Agenda Item
City Council
Item #: 3.6. 4/25/2023 File #: 23-0220
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THRU: Tom Kisela, City Manager
FROM: Russell Bunim, Community Development Director
1. SUBJECT
Agreement with AECOM Technical Services for the creation of Objective Design Standards.
2. SUMMARY
Consultant Services Agreement with AECOM Technical Services for creation of Objective Design Standards that may be implemented in housing projects requiring ministerial approval by State Law with a not-to-exceed cost of $118,060 plus a contingency allowance of $81,940.
3. RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Approve the agreement with AECOM Technical Services in the amount of $118,060 with a contingency amount of $81,940 for the creation of Objective Design Standards and authorize the Mayor and the City Clerk to execute on behalf of the City.
2. Approve transfer of $200,000 from 550.6011.57670.30143 Other Professional & Consulting - N Tustin Specific Plan to 550.6011.51670.30212 Other Professional & Consulting - Objective Design Standards.
4. FISCAL IMPACT
The total expenditure for this agreement is $200,00 and will be funded through the Reimbursable Capital Project Fund (550).
5. STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Goal 3: Enhance and promote quality of life in the community c: Support and enhance attractive, diverse living environments.
6. DISCUSSION AND BACKGROUND
As State Housing Law continues to evolve, multi-family housing projects with affordable components are required to be ministerially approved. This is evidenced by the Housing Accountability & Affordability Act (SB 35) and the Housing Crisis Act (AB 330 extended under SB 8). Despite the ministerial approval requirement, State Law does allow cities to apply adopted objective design standards to a project before it can proceed to building permits. The City has objective development standards but has very few objective design standards. The City has always relied on subjective design guidelines and a discretionary design review process to determine the adequacy of project design. This process can no longer be utilized for multi-family development applications with a qualifying affordable component. Hence, creation of objective design standards under this grant- reimbursable consultant services agreement will enable the City to review qualifying multi-familyCity of Orange Printed on 4/20/2023Page 1 of 3 powered by Legistar™
Item #: 3.6. 4/25/2023 File #: 23-0220
reimbursable consultant services agreement will enable the City to review qualifying multi-family housing development applications against a set of objective design standards established by the City to reflect the community’svision for different geographic areas of the community and retain ability to direct the design of new residential developments. All other housing development applications would continue to require our normal discretionary review process. A full background, and scope of services/objectives is provided in the Request for Proposals attachment. The Project Scope and Deliverables are provided in the Consultant Services Agreement attachment under the “Scope and Deliverables” attachment.
On April 14, 2020, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 11224 authorizing staff to apply to the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to receive funding of up to $500,000 from Local Government Planning Support Grants Program, Local Early Action Planning (LEAP) grant funds. HCD subsequently awarded the grant. Staff is seeking approval to appropriate $200,000 from this grant for the creation of objective design standards. This includes $81,940 of contingency funds which provides staff the opportunity to request additional graphics and figures to supplement the demonstration of written Objective Design Standards.
Among the goals requested as part of the proposals, the Objective Design Standards would:
· Provide specific site planning standards such as building orientation, site layout, site access, on-site streets, parking lots and courts, EV parking stations, trash enclosures, etc. · Provide standards specific to landscaping, monument signage, open space requirements for common and private open space, site lighting, walls and fences, etc. · Include building design standards such as, but not limited to, general building form, building height and massing, façade articulations, roof forms, doors and entryways, windows, etc. · Include architectural standards for distinct styles which specify criteria in areas such as form and massing, roof, materials and colors, doors and windows, and decorative details.
This project is enabled through LEAP grant funds that remain after City Council’scancellation of the North Tustin Street Specific Plan. The City must deliver grant reimbursement invoices to HCD by September 30, 2023.
On November 1, 2022, the Community Development Department sent a request for proposals to eight qualified planning firms for the preparation of Objective Design Standards. Two proposals were received and both firms were interviewed.
Staff received competitive proposals from the following firms:
Firm Cost Rank
AECOM $118,060 as renegotiated 1
Michael Baker $168,262 as renegotiated 2
Staff conducted a comprehensive review of each proposal ending with a recommendation that the City Council select AECOM on the basis of their proposal and interview demonstrating the best City of Orange Printed on 4/20/2023Page 2 of 3
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Item #: 3.6. 4/25/2023 File #: 23-0220
City Council select AECOM on the basis of their proposal and interview demonstrating the best conveyance of project understanding, experience, proposed work scope, ability to complete the project on time, and ability to complete the work under budget.
A comprehensive set of Objective Design Standards would be completed in September 2023.
Subsequently, staff will present the standards to the City’srecommending bodies and City Council for consideration.
7. ATTACHMENTS
· Request for Proposals
· Consultant Services Agreement
· Scope and Deliverables, Schedule, and Fee Proposal
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