Paso Robles City Council
April 16, 2024

CITY OF EL PASO DE ROBLES
"The Pass of the Oaks"
City Council Agenda Addendum

Tuesday, April 16, 2024, 5:30 PM
Tuesday, April 16, 2024, 6:30 PM
Library/Conference Center Council Chamber
1000 Spring Street
Paso Robles, CA 93446
Teleconference Location: 96105 Ocean Breeze Drive, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 Residents can livestream the meeting at www.prcity.com/youtube, and call (805)865-7276 to provide public comment via phone. The phone line will open just prior to the start of the meeting and remain open throughout the meeting to ensure the opportunity to comment on each item heard by the Council, other than brief reports and announcements by staff or the Council.

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AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT Any individual, who because of a disability needs special assistance to attend or participate in this meeting, may request assistance by contacting the City Clerk’s Office (805) 237- 3960. Whenever possible, requests should be made four (4) working days in advance of the meeting.

Pages
Q. DISCUSSION ITEMS
*2. Approval of Consultant Agreement and Establishment of a City Council Ad-hoc Committee for the General Plan Amendment and Rezoning Process - Uptown/Town Center Specific Plan Boundary Expansions - "Olive Street Area Rezoning" 3 - 34
Warren Frace, Community Development Director
CEQA Determination: The City finds that this action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to State Guidelines Section State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15061, subd. (b)(2)-(3), and 15378 because this is only a discussion item currently and no final action that may have a direct or reasonably foreseeable impact on the environment will be taken at this time. Any zoning changes to the Uptown / Town Center Specific Plan will be subject to a future CEQA document.

Recommendation:

1. Approve Resolution 24-XXX(A), approving John. F. Rickenbach Consulting in connection with JFR’s submitted proposal and scope of work in the amount of $86,940, authorizing staff to enter into a contract with JFR to complete this project City Council Agenda April 16, 2024
in accordance with the proposal submitted, and appropriating $87,000 from General Fund reserves to cover the cost of the consultant agreement.

2. Approve Resolution 24-XXX(B), establishing an Ad-Hoc Committee consisting of two Council Members to provide guidance and updates for the process.

City Council Agenda April 16, 2024 Page 2 of 34
Council Agenda Report
From: Warren Frace, Community Development Director
Subject: Approval of Consultant Agreement and Establishment of a City Council Ad-hoc Committee for theGeneral Plan Amendment and Rezoning Process–Uptown / Town Center Specific Plan Boundary Expansions– “Olive Street Area Rezoning”
CEQA Determination: The City finds that this action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to State Guidelines Section State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15061, subd. (b)(2)-(3), and 15378 because this is only a discussion item currently and no final action that may have a direct or reasonably foreseeable impact on the environment will be taken at this time. Any zoning changes to the Uptown / Town Center Specific Plan will be subject to a future CEQA document.

Date: April 16, 2024
Facts

1. In 2016, the City Council formed the Housing Constraints and Opportunities Committee (HCOC) to work with staff to identify strategies to increase housing production in Paso Robles.

2. In 2017, the HCOC identified the expansion of The Uptown/Town Center Specific Plan (UTSP) east of Olive Street as an area that could be rezoned to increase housing production.

3. On August 17, 2023, the HCOC reviewed the proposed UTSP and general plan amendment and rezoning and voted 6-0 (Neel, Koegler, Russel, Cooke, Warner, and Vanderlip) to recommend the City Council initiate the amendment process. The HCOC determined the UTSP’s flexibility with design standards and dwelling types available under the T-3 zone, rather than R-1 and R-2, could produce more infill housing in the area.

4. On October 17, 2023, City Council approved Resolution 23-124, directing staff to initiate a General Plan Amendment and Rezoning of the UTSP boundary expansions as recommended by the HCOC.

Resolution 23-124 indicated staff would return to City Council with a planning consultant contract and scope of work for City Council approval.

5. City staff solicited Request for Proposals (Attachment 1, RFP) for qualified, professional planning firms that specialize in planning land use project management and preparing the necessary policy documents.

6. The City received proposals from the following consultant firms:
 John F. Rickenbach Consulting
 Precision Civil Engineering
 RRM Design Group
 SWCA Environmental Consultants

7. Based on the proposals, all firms demonstrated expertise, experience, and acceptable approaches to the project, therefore all firms were interviewed. After the consultant interview process, the staff determined John. F. Rickenbach Consulting (JFR) was the firm best suited for managing the rezone project.

