Joint Meeting Council/BFPD
10/6/26 05:30 PM
Building
Christopher Heldreth
Contract
Doc ID: 6599
COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
AGENDA MATTER:
AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH PLACEWORKS, INC
FOR CONSULTANT SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE GENERAL PLAN UPDATE AND BARSTOW INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY PROJECTS; AND A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
AGREEMENT WITH PLACEWORKS, INC FOR ON-CALL PLANNING SERVICES EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Staff recommends approval of the proposed Fourth Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with PlaceWorks, Inc (“Amendment”). The Amendment:
1. Ratifies $109,000 in additional Barstow International Gateway (BIG)-related services previously provided in support of the project approval process; and
2. Establishes an on-call scope of work for future General Plan and BIG-related planning services, which will be reimbursed by the developer.
Staff also recommends approval of the proposed Professional Services Agreement with PlaceWorks, Inc. for on-call planning services. The new agreement provides the City with planning and development review support, including current planning, project management, and other planning and strategic services, as needed to supplement City staff.
DISCUSSION:
BACKGROUND:
In October 2022, staff brought forward a Professional Services Agreement with PlaceWorks to assist in the completion of the City’s General Plan Update (GPU) and associated Environmental Impact Report (EIR). In June 2024, the City Council approved an Amended and Restated Professional Services Agreement with Placeworks, which replaced the October 2022 agreement.
Since the approval of the original agreement, City staff and PlaceWorks have been diligently working to complete the comprehensive General Plan update, including the associated BIG Specific Plan, the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), outreach, and coordination with outside agencies required to complete the update. The City has approved three amendments to the Amended and Restated Agreement to account for additional work related to the preparation of the GPU, BIG, and the related EIR.
Staff requests approval of these two agreements:
Fourth Amendment to Professional Services Agreement
This amendment would address General Plan and BIG-related work, including approximately $109,000 in prior expenses incurred in support of the project approval process, as well as additional services going forward. Costs associated with BIG are reimbursed by BNSF Railway Company and would remain under the existing Amended and Restated Agreement.
Regarding prior expenses, in May and June 2026, PlaceWorks provided additional resources to support Joint Meeting Council/BFPD
10/6/26 05:30 PM
Building
Christopher Heldreth
Contract
Doc ID: 6599
COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
preparation for the Planning Commission and City Council hearings on the General Plan and BIG Project.
The level of work required for these hearings was greater than initially anticipated, resulting in approximately $77,665 in additional services. The amendment would also ratify approximately $31,335 in services provided through September 2026 for supplementation of the CEQA administrative record, continued website support, and final project closeout and coordination.
The amendment would also establish an on-call scope of work for future service. This agreement is permitted under Barstow Municipal Code Section 2.40.110(9)(a), which allows the City to issue open task orders under an on-call agreement with a consultant to manage services that are hard to predict in advance. This approach will provide the City with flexibility to obtain planning and related services as project needs arise while maintaining the established rates and applicable reimbursement arrangements.
New Professional Services Agreement for On-Call Planning Services This separate agreement would provide on-call planning services to support the City with other development projects, and to assist with planning and development review needs. This agreement is needed to support the increase in project volume and the scale of those projects, along with the City's limited staffing capacity to support the demand. Any developer-requested services would be reimbursed by the applicable developer.
The scope of work includes assistance with development applications from initial inquiries and conceptual proposals through entitlement processing and project approval. Services may include meeting with applicants and City staff, reviewing applications for consistency with applicable City regulations, identifying required entitlements and environmental review, and preparing or reviewing staff reports, findings, conditions of approval, correspondence, and other planning documents.
PlaceWorks will also be available to assist with other planning and strategic matters that arise, including planning research, technical memoranda, ordinance amendments, administrative procedures, public meetings and hearings, interagency coordination, project management, and other planning-related assignments. The agreement requires PlaceWorks to obtain City approval before undertaking on-call assignments.
Exhibit 1 - Fourth Amendment to the Amended and Restated Professional Services Agreement with PlaceWorks, Inc for Services Related to the General Plan Update and BIG project Exhibit 2 - Professional Services Agreement with PlaceWorks, Inc for On-Call Planning Services FISCAL IMPACT:
No additional budget appropriation is requested at this time. The FY 26-27 budget appropriated $606,000 to the Planning Department Fees/Services Account (100.50.5003.000.5271).
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff recommends that the City Council take the following actions:
1. Approve the Fourth Amendment to the Amended and Restated Professional Services Agreement with PlaceWorks, Inc for Services Related to the General Plan Update and BIG project. No Joint Meeting Council/BFPD
10/6/26 05:30 PM
Building
Christopher Heldreth
Contract
Doc ID: 6599
COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
additional budget appropriation is requested as part of this amendment.
2. Approve the Professional Services Agreement with PlaceWorks, Inc for On-Call Planning Services. No additional budget appropriation is requested as part of this agreement.