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
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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.
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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
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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).