Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 5.C
Meeting Date: July 9, 2025
From: Anne V. Ambrose, Assistant City Manager
Title: Professional Services Agreement with Group 4 Architecture, Research + Planning, Inc. for Community Center Site and Cost Analysis RECOMMENDATION:
To approve a professional services agreement with Group 4 Architecture, Research + Planning, Inc., and authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents.
BACKGROUND:
Cathedral City’s (City) 5-Year Strategic Plan includes a goal of conducting a site and cost analysis for a community center (Center).
On November 5, 2024, city residents voted to approve Measure W, a services measure that enacted a local ½ cent transactions and use tax (sales tax) increase. Measure W became effective on April 1, 2025, and will generate approximately $5 million annually for city services. A portion of the Measure W funds will be used to annex into the Desert Recreation District (DRD) to provide recreational services and park maintenance and a portion is being set aside for the future construction of a community center.
On April 1, 2025, the city issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) from qualified consultants to conduct a feasibility study for the location of a new center meeting the community’s needs.
The study will involve an assessment of a multitude of factors, such as ideal project site, cost analysis, and scalability for future expansion of the center. Eight proposals were received in response to the RFP.
DISCUSSION:
Five evaluators were selected to review the eight proposals received: the Assistant City Manager, Director of Financial Services, Director of Community and Economic Development, Economic Development Manager, and the Assistant General Manager from the Desert Recreation District (DRD). The following criteria were used for initial scoring of proposals, totaling 100 points:
Quality & responsiveness of proposal (15 points)
Stated approach for conducting the feasibility study to complete the project within the project timeframe (15 points)
Proposed methodologies for completing specific work products within the study (15 points)
Technical qualifications of individuals assigned to the project (15 points) Experience of the proposer (and direct experience of individuals assigned to the project) in working with clients with demographics and other characteristics similar to those of Cathedral City (15 points)
Direct experience of the proposer (and direct experience of individuals assigned to the project) in working on projects of a similar scope (15 points) Quality of references for completed work of a similar scope (5 points) Ability to be evaluated independently of the cost proposal (5 points) After initial scoring, the proposers whose proposals scored among the top three were invited to panel interviews. The top three candidates invited were:
ELS Architecture and Urban Design (86.80 points)
Group 4 Architecture, Research + Planning, Inc. (87.20 points) Stayner Architects (90.40 points)
Once the panel interviews concluded, evaluators sought to contact the references of two of the three interviewees, Group 4 Architecture and Stayner Architects. After careful review of all factors, staff selected Group 4 Architecture Group as the firm most responsive to the scope of services and offered the best value to the city, per Cathedral City Municipal Code
3.12.180.
Group 4 has more than 40 years of extensive and recent experience in working with local municipalities on community center projects and master planning; currently, they are working with two other municipalities on their community centers. Their strengths include project management, stakeholder engagement, and community outreach. The proposed timeline to complete the study is 150 days, or by December, 2025.
Due to Group 4’s responsiveness to the proposal, extensive background and experience, their proposed cost, the quality of their references and associated work, staff is recommending City Council to approve them as the consultant for the Center’s feasibility study.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Group 4’s proposed cost of $99,600.00 falls within the $100,000.00 budget set forth by staff.
The feasibility study is being funded by development impact fees.
DESCRIPTION GENERAL
LEDGER
ACCOUNT
CODES
PROJECT
CODE
AMOUNT ONE TIME or
ONGOING
2025-2026 Government
Facilities
273-900-910-
911-8600-8601 C0XXXX $99,600.00 ONE TIME
2025-2026 Total $99,600.00
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal B: Community Investment
Action B-10 – Conduct site and cost analysis for our Community Recreation Center.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Public Service Agreement with Group 4 Architecture, Research + Planning, Inc.
2. Group 4 Architecture’s Amended Work Plan Graphic
3. Score Summary