8. JFR has over 32 years’ experience and specializes in General Plans, Specific Plans, and comparative site analysis. Mr. Rickenbach was the project manager for the City’s APA award-winning 2003 General Plan Update. JFR proposes a high level of consulting expertise and ability to effectively act as an extension of City staff, while interacting with neighborhood groups and the community at large. JFR’s cost proposal was also the lowest received, at $86,940. The proposal and scope of work for JFR are provided in Attachment 2, Draft Resolution, Exhibit A.

9. Preparation of the General Plan Amendment and Re-zoning process would be paid for through the General Fund.

10. The City Council may want to consider appointing a City Council Ad Hoc Committee consisting of two members of the City Council to provide guidance during the amendment and re-zoning process. The Committee could also be involved in the public participation process to ensure community issues are addressed and communicated to the entire City Council.

Options

1. Take no action.

2. Approve Resolution 24-XXX(A) approving John. F. Rickenbach Consulting’s proposal and scope of work in the amount of $86,940, and authorizing staff to enter into a contract with JFR to complete this project in accordance with the proposal submitted; and approve Resolution 24-XXX(B) establishing an Ad-Hoc Committee consisting of two Council Members to provide guidance and updates for the process.

3. Amend the above-listed action.

4. Refer back to staff for additional analysis.

Analysis and Conclusions
At the recommendation of the Housing Constraints and Opportunity Committee (HCOC), on October 17, 2023, the City Council directed staff to initiate a General Plan Amendment and Rezoning process of the Uptown/Town Center Specific Plan. Rezoning is needed to encourage additional residential development within the study area and ensure the City can continue to meet state housing construction mandates.

In an effort to accomplish these tasks efficiently, City staff solicited Request for Proposals from qualified, professional planning firms that specialize in planning land use project management, form-based codes and preparing the necessary policy documents. After interviewing the four companies who submitted proposals and demonstrated expertise, experience, and acceptable approaches to the project, it was determined that the top-rated firm is John F. Rickenbach Consulting (JFR). JFR will be responsible for working with staff to develop a detailed work plan, conducting multiple neighborhood public workshops, and preparing the necessary CEQA and Specific Plan Amendment documents. A complete description of their scope of work can be found in their proposal, Attachment 2, Resolution XXX, Exhibit A. JFR’s proposal cost estimate came in at the lowest among all proposals received. Staff is estimating a 12 to 18-month process to complete the amendments.

An Ad-Hoc Committee could be helpful with the specific plan amendment and re-zoning plan processes.

The committee could monitor the public participation process to ensure community issues are addressed and communicated to the entire City Council, as well as provide updates on the project’s process to the HCOC.

Fiscal Impact
The total cost of the contract with John F. Rickenbach Consulting is $86,940. This is a general government project and funding is limited to the General Fund and because this project was not anticipated at the

beginning of the fiscal year, appropriations from General Fund reserves is necessary should City Council move forward this this consultant agreement. The fiscal impacts of the establishment of an Ad-Hoc Committee will be minimal and mostly be staff time and resources .

CEQA
The City finds that this action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to State Guidelines Section State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15060, subd. (c)(2)-(3), 15378.

Any zoning changes to the Uptown / Town Center Specific Plan will be subject to a future CEQA document.

At a minimum the proposed general plan amendment and zone change will require a Negative Declaration.

Recommendation

1. Approve Resolution 24-XXX(A), approving John. F. Rickenbach Consulting in connection with JFR’s submitted proposal and scope of work in the amount of $86,940, authorizing staff to enter into a contract with JFR to complete this project in accordance with the proposal submitted, and appropriating $87,000 from General Fund reserves to cover the cost of the consultant agreement.

2. Approve Resolution 24-XXX(B), establishing an Ad-Hoc Committee consisting of two Council Members to provide guidance and updates for the process.

Attachments

1. RFP – UTSP Amendment – Project Management Services

2. Resolution 24-XXX(A) authorizing staff to enter a contract with John F. Rickenbach Consulting a. Exhibit A – JFR proposal

3. Resolution 24-XXX(B) establishing an Ad-Hoc Committee

1 City of El Paso de Robles
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS:

PROJECT MANAGER FOR

GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT AND REZONING OF

UPTOWN/TOWN CENTER SPECIFIC PLAN (UTCSP)

BOUNDARY EXPANSION
Community Development Department
1000 Spring Street
Paso Robles, CA 93446
December 21, 2023

RFP RESPONSES ARE DUE NO LATER THAN
5:00PM ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2024
Attachment 1
Request for Proposals

2 I. SECTION 1: OVERVIEW
The City of Paso Robles is requesting proposals from well qualified Land Use Planning consulting firms or individuals to act as a project manager for a general plan amendment and rezoning to expand the Uptown/Town Center Specific Plan (UTCSP), including the following:

