sr-081109-1b~~ City Council Report
City of
Santa Monica
City Council Meeting: August 11, 2009
Agenda Item: ~ r
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Dean Kubani, Manager -Office of Sustainability and the Environment
Subject: Community Sustainability Liaison
-Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize City Manager to negotiate and
execute a professional services agreement with Community Partners, fiscal manager for
Sustainable Works, for the Community Sustainability Liaison.
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 $75,000 per year for two years for a Community
Sustainability Liaison (CSL}. In July 2007, a contract not to exceed $150,000 was
executed with Traci Reitz to serve as the Community Sustainability Liaison. The
contract requires the CSL to secure outside funding to continue in the CSL role after the
initial funding period ends. Extensive research and discussions with grant managers
highlighted the difficulty in an outside consultant working for the city being eligible to
receive grant funding. In order to secure outside funding for the CSL and ensure the
long-term viability of the position, the CSL recommended that the remaining funds for
the CSL ($87,500) be allocated to Sustainable Works. Staff agrees with this.
recommendation and recommends Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a professional services agreement with Community Partners, fiscal manager for
Sustainable Works, for the CSL.
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Background
In 2006,. the Sustainable City Task Force finalized the. Sustainable City Plan -
Implementation Plan which recommended the creation of a Community Sustainability
Liaison, .the production of Expert Forums to address .sustainable practices, and the
development of an Economic Development Strategy to promote sustainable practices
and attract sustainable businesses to Santa Monica. Council approved funding for
these recommendations in the amount of $310,000 over a two year period on June 20,
2006.
In December; 2006, a Request for. Proposal (RFP) notice was published in the Santa
Monica Daily Press for a Community Sustainability Liaison. Four complete proposals
were received. In February 2007, members of the Sustainable City Task Force (SCTF}
and staff from the Environmental Programs Division reviewed proposals and
interviewed the four finalists. Based on the proposals and interviews, it was
recommended that a contract be awarded to Traci Reitz. A contract not to exceed
$150,000 was executed with Traci Reitz as the Community Sustainability Liaison on
July 23, 2007.
The original recommendation by the SCTF and a deliverable included in the contract
with Traci Reitz was that the CSL secure outside funding to coritinue the position
beyond the initial funding period. After significant research and initial grant applications
were made by the CSL, the CSL informed staff that the long term funding possibilities
for the position would be enhanced if the CSL were not an independent consultant
working for the city. The CSL recommended that the role of the CSL be incorporated
into the program mix of an established non-profit in the community. Staff reviewed
multiple non-profits in the community and contacted three local non-profits with
sustainability-related programs to determine their interest in developing the Community
Sustainability Liaison as part of their work. Based on these interviews, staff
recommends that the role of the CSL be incorporated into the work being done by
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Sustainable Works. Sustainable Works has a strong reputation in the community and
the functions of the CSL are an appropriate fit with their program mix.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Funds for the contract in the amount of $87,500 are available in account number
01226.555060.
Prepared by: Shannon Parry, Senior Environmental Analyst
Approved:
Forwarded to Council:
Dean Kubani " amont EN
Director, Office of Sustainability and The ity Manager
Environment
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Reference Contract No.
9099 (CCS).