SR-11-24-2015-3G
City Council
Report
City Council Regular Meeting: November 24, 2015
Agenda Item: 3.G
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: David Martin, Director, Planning and Community Development, Strategic &
Transportation Planning (PCD)
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 fourth modification to contract #9687 in the amount of $75,000 with AMEC
Corporation, a London-based company, for additional scope of work related to the
Downtown Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report. This will result in a 2 year
amended contract/agreement with a new total amount not to exceed $966,000, with
future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
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. Council modified the contract on March 18, 2014 in the
amount of $170,000 for additional scope of work to respond to community, Planning
Commission and Council requests and to support completion of the Downtown Specific
Plan and Program EIR. On November 26, 2014 the City Manager’s office executed a
contract extension allowing AMEC to continue to provide services through December,
2015. Additionally, on December 14, 2014, Council authorized a third modification to
conduct further analysis of circulation options, including one-way streets, in the
Downtown. A contract modification of $75,000 is requested to conduct sewer monitoring
tests in support of the Program EIR and to provide contingency funds for responding to
public comments following the anticipated release of the draft Program EIR in
December 2015.
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).
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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
Program EIR. On March 18, 2014 Council authorized a first mo dification to Contract No.
9687 in the amount of $170,000 to allow AMEC to conduct additional work necessary to
respond to Community, Planning Commission and Council requests and to complete
the DSP Program EIR. On November 26, 2014 the City Manager’s office executed a
second modification for an extension allowing AMEC to continue to provide services
through December, 2015. On December 14, 2014, the City Council authorized a third
modification to Contract No. 9687 in the amount of $120,000 to complete addi tional
circulation studies for the Downtown, synthesize data produced by the studies, include
the results as an alternative in the Program EIR and attend meetings and hearings in
conjunction with the study.
In February, 2014, the Draft DSP document was re leased for public review. The Draft
DSP includes specific goals, policies, and actions for the following subjects:
• Housing & Economic Diversity
• Arts, Culture & Entertainment
• Historic Preservation
• Open Space
• Infrastructure
• Circulation and Mobility
• Development Standards
• Design Guidelines
• Community Benefits
• Implementation
The plan has been widely circulated and is available online at
http://www.downtownsmplan.org/ and also at the Planning counter at City Hall. A
Planning Commission hearing to review the DSP was held on November 3 and 4, 2015
and continued to November 18, 2015.
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Discussion
This contract modification would expand the scope of work for the Program EIR to
provide for sewer monitoring testing at 20 upstream and downstream locations within
and near the Downtown. The results of the sewer monitoring testing will provide
updated data to inform the analysis of sewer infrastructure in the Program EIR.
Furthermore, this contract modification would expand the scope of work for responding
to comments on the draft Program EIR. The draft Program EIR is expected to be
released for public review in December 2015 and the City anticipates a high level of
public interest. Completion of the Program 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 three years of outreach that has been
conducted for the DSP. This contract modification provides for EIR work related to the
DSP only; the contract for the environmental work related to the proposed Gateway
Access Master Plan will be submitted for Council review and approval in the future.
Vendor/Consultant Selection
On September 25, 2012, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for preparation
of a Downtown Specific Plan Program Environmental Impact Report (Program EIR) to
three qualified firms on the City’s Pre-qualified list of environmental consultants. Based
on the selection criteria in SMMC 2.24.073 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 qualified firm to provide
environmental consulting services for the DSP.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
The agreement modification to be awarded to AMEC Corporation is $75,000, for an
amended agreement total not to exceed $966,000. Funds are available in the FY 2015 -
16 budget in the Planning and Community Development Department and the Capital
Improvement Program. The agreement will be charged to the following accounts:
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01267.555061 $20,000
C319039.589000 $55,000
Total $75,000
Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval.
Prepared By: Rachel Kwok, Environmental Planner
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Downtown Specific Plan Website Weblink
Reference:
Modified Contract No. 9687
(CCS)