planner
Planmng and Community Development Department
City Planmng DIVIsion
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