SR-062408-1G~~
c;cyor City Council Report
Santa Monicam
City Council Meeting: June 24, 2008
Agenda Item:
To: Mayor and City Council
From:. Lee E: Swain, Director of Environmental and Public Works Management
Subject: Contract for Santa Monica Strategy for a Sustainable Local Economy
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to .negotiate and
execute a professional services agreement with Earthvoice Strategies to produce the
Santa Monica Strategy for a Sustainable Local Economy in an .amount not to exceed
$135,000.
Executive Summary
On June 20, 2006, City Council allocated $310,000 over two years for implementation of
the Sustainable City Task Force Sustainable City Plan Implementation Plan (SCP-IP).
This allocation included funding of $135,000 for a Sustainable Economic Development
Strategy. Given the economic development analysis being performed as part of the
Land Use and Circulation Element update, staff determined that this work should focus
on the development of a Strategy for a Sustainable Local Economy.. In October 2007,
staff released a Request For Proposal (RFP) for the Santa Monica Strategy for a
Sustainable Local Economy to help the City meet its sustainability goals.
Staff reviewed the seven. proposals received and Earthvoice Strategies is
recommended to provide professional services to produce the Santa Monica Strategy
for a Sustainable Local Economy. Funds are available in the current adopted fiscal
budget.
Background
In September 1994, City Council adopted the. Santa Monica Sustainable City Program
which set long-term internal and citywide goals for sustainability. On February 11
2003, City Council unanimously adopted the Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan
(SCP); which is a comprehensive update and expansion of the 1994 Sustainable City
Program. In March 2004, Council appointed an 11 member Sustainable City Task
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Force (SCTF) and directed the group to develop an implementation plan to help the
community meet the goals of the SCP.
In 2006, the SCTF firialized the Sustainable City Plan -Implementation Plan (SCP-IP)
which. recommended the development of an Economic Development Strategy to
promote sustainable practices and attract sustainable businesses to Santa Monica, the
production of Expert Forums to address sustainable practices in the community, and the
creation of a Community sustainability Liaison. Council approved funding- for these
recommendations in the amount of $310,000 over a two year period on June 20, 2006.
Discussions with staff from Housing and Economic Development, Planning and
Community Development, and Environmental and Public Works Management
determined that the proposed Sustainable Economic Development Strategy should take
the form of the Santa Monica Strategy for a Sustainable Local Economy. The purpose
of the Strategy for a Sustainable Local Economy is to ensure the long-term viability and
sustainability of our local economy; and to attract and retain businesses to Santa
Monica that contribute to the overall environmental, economic and social sustainability
of our community. This study will define .and develop approaches to enrich the
sustainable aspect of the City's economy; and will complement a strategic economic
development study being conducted concurrently as part of the City's Land Use and
Circulation Elements update of the City's General Plan.
Discussion
The proposed professional services agreement with Earthvoice Strategies to produce.
the Santa Monica Strategy for a Sustainable Local Economy will provide the City with a
comprehensive strategy for a sustainable local economy based on input from City staff
and community stakeholders and.- utilizing the results of several recent and ongoing
studies, including 1) the update of the Land Use and Circulation Element of the City's
General Plan, 2) Action Strategies from the Community Workshop on Gang Violence, 3)
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the recently completed Creative Capital Plan for Santa Monica, and 4) the- Sustainable
City Plan.
Contractor/Consultant Selection
The Request for Proposals for this. work was developed by staff from Housing and
Economic Development, Planning and Community Development, and Environmental
and Public Works- Management. In October 2007, staff released a Request for
Proposals for the Santa Monica Strategy for a Sustainable Local Economy and received
seven proposals. In November 2007, members of the Sustainable City Task Force and
staff from the above-mentioned departments reviewed seven proposals and interviewed
six finalists. Based on the proposals and interviews, staff recommends that'the contract
be awarded to Earthvoice Strategies because they possess the most appropriate
professional skills to provide a coordinated, forward-looking local economic
development strategy necessary to maintain a strong and diverse economy and meet.
the City's economic and sustainability goals. Earthvoice Strategies focuses on the
business case for sustainability and has advised both businesses and governments in
the United States and Canada on the adoption of profitable sustainable business
practices. They have performed work similar to that requested for the Santa Monica
Strategy for a Sustainable Local. Economy for the University of British Columbia
sustainability Office as well as the City of Vancouver sustainability Office. Additionally,
Earthvoice Strategies' proposal pricing was competitive with the other finalists. Two of
the six finalists provided proposals that exceeded the .allocated budget for this project.
All of the other proposals, including Earthvoice Strategies, were priced at the $135,000
available.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
Funds in the amount of $135,000 are available in the Fiscal Year 2007-08 budget in
account number 31662.578930.
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Prepared by: Shannon Parry, Sr. Environmental Analyst
Approved:
Forwarded to Council:
d~.~®r
Lee .Swain
Directo of Environmental and Public
Works Management
-'9~.uF/~/~U
. L Ewell
City anager
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Reference Contract No.
8939 (CCS).