RESOLUTION NO. 2022-63
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF GONZALES, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING
AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN HARRIS AND ASSOCIATES FOR INITIAL WORK ON THE CITY OF GONZALES 6TH CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE
FOR THE PERIOD 2023-2031
WHEREAS, On July 1, 2022, the City of Gonzales (City) invited proposals from consultant firms or consultant teams to complete a housing element update, related rezoning and all necessary environmental review as required under State law, in a manner consistent with the Regional Housing Needs Allocation 6th Cycle (RHNA 6) planning period (2023-2031); and WHEREAS, the City received two timely responses that were objectively reviewed and rated by four city staff members; and
WHEREAS, Harris and Associates had the higher rating and staff affirmed that they had met the requirements of a response to the RFP, had the right experience, expertise, and offered a fluent approach to a multicultural engagement with the community, and WHEREAS, Harris and Associates also acknowledged the availability and dedication of qualified staff and that they could get the job done. A follow-up call with a former city client yielded compliments and satisfaction that their city had finished with a certified 6th Cycle Housing Element and that it came in on budget; and
WHEREAS, staff interviewed Harris and Associates via Zoom on Wednesday August 17, 2022 to meet the consultant team, refine the scope of work, staffing assignments and to discuss budget; and
WHEREAS, the task of preparing the 6th Cycle Housing Element Update will approach a cost in the realm of $450,000 to $500,000 (estimated); and WHEREAS, presently, the City only has a $65,000 LEAP grant from the state to get started and underway. Additional funding sources will be needed to complete the task by December of 2023; and
WHEREAS, at the City’s request, Harris and Associates prepared a modified Scope of Services to reflect the City’s ability to commit $65,000 from the LEAP Grant; and WHEREAS, the tasks included in the Modified Scope of Services to get underway with the 6th Cycle Housing Element are:
1) A potential housing sites inventory
2) Early work on the fair housing section
3) A bilingual residential survey about housing needs and initial demographics work, and
4) Working with AMBAG to secure REAP 2.0 funding for housing element preparation. Harris staff will review the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) when released and will prepare one (1) draft and one (1) final version of the application for approval by City Council.
WHEREAS, should we be successful in these efforts to secure additional grant funding, City staff will bring the REAP 2.0 funding requests to and through City Council when ready; and WHEREAS, should we be able to secure additional grant funding, it is not anticipated that the REAP awards will be made timely enough to close funding gaps in the work efforts that need to be started now and for the consultant to stay on task on the City’s behalf. The City of Gonzales will need to find the funds to close this significant gap. REAP 2.0 awards may not be available until April/May of 2023; and
WHEREAS, the Housing Element work will be prepared in accordance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act; and WHEREAS, following, or leading up to, the completion of this initial modified scope of services to a pay-point of $65,000, a new scope of work to complete the preparation of the 6th Cycle Housing Element will be prepared and presented in keeping with available financial resources, requiring additional Council action at that time.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the Acting City Manager is authorized and further directed to prepare and execute an appropriate Agreement between Harris and Associates for initial work on the City Of Gonzales 6th Cycle Housing Element Update for the period 2023-2031 according to the attached Agreement with modified Scope of Services and Budget.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Gonzales duly held on the 6th day of September 2022, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Mayor Pro Tem Scott Funk, Liz Silva, Lorraine Worthy, Paul Miller, and Mayor Jose L. Rios
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
Jose L. Rios, The Honorable Mayor
ATTEST:
Mary Villegas, Deputy City Clerk