1. General Plan Amendment and Rezoning to expand the boundaries of the Uptown/Town Center Specific Plan;

2. Specific Plan Amendments to the development standards of the UTCSP to be more objective;

3. Rezone of miscellaneous parcels within the UTCSP to an alternative UTCSP T-zone designation;

4. Public Outreach management and meetings

5. Staff reports, CEQA documents, resolutions, and ordinances for Planning Commission and City Council; and

6. Public hearings presentations at Development Review Committee, Planning Commission and City Council.

If your firm is interested and qualified, please deliver a printed copy and digital PDF format of your proposal by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 9, 2024 to:

Paso Robles Community Development Department
City Hall
1000 Spring Street
Paso Robles, California 93446
If you have any questions about the proposal process or content, please contact Darcy Delgado, Associate Planner at (805) 237-3970 or by email at [email protected].

SECTION 2: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
Introduction
The 2011 Uptown/Town Centre Specific Plan (UTCSP) encompasses 1,100 acres of urbanized land on the historic West Side of the City, between 1st and 38th Streets and between the Salinas River and Vine Street. The specific plan is a form-based code that establishes a vision for infill development and redevelopment in a manner that incorporates mixed uses, increased residential densities, encourages a variety of multi-family, in-fill residential housing types, and supports a complete streets-based circulation system. It is important for the firms responding to this RFP to be knowledgeable of form-based codes to ensure there is continuity within the plan’s structure given the scope of work.

Boundary Expansion
While the UTCSP included most of the original Paso Robles town grid blocks, most of the block that are directly west of Olive Street were excluded and continued to have an R-1 or R-2 zoning Attachment 1
Request for Proposals

3 designation. Based on the UTSP’s flexibility with design standards and dwelling types available, expansion of the specific plan may provide opportunities for more infill housing in the area. The City would like to explore the expansion of the UTSP east of Olive Street as an area that could be rezoned.

Objective Design Standards
The City believes Chapter 5 of the UTCSP contains objective design standards when it comes to reviewing multi-family housing and mixed-use developments. However, the City would like to consider additional objective criteria to further streamline development applications and make clarifications as needed.

Rezone
Staff have identified various undeveloped parcels within the UTCSP area that may benefit from being rezoned to alternative designations to encourage developer interest for in-fill residential and mixed-use developments.

Other Miscellaneous Updates
Over time, staff have noted various opportunities to fix formatting within Chapter 5 of the UTCSP as well as make minor updates to development standards. For the latter, the suggested fixes would mostly include clarifications to general requirements for various building types, such as allowing alternative access for non-alley lots, clarifying acceptable parking surface materials, reducing setbacks for parking off of alleys, and other slight changes.

SECTION 3. SCOPE OF WORK
The selected Consultant will act as project manager and conduct a public process to expand the boundaries and develop updates to the 2011 Uptown/Town Centre Specific Plan (UTCSP) for the City of Paso Robles. The Consultant will develop a final work program in conjunction with City staff, but the scope of work should include the following:

Consultant RFP Duties:

1. Develop a detailed timeline schedule with milestones leading toward the adoption of the UTCSP updates. The preferred completion of all of the UTCSP updates is Fall 2025.

2. Review existing boundaries of the UTCSP and prepare an Impact and Constraints Analysis of performing an amendment.

3. Conduct Neighborhood Public Workshop #1.

4. Prepare an outline of proposed plans and amendments.

5. Conduct Neighborhood Public Workshop #2.

6. Prepare necessary environmental compliance documents in conformance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as well as public hearing staff reports, resolutions and ordinances. The consultant should be knowledgeable and competent in environmental analysis and CEQA compliance documents.

7. Prepare Draft and Final documents for public hearing process. For review and adoption of the Uptown/Town Center Specific Plan updates, the Consultant should assume one (1) inAttachment 1 Request for Proposals

4 person Development Review Committee meeting one (1) in-person Planning Commission meeting and one (2) in-person City Council meetings (this includes first and second reading), with a contingency for additional in-person meetings.

Budget / Timeline
Provide an estimated proposed budget and timeline identifying each task, projected hours for completion, and staffing assignment and hourly rates.

Project Manager
Identify the project manager that will be assigned to the project and be the daily contact for the City.

