SR 01-26-2016 3M
City Council
Report
City Council Regular and Special Joint Meeting: January 26, 2016
Agenda Item: 3.M
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: David Martin, Director, Planning and Community Development, Strategic
Planning (PCD)
Subject: Amendment to Provide Additional Scope of Work for completing the
Downtown Specific Plan
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a fourth modification to professional services agreement No. 9476 in the
amount of $250,000 with Torti Gallas and Partners, Inc. a Maryland based company, for
additional scope of work related to the Downtown Specific Plan. This will result in a 5
year amended contract/agreement with a new total amount not to exceed $905,500.
Executive Summary
On September 27, 2011, Council approved Contract No. 9476 with Torti Gallas and
Partners, Inc. in the amount of $655,500 to prepare the Downtown Specific Plan as required
by the 2010 Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE) to establish the land-use, circulation
and building form for the expanded Downtown district. A contract modification of $250,000
is requested to complete the planning and outreach effort for the Plan, which has been
ongoing since 2012.
Background
The Downtown Specific Plan is a high priority project called for in the 2010 Council adopted
LUCE, to translate the City’s integrated land use and transportation policy into detailed
standards and guidelines to give shape to urban design, transportation, open space,
infrastructure and economic policy. The Downtown Specific Plan will provide a framework
for guiding and integrating new uses and activities within the project area, and will become
the basis for review and approval of all projects within its boundaries. The LUCE deferred
establishing specific height or floor area ratio (FAR) for the Downtown to the Specific Plan
process. Once complete, the Downtown Specific Plan will establish these parameters to
direct private and public investment in the area. Coordinated circulation, urban design and
community benefits priorities will be included in the plan.
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On September 27, 2011, Council approved a contract No. 9476 with Torti Gallas and
Partners, Inc. in the amount of $655,500 to prepare the Downtown Specific Plan.
In February, 2014, the Draft DSP document was released for public review. The Draft DSP
included 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 series of
Planning Commission hearings to review the DSP were held on November 3, 4, and 18
2015.
Discussion
This contract modification would build on and expand the scope of work for the Downtown
Specific Plan allowing Torti Gallas, Inc. and their sub consultants to:
Continue to support staff on revising plan chapters, graphics and images, including, but
not limited writing and creating new content for:
o Development Standards
o Circulation and Mobility
o Complete Streets and Open Space
o Other chapters as may be requested
o Additional photo simulation
o Additional modeling
Provide direct support to staff with additional meetings, workshops, charrettes and other
forms of communication.
Provide support and participation for the significant upcoming community outreach
campaign. Led by MIG, Inc., a California-based firm that has previously provided with
City with support and coordination for major public participation efforts including the
LUCE and the Airport Visioning process, the upcoming outreach initiative will involve:
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o Large format speaker series events focusing on topical issues relevant to the
future of the Downtown
o Facilitated focus group events that provide an opportunity for everyone to provide
input and to listen to one another
o Community workshops that provide an additional setting for discussion on Plan
components, policies, and actions
Attend, present (as requested) and help prepare for Planning Commission, City Council
and other boards and commission meetings
The new draft Downtown Specific Plan is expected to be released for public review in
February 2016.
Vendor/Consultant Selection
An RFQ was issued on April 15, 2011 in order to identify potential firms with the skills and
experience necessary to succeed in creating strategic plans to implement the LUCE
community vision. The RFQ was advertised widely and posted on Planet Bids, Planetizen
and the Planning and Community Development Department’s webpage. Staff received 72
qualifications from firms throughout California and throughout the western United States.
The qualifications were reviewed for relevant experience and expertise that match the
project needs, and 11 finalists were interviewed. These firms were rated against criteria
that included technical competence and experience, staff quality, quality of sub -consultant
team, project approach and planning, and customer service. For the Downtown Specific
Plan project, two interviewed firms with the most directly related experience and depth of
community involvement were issued a Request for Proposal, which invited the firms to
propose a scope of work within the project budget. Based on the selection criteria in SMMC
2.24.073 as well as the firm’s demonstrated knowledge of the City and land use planning,
Torti Gallas, Inc. was selected as the best qualified firm to provide consulting services for
the DSP.
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Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
The agreement modification to be awarded to Torti Gallas, Inc.is $250,000, for an amended
agreement total not to exceed $905,500. In addition to funds of $150,000 included in the
FY 2015-16 Midyear Budget for Council approval, award of the agreem ent modification
requires an additional appropriation of $100,000 to Capital Improvement Program account
C019134.589000.
Prepared By: Travis Page, Senior Planner
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Written comments
Reference:
Modified Agreement No. 9476
(CCS)