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December 2, 2025
ITEM TITLE
Agreement and Task Force Appointment : Waive the Competitive Process , Approve a Consultant Services Agreement with Marlene L. Garcia Consulting, LCC for South County Higher Education Task Force Facilitation Services and Designate City Representative
Report Number: 25-0288
Location: University-Innovation District
Department: City Manager
G.C. § 84308 Regulations Apply: Yes
Environmental Notice: The Project is adequately covered in a previously certified Final Environmental Impact Report (“FEIR”) for the Chula Vista University & Innovation District (FEIR-14-01; SCH #2014121097; certified by City Council Resolution No. 2018-221 on November 13, 2018).
Recommended Action
Adopt resolution : (A) waiving the competitive bidding process and approving a Consultant Services Agreement with Marlene L. Garcia Consulting, LLC for South County Higher Education Task Force Facilitation Services and (B) designating City Manager Tiffany Allen as City Representative on said Task Force.
SUMMARY
Assembly Bill 662 – The Chula Vista University Act – authored by Assemblymember David Alvarez establishes the South County Higher Education Task Force, creating a collaborative body that will bring together the University of California, California State University, California Community Colleges, the City of Chula Vista, Sweetwater Union High School District and other stakeholders to evaluate the governance models, funding mechan isms, and statutory changes required for creating a four -year public university in South San Diego County.
The City requires support to establish, facilitate, and communicate the work of the Task Force and therefore recommends entering into an agreement with Marlene L. Garcia Consulting, LLC.
Additionally, City staff recommends designating City Manager Tiffany Allen to serve as the City representative on the South County Higher Education Task Force.
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ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Project has been reviewed for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) , and has been determined that the Project is adequately covered in a previously certified Final Environmental Impact Report for the Chula Vista University & Innovation District (FEIR-14- 01; SCH #2014121097; certified by City Council Resolution No. 2018 -221 on November 13, 2018). Therefore, no further environmental review is required.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
Not applicable.
DISCUSSION
Since 1993, the City of Chula Vista has pursued a strategic, long -term vision to develop a University Innovation District on City -owned land to serve Chula Vista and South San Diego County and has taken actionable steps to turn this vision into a reality. From 2001 through 2014, through a combin ation of land offer agreements, land exchanges, and other agreements with developers, the City acquired 383 acres of land for University-Innovation District (UID) purposes. In 2018, the City certified Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR-14-001/SCH 2014121097) and adopted the University-Innovation District Sectional Planning Area Plan (SPA) approving the entitlements for a UID.
Under the adopted planning documents that govern the development of the site, the UID entitlements provide the ability to acco mmodate up to 20,000 students with an innovation district that will include approximately 10 million square feet of mixed -use development, 4.4 million square feet of academic space, 2 million square feet of commercial space for business innovation uses and 3.6 million square feet available for development of market rate and student/faculty housing. The City’s goals for the UID are as follows:
Develop a university campus offering four -year degrees consistent with the City’s binational and multi-institutional university vision;
Establish a business environment within the Innovation District that embraces the technology and/or higher education sectors to serve as a talent pipeline for the University(ies); Create an on-going income stream and/or one-time capital event; Support increases in tax revenue;
Support equitable access to higher education;
Foster additional economic development and education opportunities for the community at large; and
Develop a financial model that allows development to occur with as little out -of-pocket cost to the City as possible.
Additionally, over the years, the City has engaged in several studies to determine the type of university(ies) that would best fit the UID from a land use and economic development perspective. These studies resulted in the vision of the City Council to develop a binational, multi -institutional university that leverages the border as a laboratory to attract students from both the United Sta tes and Mexico, offers baccalaureate and graduate level degrees and academic studies for the binational region, and serves as a catalyst for growth and economic development.
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In November of 2024, the City Council received the University Now Initiative White Paper developed by Southwestern Community College (SWC) District and the University Now Initiative Committee through an agreement with the City of Chula Vista. The White Paper identifies academic and instructional programs that provide SWC with new or e nhanced academic opportunities to support the region’s current and funding actions.
