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SR-01-22-2013-3GCity Council Meeting: January 22, 2013 Agenda Item: 3 0 To: Mayor and City Council From: David Martin, Director, Planning & Community Development Subject: Environmental Consulting Service Contract for the Downtown Specific Plan Recommended Action Staff recommends that the City Council: 1) Authorize the City Manager to accept a grant awarded in the amount of $601,000 from Metro's TOD Planning Grant program for preparation of the Downtown Specific Plan environmental clearance; and 2) Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract with AMEC, a global professional environmental consulting company, in an amount not to exceed $601,000 for environmental consulting services related to the Downtown Specific Plan; and 3) Authorize budget changes as outlined in the Financial Impacts and Budget Actions section of this report. Executive Summary On August 1, 2012 the City of Santa Monica was awarded grant funding by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) in the amount of $601,000 to complete environmental clearance for the Downtown Specific Plan (DSP). A program level Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) is required in order to consider adoption of the draft Downtown Specific Plan that is currently being prepared. Staff is requesting authorization to negotiate and execute a contract with AMEC to provide environmental consulting services for the Downtown Specific Plan for a fee not to exceed $601,000 to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Funding for the environmental consulting services in the amount of $601,000 is available in account C207074.589000. Discussion The Downtown Santa Monica Specific Plan area is roughly a half -mile square, bounded by Wilshire Boulevard to the north, Lincoln Boulevard to the east, the Santa Monica 1 Freeway (Interstate 10) to the south, and Ocean Avenue to the west. The plan area is located adjacent to the Civic Center, Beachfront District, and multi - family residential neighborhoods to the north and east. The City's General Plan Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE) adopted on July 6, 2010, established goals for the expanded Downtown district which support its role as the City's premier shopping and entertainment center by continuing to encourage mixed -use development with complementary uses to enhance the area as a complete neighborhood, serving local residents, regional visitors, and the national and international tourist industry. One focus of the DSP is to integrate the new light rail terminus station while providing connections to the Civic Center and beach front. The light rail will inspire opportunities for transit oriented development, and the DSP will provide the standards and guidelines to integrate this new development into the Downtown. The LUCE envisioned the Downtown as a pedestrian and transit oriented- mixed -use urban center featuring a diverse and balance mix of uses and activities. Urban design and development standards for Downtown, as well as the policies and action steps necessary to coordinate numerous public and private improvements, were deferred until the creation of the DSP. The DSP was initiated in 2011 with the community visioning process for the City -owned site at 5th and Arizona, and has included comprehensive planning discussions by the City Council and Planning Commission regarding public investments in February/March 2011, circulation in September /October 2011, public realm and emerging themes in February/March 2012, and a Planning Commission discussion of urban form and opportunity site guidelines in December 2012. Three community workshops and many stakeholder meetings were also held to gather public input on the DSP. Adoption of the DSP will require an environmental clearance process to comply with CEQA. The Program EIR will include the necessary environmental and traffic analysis to environmentally clear projects that comply with the DSP. 'r: Environmental Consulting Services In July 2011, the City a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for environmental consulting services. The RFQ was posted on the City's on -line bidding site and noticed in the Santa Monica Daily Press in accordance with City Charter and Municipal Code provisions. The RFQ sought qualifications from environmental consulting firms to prepare environmental documents pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and /or National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Thirty responses were received and evaluated based on the criteria in SMMC 2.24.072, including past experience in urban infill development projects, adequacy of the response, records of past performance, and demonstrated thoroughness in work approach. The City selected 10 qualified firms to be placed on the Pre - Qualified List based on these criteria. On September 25, 2012, a Request for Proposals for preparation of a Downtown Specific Plan Program Environmental Impact Report (Program EIR) was issued to three qualified firms on the City's Pre - Qualified list of environmental consultants. All three firms responded to the RFP with proposals. The submitted proposals were reviewed by City staff, and each of the three teams was interviewed. Evaluation of the submitted materials was based on the following selection criteria in SMMC 2.24.072, including: • Training, credentials and prior experience in preparing EIR's for specific plans in urban infill areas • Competence and knowledge of CEQA/NEPA regulations • Understanding of Downtown - specific issues, project goals and approach • A flexible and accurate approach and working style that would allow for preparation of a defensible Program EIR for the DSP • Understanding of the DSP complexity • Ability of the team to successfully complete the full scope of work on time and within budget • Evidence of a productive team structure and sufficient resources (i.e., financial, staff, etc.) • The firm's character and reputation in preparing high quality EIR's in similar municipalities • A budget that reflects a fair, reasonable, and competitive price 3 Based on the above criteria as well as the firm's demonstrated knowledge of the City and CEQA, strong record of preparing legally defensible environmental documentation in the City and other jurisdictions, comprehensive scope of work, and flexible approach, AMEC is recommended as the best bidder to provide environmental consulting services for the DSP. Upon Council approval and in accordance with CEQA, AMEC will analyze the potential environmental effects associated with the DSP. The scope of environmental consulting services as proposed by AMEC includes preparation of a Program EIR for a fee not to exceed $601,000 (which includes a 10 percent contingency). Financial Impacts & Budget Actions Award of a $601,000 grant from Metro TOD Planning Grant requires that a FY 2012 -13 revenue budget be established at account 20267.408430 in the amount of $601,000. The contract to be awarded to AMEC is for an amount not to exceed $601,000. Funds are available in the FY 2012 -14 Capital Improvement Program budget at account C207074.589000. Prepared by: Rachel Kwok, Environmental Planner Sarah Lejeune, Principal Planner Francie Stefan, Strategic and Transportation Planning Manager Forwarded to Council: Approved: David Martin Director, Planning & Community Development n R Gould City Manager Reference Contract No. 9687 (CCS).