Agenda #: 5.6
Meeting Date: August 15, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Daniel Fox, City Manager
TITLE: CONSULTANT SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH MICHAEL BAKER INTERNATIONAL, INC. FOR THE CANYON LOOP TRAIL HABITAT
MITIGATION MONITORING PROJECT MANAGER THROUGH
AUGUST 15, 2030
STRATEGIC
GOAL: Responsible Stewardship of Public Resources
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve and authorize the City Manager to sign the Consultant Services Agreement with Michael Baker International, Inc.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The total not-to-exceed amount for the term of the Agreement is $72,523.12 for the anticipated five-year restoration period. Currently, sufficient funds remain in the Capital Improvement Program for this Project in the amount of $203,462. If approved, the available balance for the completion of the project is $130,938.
BACKGROUND:
In coordination with the project’s Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration, a Habitat Mitigation Monitoring Program (HMMP) was completed in June of 2023 to describe both the voluntary restoration and the compensatory mitigation for permanent impacts to coast prickly pear scrub (CPPS) and California sagebrush-black sage scrub (CSBSS) associated with the project. The five-year HMMP includes methods to be used during restoration and enhancement, as well as criteria for a Project Manager/Restoration Ecologist to serve as the City’s consultant who will coordinate with the Restoration Contractor.
The Canyon Loop Trail Improvement Project permanently impacted 0.31 acres, which includes vegetation communities and disturbed habitat such as California Sagebrush, Coast Live Oak Woodland and Forest, and Coast Pricky Per Scrub to name a few. Of
the 0.31 acres, only 0.1 acres are considered sensitive communities per California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). (Note: CDFW approved up to 0.187 acres of total project impact to sensitive communities.) In order to mitigate for the loss of this habitat, the City has agreed to on-site restoration in accordance with CDFW totaling
0.24 acres based on those communities considered sensitive by CDFW. The City will be responsible for the funding of the restoration and enhancement effort and acquiring staff to implement the project. The City will be consulted annually and included with regulatory agencies for the final approval of the project in year five.
ANALYSIS:
The City requested proposals for Canyon Loop Trail Improvement Habitat Mitigation Monitoring Program Project Manager/Restoration Ecologist Services on June 13, 2023 to 42 potential consultants. The scope of work included consulting services focused on coordination and management of the restoration contractor, on-site qualitative monitoring, on-site quantitative monitoring, annual reports during each year of the project, and other direct costs. By the deadline of July 6, 2023, five potential consultants provided qualified proposals for staff evaluation. The six potential consultants included:
Consultant Proposed Fee
Chambers Group, Inc $78,745.00
Helix Environmental Planning, Inc. $85,100.00
Leatherman BioConsulting Inc. $34,007.50
Michael Baker International, Inc. $72,523.12 (Recommended) Psomas $76,405.00
City staff reviewed all potential consultants based on the proposed project team, firm’s experience/references, previous related work, project understanding, and fee proposal.
After a thorough review, City staff determined Michael Baker International’s (MBI) experience, unique sub-discipline resources, and experience with the project dating back to the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration in January of 2021 would support this project best. In addition, MBI developed the existing HMMP which has been reviewed and supported by Fish and Wildlife. MBI’s depth of professional resources, including strong working relationship with Fish and Wildlife Service, plus previous experience with this project allows for continued continuity during an anticipated five-year restoration process.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved the agreement as to form.
PREPARED BY:
REVIEWED BY:
Attachments:
1. 5.6.a Contract - Michael Baker International, Inc.