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Anaheim, CA 92805
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CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
City of Anaheim
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
DATE: SEPTEMBER 29, 2026
FROM: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
SUBJECT: CONSULTANT SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ALTA
PLANNING + DESIGN FOR THE CITY OF ANAHEIM SAFE
ROUTES TO SCHOOL PLAN
ATTACHMENT (Y/N): YES ITEM # 06
GOVERNMENT CODE § 84308 APPLIES: NO
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council, by Motion, approve the professional services agreement, in the not-to-exceed amount of $980,000, with Alta Planning + Design, Inc. (Alta), for consultant services for the City of Anaheim Safe Routes to School Plan, and authorize and direct the Public Works Director, or designee to execute the Agreement, and take any and all actions as are necessary, required or advisable to implement and administer the Agreement, and increase the Public Works Department’s FY 2026/27 restricted grants fund budget by $980,000.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Anaheim (City) is developing a citywide Safe Routes to School Plan to improve safety and access for students who walk and bicycle to and from school.
Building on the City’s recent active transportation planning efforts and infrastructure improvements, the Plan will identify barriers to walking and bicycling, evaluate conditions near schools, and recommend prioritized infrastructure and programmatic improvements.
The City of Anaheim applied for and later secured a Safe Street for All (SS4A) grant to create a comprehensive Safe Routes to School Plan. The Safe Routes to School Plan will identify and prioritize safe routes to school recommendations based on a robust data analysis and input from students, families, faculty, and other stakeholders.
The SS4A grant provides $980,000 for consultant services. The City will contribute an additional $245,000 in staff time as the required local match, resulting in a total project budget of $1,225,000. Grant Activities, including preparation of the final report and completion of the grant closeout process, must be completed by March 2029.
Consultant Services Agreement with Alta Planning + Design for the City of Anaheim Safe Routes to School Plan September 29, 2026
This citywide Safe Routes to School Plan is intended to include participation from all public schools, as well as locally serving private and charter schools within the City of Anaheim. Key components of the Safe Routes to School Plan include:
Conducting walk audits at each participating school;
Preparing Safe Routes to School maps for each participating school; Developing conceptual designs and planning-level cost estimates for recommended improvements; and
Preparing and prioritizing a list of proposed projects for future implementation.
DISCUSSION:
Following execution of the grant agreement with the Federal Highway Administration, staff developed and initiated a Request for Proposals (RFP) for consulting services to prepare the Safe Routes to School Plan. The RFP was posted on OpenGov on July 9, 2026. The scope of work identified key stakeholders such as school site administration, school districts, county transportation and healthcare agencies, and internal city departments. It also established tasks and deliverables necessary to complete the Plan components outlined above.
Upon conclusion, the Safe Routes to School Plan will be presented to the City Council for consideration and adoption. Once adopted, the Plan will help guide future grant pursuits, infrastructure investments, and traffic-safety education and enforcement programs.
Proposals were due on August 10, 2026, and the City received six proposals by the deadline. In accordance with the qualification-based selection process established by City Council Policy No.
4.1, the Public Works Department established an evaluation panel to review and score the proposals. The proposing firms are listed below in ranked order:
Firm Ranking:
1. Alta
2. Mark Thomas
3. Nelson Nygaard
4. Chen Ryan
5. Willdan
6. Kimley Horn
The evaluation criteria included the consultant’s ability to perform the tasks outlined in the RFP, qualifications of the specific individuals assigned to the project, amount of time and involvement of key personnel assigned, reasonableness of the fee requested to do the work, the consultant’s demonstrated record of success on comparable projects, and the proposed methodology and technical approach.
Following the evaluation of the proposals, the evaluation panel invited the top highest-ranked firms to participate in in-person interviews at City Hall on September 4, 2026.
Consultant Services Agreement with Alta Planning + Design for the City of Anaheim Safe Routes to School Plan September 29, 2026
Based on the proposals and interview results, the evaluation panel concluded that Alta was the most qualified. Alta is therefore recommended to provide professional services for preparation of the Safe Routes to School Plan.
Therefore, staff recommends that City Council approve the attached professional service agreement with Alta in the not-to-exceed amount of $980,000 and authorize the Public Works Director to execute the agreement and take any and all actions that are necessary, required or advisable to implement and administer the Agreement.
Upon City Council approval, Public Works staff will initiate development of the Safe Routes to School Plan effort. Alta’s proposed schedule calls for a 27-month project duration, allowing the Plan and grant closeout to be completed before the March 2029 grant deadline.
This item supports Anaheim’s Strategic Plan Goal A. – Maintain Financial Responsibility, Strategy No. 2 – Continue proactive pursuit of state and federal grant funds, as well as Goal C. – Invest in Infrastructure and Amenities, Strategy No. 4 – Improve, enhance, beautify, and maintain major street corridors.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
The Public Works Department’s FY 2026/27 expenditure budget will be increased by $980,000 in restricted grant funds. The required match will be provided by labor available in the Department’s restricted transportation funds budget.
Respectfully submitted,
Rudy Emami
Director of Public Works
Attachments:
1. City Request for Proposals
2. Agreement with Exhibit A (Proposal)