sr-032012-3h19
City of City Council Report
Santa Monies
City Council Meeting: March 20, 2011
Agenda Item: -3J H
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Rod Merl, Pier Manager
Subject: Professional Services Agreement for Santa Monica Pier Visioning Process
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a professional services agreement with Moore lacofano Goltsman, Inc. (MIG) a
California -based company, in the amount not to exceed $106,020 to design, facilitate
and manage the Santa Monica Pier Visioning Process.
Executive Summary
On November 22, 2011 the City Council approved changes to Santa Monica Pier
governance that included establishing a new interim Pier Corporation Board with
several tasks including working with the City to do a visioning process and new master
plan for the Pier. The visioning process will engage the community through discussion
groups to gather and record comments, priorities and ideas about the Pier, its
operations, uses, needs, character and future. This information will provide thematic
direction to the Pier Master Planning process and the work of the new interim Pier
Board in crafting a vision statement for the Pier. MIG is recommended for the design
and facilitation of the visioning process at a cost not to exceed $106,020.
Background
The City, in cooperation with the Pier Restoration Corporation, undertook a
comprehensive study of Pier governance and management in 2011. The study was
presented to the City Council on November 22, 2011. The City Council endorsed the
study's findings and directed staff to implement them. Among the approved action items
was the development of a clear vision for the Pier. It was noted that the last public
visioning process for the Pier was nearly 24 years ago in 1988. Also approved was the
preparation of a master plan for the Pier that would begin in FY2012 -13 and require
extensive public input.
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The study further recommended the restructuring of the Pier corporate board to a two -
year seven member body with the tasks of developing guidelines for events,
sponsorships, marketing and leasing as well as assisting the City with developing a Pier
Vision statement and engage the public in the master planning process. At its February
28, 2012, City Council appointed the new Pier corporation board and approved the
services agreement establishing its role in assisting the City in the visioning and master
plan process. The new Board will be seated on March 21, 2012 and can proceed with
the City Council approved visioning process that will be an essential means of ensuring
community input and providing guidance to the vision statement, the master plan and
the development of the stipulated guidelines.
Discussion
Staff recommends partnering with MIG, a planning, design, communications and
management firm, to facilitate a festival, discussion groups, and workshops to gather
community input. Pier users and visitors, tenants, neighbors, businesses, community
groups and organizations would be engaged in a dialogue about the unique character of
the Pier, its relationship to the community and neighboring activities, the balance of
uses and purposes, its operations and facilities, its sustainability and viability, and its
future issues and opportunities.
MIG has developed and would utilize a unique facilitation model called "Meeting of the
Minds" that blends social psychology with dynamic visualization to facilitate groups,
manage conflict, and reach agreement on vision and direction. Additionally, as part of
the recent Airport visioning process, MIG provided training in its specialized facilitator
methods and techniques to 24 City staff members who can now assist the visioning
effort, thus gaining further "hands -on" experience.
The process would begin with a visioning workshop session for the new corporation
board. In mid -May, a Pier Vision Festival would be held to reflect on the Pier's history,
talk about its present uses, and gather community input about future possibilities.
Participants would be able to take guided tours of the site and offer feedback in a
variety of ways, including by participating in small discussion groups facilitated by MIG-
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trained City staff. A series of small community discussion groups and workshops would
occur during the following weeks. The discussion group and workshop formats would
create great opportunity for a broad range of community members to participate in an
informed and focused dialogue regarding the Pier and its adjacent spaces. At the
conclusion of the community meetings and workshops, MIG would present a summary
report of comments and themes to the Pier Corporation Board and the City Council.
Contractor /Consultant Selection
The City Manager has exercised his authority (SMMC 2.24.073(d)) to identify a firm that
is uniquely qualified to assist the City with the critical task of providing meaningful
guidance and facilitation to the Pier Visioning process. MIG is recommended to
undertake the comprehensive effort to design and facilitate the Pier Visioning process.
The proposed cost of these services is $106,020. Since the 1980s, MIG has embraced
inclusivity and encouraged community and involved parties interaction as experienced
in other City Projects including the Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE) process
and the recent Airport Visioning process. With more than 25 years' experience, MIG
designs and implements multi - leveled, well- documented involvement processes aimed
at increasing public confidence in decision - making. Selecting MIG will also uniquely
benefit the City by allowing it to continue its training of City staff members in conducting
public processes.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The contract to be awarded to MIG is $106,020. Sufficient funds are available in the FY
2011/13 budget for division 30209. The costs associated with this contract will be
charged to account number 30209.555060.
Prepared by: Rod Merl, Pier Manager
Approved: Forwarded to Council:
Rod Gould Rod Gould
City Manager City Manager
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Reference Contract No.
9560 (CCS).