City of Gonzales
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: May 19, 2025
FROM: Taven Kinison Brown, Community Development Director THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Resolution No. 2025-19 Reimbursement Agreement with Jackson Family Investments and Resolution No. 2025-27 Consulting Services Agreement with Brent Slama Consulting
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council Adopt:
1. Resolution No. 2025-19, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Authorizing the City Manager to Sign a Reimbursement Agreement Between the City of Gonzales and Jackson Family Investments for the Revised Puente Del Monte Specific Plan, and Annexation Proposal Submitted to the City of Gonzales, April 7, 2025; and
2. Resolution No. 2025-27, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Authorizing the City Manager to Sign a Consulting Services Agreement Between the City of Gonzales and Brent Slama Consulting to Provide Project Management and Planning Product Production for the Revised Puente Del Monte Specific Plan, and Annexation Proposal Submitted to the City of Gonzales, April 7, 2025
BACKGROUND
On April 7, 2025, Jackson Family Investments (JFI) submitted a revised proposal for their 501-acre Puente Del Monte Specific Plan Project, proposed adjacent to Gloria and Iverson Roads.
AGENDA
ITEM
16 From the Introduction of the revised Puente Del Monte Specific Plan:
Puente Del Monte is a 501-acre planned community, envisioned to provide existing and future residents of Gonzales with a fresh and engaging place to live and play.
With numerous open spaces and parks, a focus on pedestrian connectivity, a mix of uses, and a diverse range of housing, this new community takes a comprehensive approach to development with consideration for quality of life. This includes housing choice, market demand, homes that can accommodate various household compositions, recreation and exercise, outdoor living, walkability, education, social interaction, and local conveniences.
Puente Del Monte is being implemented through a Specific Plan. The Specific Plan is a planning document that guides development of a new community for the City of Gonzales. It will offer a range of housing types, two school locations, vast open space, light industrial and mixed-use opportunities.
REVIEW AND ANALYSIS
Reimbursement Agreement with Jackson Family Investments This Reimbursement Agreement (Exhibit 1 to Resolution No. 2025-19) is standard for the City to undertake the necessary work, studies and development review processes that will be needed. The reimbursement agreement template is current and has previously been reviewed by the City Attorney. The draft Reimbursement Agreement has been signed by representatives of Jackson Family Investments.
The agreement provides for the City to be reimbursed for all City and consultant development review activities that will be performed to implement the Puente Del Monte Specific Plan and Annexation Proposal. Specifically, as identified under Section 1 of the Agreement, Jackson Family Investments will reimburse the City for the costs for:
(a) The review of project applications, plans and reports, and documents for the Puente Del Monte Specific Plan project submitted April 7, 2025, and Annexation Proposal; (b) The preparation and review of reports and documents for use by the City, or other entities with jurisdiction over the project development or property area, such as, but not limited to, the independent reports and studies that serve as foundations to environmental review documentation as required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); (c) The use of outside consultants when deemed necessary by City for the preparation of specialized project-related studies and reports, staff reports and/or general assistance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the City retaining the services of outside consultants for the purpose of preparing specialized project-related studies and reports, City shall provide JFI with an itemized written proposal from the outside consultant which includes the proposed cost to perform the services identified therein. JFI shall have the right to review and comment upon all such proposals, and the City shall take such comments into consideration before entering into any agreement for the desired service; and
(d) Working with JFI, and their agents, to do all things reasonable and necessary to facilitate and obtain required governmental approvals necessary for JFI to entitle the project area and complete annexation into the corporate limits of the City, in accordance with the Puente Del Monte Project proposal on the JFI property. (A tentative subdivision map, or physical on-the-ground development proposal has not been presented at this time (May 2025). (e) Public noticing including required publications in newspapers; (f) The administrative costs of processing consultant invoices and record keeping at rates and markups consistent with the City’s adopted Fee Schedule as may be updated from time to time.
Consultant Services Agreement.
The Consultant Services Agreement format is standard for the City for projects where City development review services need to be supplemented on a project specific or task-specific endeavor. In this case, consultant services are deemed necessary for processing the revised and resubmitted Puente Del Monte Specific Plan. Brent Slama Consulting prepared a Scope of Services/Scope of Work and a Budget that has been vetted with Jackson Family Investments who have expressed their willingness to pay for these supplemental City of Gonzales staff services (Exhibit 1 to Resolution No. 2025-27).
Explain Recommendation and How it Supports the Vision
Gonzales will continue to be a safe, clean, family-friendly community, diverse in its heritage, and committed to working collaboratively to preserve and retain its small-town charm.
Explain: While ministerial in nature, reimbursement agreements and consulting services agreements support the Vision because they allow the City to process important development projects in a revenue neutral capacity (without burden to the budget) that can bring the housing, jobs and economic development necessary to further the Vision.
Explain how the Recommendation Directly Implements the Mission The City Council and Staff of the City of Gonzales will realize our Vision by providing the leadership, commitment, and resources necessary to provide excellent services that enhance the quality of life of our diverse community.
Explain: Please see the Vision above.
City services will be delivered in a cost-effective, respectful, and friendly manner to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents and the promotion of business, recreational, housing and employment opportunities in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Explain: Please see the Vision above
Strong fiscal policies allow us to provide appropriate infrastructure for:
• Public Safety X Yes No N/A
• Housing X Yes No N/A
• Recreation X Yes No N/A
• Environment X Yes No N/A
• Education X Yes No N/A
Explain: Please see the Vision above.
ALTERNATIVES
The Council could opt not to approve the Reimbursement Agreement and the separate Consulting Services Agreement, yet this would preclude efficient cost recovery and project management for a largescale local housing and mixed uses project for the community. City staff would potentially be unable to absorb the additional workload associated with processing such an involved project.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no budget impact associated with the Reimbursement Agreement. The costs to the City to process this project are unknown at this time but a $500,000 cap has been written into the Reimbursement Agreement. An initial development review deposit of $30,000, was deposited April 7, 2025. The Reimbursement Agreement specifies that invoices will be processed by the City monthly to ensure cost recovery from JFI for all City and consultant services as the project proceeds.
CONCLUSION
It is recommended that the City Council Adopt:
1. Resolution No. 2025-19, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Authorizing the City Manager to Sign a Reimbursement Agreement Between the City of Gonzales and Jackson Family Investments for the Revised Puente Del Monte Specific Plan, and Annexation Proposal Submitted to the City of Gonzales, April 7, 2025; and
2. Resolution No. 2025-27, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Gonzales Authorizing the City Manager to Sign a Consulting Services Agreement Between the City of Gonzales and Brent Slama Consulting to Provide Project Management and Planning Product Production for the Revised Puente Del Monte Specific Plan, and Annexation Proposal Submitted to the City of Gonzales, April 7, 2025
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 2025-19 with Jackson Family Investments Reimbursement Agreement
2. Resolution No. 2025-27 with Brent Slama Consulting Agreement