Earlier this year, Carrier Johnson conducted a feasibility study for the initial phase of UID development. Their work included building square footage, floor plates, parking strategies, building heights, hard/landscape, parks & open space, active residential open space, other public use (including public trails), education, public mass transit elements, vehicular and pedestrian ci rculation and any other pertinent characteristics. The report’s phasing plan ensures seamless integration of future phases with the initial development and also included construction cost estimates for the development.
AB 662 (Alvarez)
Authored by Assemb lymember David Alvarez, Assembly Bill (AB) 662 - The Chula Vista University Act - establishes the South County Higher Education Task Force, a collaborative body to advance university planning efforts.
The Task Force membership will be composed of at least (8) members including:
At least one representative from San Diego State University appointed by the Chancellor of the California State University.
At least one representative from Southwestern College appointed by the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges.
At least one representative from the University of California, San Diego, appointed by the President of the University of California.
At least one representative from the City of Chula Vista. At least one representative from the Sweetwater Union High School District. At least one public member appointed by the City of Chula Vista. At least one representative appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. At least one representative appointed by the President pro Tempore of the Senate.
The Task Force will be responsible for:
Identifying and recommending potential governance structures for the mixed -use intersegmental educational facility, including, but not limited to, consortia and other collaborative models. Identifying and analyzing potential site locations and infrastructure requirements. Identifying and recommending potential funding mechanisms, resources, and partnerships for the mixed-use intersegmental educational facility.
Recommending legislative solutions to remove barriers to institutional innovation.
The Task Force is required to submit a comprehensive report with findings and recommendations to the California Legislature by July 1, 2027.
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Additionally, Assemblymember Alvarez secured $250,000 in state funding to support the Task Force’s planning and policy development efforts. City staff is working with the State to receive those funds and will bring an item forward to appropriate those funds in the future.
Marlene L. Garcia Consulting
To assist the City in convening and facilitating the work of the Task Force, City staff recommends entering into an agreement with Marlene L. Garcia Consulting, LLC.
Marlene is being recommended based on her unique qualifications, including extensive experience working on state and federal education and technology policy and the related political landscape, and experience working within several university and college s chool systems. Pursuant to CVMC 2.56.110(H)(3) and
2.56.070(B)(3), staff recommends waiving the competitive bidding requirements that apply to th e agreement as they are impractical, or impossible, and the City’s interests are materially better served by applying a different purchasing procedure.
Marlene will assist in the establishment of the Task Force, fa cilitate the work of the Task Force, assist in communicating the work of the Task Force and overall project management and coordination.
City staff anticipates additional support from a financial advisor and others may be required during the process. City staff will bring those agreements to City Council for consideration in the future.
City Appointments
As required by AB 662, the City will be appointing at least one representative from the City of Chula Vista and at least one public member.
City staff recommends the designation of City Manager Tiffany Allen to serve on the Task Force. This is in alignment with the anticipated designation of executive staff of the other represented entities and will provide the Task Force with the expertise and historical background needed to represent the City’s interest and University-Innovation District project.
City staff also recommends the public member(s) be appointed via a public application and selection process similar to the Planning Commission where the entire City Council participates in the interview and nomination process. The public member(s) should represent various perspectives including those in the business and innovation sector, higher education staff, and students.
The application period will begin in early December and run through January 2026.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
City s taff has reviewed the property holdings of the City Council members and has found no property holdings within 1,000 feet of the boundaries of the property which is the subject of this action. Consequently, this item does not present a disqualifying real property-related financial conflict of interest under California Code of Regulations Title 2, section 18702.2(a)(7) or (8), for purposes of the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov’t Code §87100, et seq.).
City staff is not independently aware and has not been informed by any City Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision-maker conflict of interest in this matter.
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CURRENT-YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
The current-year fiscal impact of this item is $87,500. Funds for this purpose are already included in the fiscal year 2025-26 budget, therefore no additional appropriation is necessary.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
This agreement runs through fiscal year 2026-27 with a not-to-exceed contract amount of $250,000. Funds will be incorporated in future budgets.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Marlene L. Garcia LLC Consultant Agreement
Staff Contact: Adrianna Relph, Special Projects & Legislative Manager Tiffany Allen, City Manager