SR-03-18-2014-3IYo i Council t
Santa Moided
City Council Meeting: March 18, 2014
Agenda Item: —3
To: Mayor and City Council
From: David Martin, Planning and Community Development Department Director
Subject: Amendment to Provide Additional Scope of Work for the Downtown
Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a first modification to Contract No. 9687 in the amount of $170,000 with AMEC
Environment & Infrastructure, Inc., a professional environmental consulting company
based in Washington D.C., to provide additional environmental consulting services for
the Downtown Specific Plan and Program Environmental Impact Report. This will result
in a two -year amended contract with a new total amount not to exceed $771,000.
Executive Summary
On January 22, 2013, the City entered into contract no. 9687 with AMEC Environment &
Infrastructure, Inc. in the amount of $601,000 to prepare the Downtown Specific Plan
Program EIR in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The
initial contract was funded by a grant from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority. A contract modification of $170,000 would provide for
additional scope of work in support of completing the Downtown Specific Plan and
Program EIR.
Background
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 (Program EIR) is required by State of
California law in order to consider adoption of the draft DSP.
On January 22 2013, the Council accepted the Metro grant for preparation of the DSP
Program EIR and approved a contract with AMEC for $601,000 to prepare the DSP
E
Program EIR. The City Council has reviewed components of the Downtown Specific
Plan and the CEQA parameters to be studied in the EIR at public meetings on February
28, 2012, Jules 2013 and August 13 2013.
Discussion
Preparation of the DSP Program EIR began in January 2012. During the course of the
DSP planning effort, elements of the DSP and CEQA parameters were refined in
response to community, Council and Planning Commission input resulting in the need
for an expanded scope of work for the DSP Program EIR. An amendment to the
contract is needed to complete the remaining required tasks in the scope such as
responding to comments received during the public review period, and making any
necessary revisions. Additionally, since the preparation of the DSP Program EIR
began, additional coordination and meetings beyond what was originally scoped have
been required between the City and AMEC to address key community issues of
concern. This contract modification would provide additional resources for AMEC to
attend future meetings and hearings in conjunction with the DSP. Completion of the
DSP EIR is required by State law prior to consideration of adoption of the final DSP, and
provides an important public information and review process that complements the two
years of outreach that has been done on the Downtown Specific Plan. The expanded
scope of work exceeds the original grant amount of $601,000; as such, the additional
work in the amount of $170,000 will be primarily funded by the Prop A capital reserve
funds set aside for Expo related capital projects as the DSP will provide for planning
efforts related to the Expo LRT Downtown Station.
Contractor Selection
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. Based on
the selection criteria in SMMC 2.24.072 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 was selected as the best bidder to provide environmental
consulting services for the DSP.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The contract modification amount to be awarded to AMEC Environment & Infrastructure,
Inc. is $170,000 for an amended contract total not to exceed $771,000. Funds are
available as in the FY2013 -14 Capital Improvement Program budget in the following
accounts:
0200224.589065 Expo Station Area Planning $140,000
P017015.589000 Travel Demand & Nexus Study 30,000
Total $170,000
Prepared by: Rachel Kwok, Environmental Planner
roved:
t-;>� 4J-L�-"
David Martin
Director, Planning and Community
Development
3
Forwarded to Council:
Rod Gould
City Manager
Reference:
Amended Contract No. 9687
(CCS)