2 In 2018, community members passed Measure P to fund infrastructure through a new local tax, which provided the impetus to continue the Project’s development with the following efforts:
In 2020, the City engaged with consultants to complete an updated study of options for the Library, including gathering public input on space-use priorities for a future building.
The City also initiated work on the Downtown Burbank Transit-Oriented Development Specific Plan (Downtown Specific Plan), which covers 965 acres encompassing two existing adopted planning areas (the Burbank Center Plan and the North San Fernando Master Plan), as well as Downtown Burbank and the Downtown Metrolink station.
In February 2021, Council received the study, A Vision for the New Burbank Central Library (Vision Study) and directed staff to explore a plan to finance construction of a replacement Library.
In October 2021, the City contracted with the engineering consulting firm ARUP to assess the proposed project, explore potential alternatives, and evaluate housing opportunity sites. ARUP developed financial models, estimated costs, and assessed procurement and project delivery strategies to identify options to complete the project. Concurrently, through February 2024, ARUP and City staff evaluated delivering the Project through a Public-Private Partnership (P3) and a Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain (DBFOM) model.
After comprehensive evaluation of project delivery methods, the City determined to proceed with a Design/Build (DB) delivery model, and more specifically, a Progressive Design/Build (PDB) model. This model offers the key benefits of risk transfer for design and construction to the PDB contractor, close collaboration between designers and builders, flexibility during the design phase for cost-benefit analysis including operations and maintenance considerations, and community and stakeholder input.
In November 2024, staff provided an update to Council during a Study Session, with the project’s next step was to procure a full-services Project Management firm who has the expertise and experience to assist City staff with delivery the Project, which is activity 1C under “Quality of Life” in the recently adopted City Council Priority Action Plan for 2025-
26. The Project represents a transformative opportunity to meet Council goals and community needs while creating a critical downtown neighborhood asset in a sustainable and fiscally responsible manner. The Project is slated to provide a new 65,000 SF library with 20,000 SF of office space to replace ASB, and 50,000 SF of functional open space in the area where ASB currently exists.
3 DISCUSSION
Staff has completed a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process to select the Project Management team. The RFP was released on February 25, 2025 and a mandatory pre-proposal meeting was held on March 10th, which was attended by 50 firms. 15 proposals were received on April 8th, which were evaluated by a panel comprised of the Public Works, Library Services, Community Development, and Financial Services Directors, and a Senior Assistant City Attorney. Evaluation was based on criteria outlined in the RFP including each firm’s experience, background, past performance, project team qualifications, understanding of the Project and proposed approach for project management including various phases of work, analysis of potential challenges, and overall cost of service. After the proposal review process, the panel selected five proposer teams to continue to the interview phase, which was conducted on June 6, 2025. The panel unanimously selected MOCA to be recommended to the City Council for the award of a PSA to provide full-service Project Management assistance to the City to complete the Project via a PDB delivery process.
MOCA is a nationally recognized owner’s representative firm founded in 1999 and led by licensed architects with extensive design backgrounds. MOCA’s experience involves work for federal, state, county, city and other public agency projects, including libraries, civic office buildings, parking facilities, and public plaza/open space areas. MOCA utilizes a “Continuous Alignment” strategy to manage projects to ensure all members of the project team remain aligned on quality, scope, cost, risk, and schedule.
MOCA’s proposal (Attachment 2) and the proposed PSA (Attachment 3) are included. As outlined in the proposed PSA, Phase 1 of MOCA’s scope of work will focus on refining the Project’s scope, budget and schedule, taking into consideration local building and development standards and the Build Forward grant requirements, environmental regulations, and the upcoming Downtown Transit Oriented Development Specific Plan (Downtown SP), conducting updated community outreach and engagement, and refining preliminary concept designs to support the refined project definition to assist in environmental review, which will be presented to City Council prior to selection of a PDB contractor. Under Phase 1, MOCA will also prepare the procurement documents and assist the City in the related procurement for the PDB contractor. Subsequent tasks (Phases 2 and 3) will include design management and other owner’s representative services as well as construction support services and final commissioning of the improvements. Each subsequent phase of the scope of work in the PSA may be further refined as the Project continues and MOCA will commence their services upon issuance of each Phase’s Notice to Proceed.
The New Burbank Central Library and outdoor space is envisioned to become a cultural and intellectual community hub for the residents of Burbank. The design will be based on previous and forthcoming community engagement. The Library will accommodate 4 modern programming including adult, senior, teen and children’s areas, co-working spaces, multipurpose rooms, public art, performance spaces, a coffee shop/café, social services, maker space, media lab, and staff areas. In addition, the Library will be situated adjacent to public open space on the corner of Olive Avenue and Third Street allowing for outdoor programming.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Approving the proposed PSA for Project Management Services with MOCA has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and as such, is not a “project” subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal. Code Regs § 15378.
In addition, the Downtown SP and its Environmental Impact Report (EIR) are currently under development and include the Project as a key element. Staff presented a status report on the specific plans to the Council in June 2025, noting a completion date for the Downtown SP of Summer 2026. The Council will have the opportunity to consider Project alternatives being studied as part of the Downtown SP EIR. Following Council’s input, staff will collaborate with MOCA to develop the PDB RFP in accordance with the Council’s direction.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total proposed cost for MOCA’s scope of work under the proposed PSA is $5,317,061, along with a 20% contingency in the amount of $1,063,412. The budget for this work was approved as part of the Fiscal Year 2021-22 Adopted Budget, and sufficient funds are available in the following project account: 534.PW33A.70019.0000.24218 (Municipal Infrastructure Fund, Central Library and Civic Center).
CONCLUSION
The proposed Civic Center Project represents a unique opportunity to replace outdated facilities with modern, sustainable infrastructure that will serve the community and City for generations to come. In addition to the new and updated civic amenities, the Project will provide much needed multi-functional open space and help continue the transformation of the downtown area into a vibrant, contemporary neighborhood.
Staff respectfully recommends Council approve a PSA with MOCA for Project Management Services related to the New Burbank Central Library and Civic Center Project, in an amount of $5,317,061 and authorize the Library Services Director, as designee of the City Manager, to execute the agreement and future task orders and/or amendments up to 20% of the PSA ($1,063,412) as long as funds remain budgeted.
5 ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – RFP
Attachment 2 – MOCA Proposal
Attachment 3 – Professional Services Agreement