Deliverables

1. Memo of Impact and Constraints Analysis

2. Prepare administrative and public review draft textual changes to the Uptown/Town Center Specific Plan (Word.doc and PDF format only)

3. CEQA-related documentation for this project

4. Staff reports, CEQA documents, resolutions, and ordinances for Planning Commission and City Council

5. Final version of the Uptown/Town Center Specific Plan document with textual changes (Word.doc and PDF format only)
a. City staff will make any changes to the GIS-mapping
SECTION 4. RFP SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS
Consultants responding to this Request for Proposal must present satisfactory evidence to the City, indicating its ability to meet the Scope of Work outlined above. A qualifying proposal must include the following information.
• Project Title
• Name and contact information of firm
• Firm Qualifications: firm specialization and qualifications; names and qualifications of personnel to be assigned to the project, specifying project manager; list of similar projects and contact information of projects; (3) client references from recent related projects including contact information and individual to contact for referral • Understanding of Scope of Work and approach to the Project: summary of approach proposed; description of the firm staffing and their expertise to be used; information to be used/needed for the project
Attachment 1
Request for Proposals

5 • Schedule for Completion: Timeframe proposed to complete the project (once a notice to proceed is issued), including turnaround time for product revisions • Budget: Itemize products, meetings, staff hours and cost per staff hour for project work, and total proposed budget with incidental costs for mailing, reproduction, etc. included. Itemize a “not-to-exceed” amount for travel reimbursements including fuel, lodging and meals • Fees and insurance: proposed not-to-exceed fees for all work under Project Scope, documentation that firm has required general liability insurance coverage in the amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence; $2,000,000 aggregate, and include an endorsement with the City of Paso Robles named an additional insured, and $2,000,000 professional liability insurance SECTION 5. PRE-SUBMITTAL CONFERENCE
City staff will host a virtual pre-submittal conference on January 17, 2024 at 1:30 PM to answer questions about the RPF submittal. Consultants are strongly encouraged to attend the presubmittal conference. For meeting details, please contact Darcy Delgado, Associate Planner at (805) 237-3970 or by email at [email protected].

SECTION 6. CONSULTANT SELECTION PROCESS
A Selection Committee will review the proposals, and the most qualified consultants will be invited for an interview with the Committee. Following the interviews, the Committee will select the consultant demonstrating the best qualifications and ideas for this effort, and recommend to the City Council approval of the consultant selection and direct Staff to negotiate an Agreement for professional services.

SECTION 7. CONSULTANT SELECTION CRITERIA
The City reserves the right to act as the sole judge of the contents of all proposals. In soliciting these proposals, it is the intent of the City to have the best possible service performed on this project. Therefore, selection of the consultant will be based upon the following considerations and criteria:
• Consultant’s demonstrated experience with similar projects; • Consultant's experience with public outreach and participation processes; • Consultant’s demonstrated ability to manage and coordinate the project in a timely manner; • The quality, amount, and type of services proposed;
• Completeness in proposal response;
• Proposed cost; and
• Any other considerations deemed pertinent by the City.

All proposals received in response to this RFP shall become property of the City and become a matter of public record, except for those parts of each proposal which are defined by the consultant as business or trade secrets, provided that the said parts are submitted in a sealed envelope and clearly marked as “confidential” or “proprietary”.

Attachment 1
Request for Proposals

6 Granting of this contract may require disclosure of personal financial interests under the Political Reform Act.

Contract Requirements
The consultant selected shall execute a written contract with the City within (14) calendar days after notice of selection has been awarded. A sample contract agreement is available upon request.

SECTION 8. DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE
Your firm may contact the City to obtain documents, as necessary, to assist in preparing your response to the RFP. Documents available include:
• 2011 Uptown/Town Centre Specific Plan is available on the City website:
https://www.prcity.com/362/Uptown-Town-Centre-Specific-Plan SECTION 9: RFP SUBMISSION DEADLINE
• All RFP responses must be received by the Community Development Department by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 9, 2024. Responses received after the specified time and date will not be considered.

SECTION 10. CONSULTANT INQUIRIES
For further information or inquiries about this RFP, please contact:

City of El Paso de Robles, Community Development Department Darcy Delgado, Associate Planner
1000 Spring Street
Paso Robles, CA 93446
805-237-3970
[email protected]
Thank you for your interest in proposing on this project.

Attachment 1
Request for Proposals

Attachment 2
RESOLUTION 24-XXX(A)

RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF EL PASO DE ROBLES CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A CONSULTANT AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO JOHN F.

RICKENBACH CONSULTING TO MANAGE A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT AND REZONING PROCESS – UPTOWN / TOWN CENTER SPECIFIC PLAN BOUNDARY EXPANSIONS – “OLIVE STREET AREA REZONING” AND APPROVING AN EXPENDITURE OF $86,940 FOR CONSULTANT SERVICES.

WHEREAS, in 2016 the City Council formed the Housing Constraints and Opportunities Committee (HCOC) to work with staff to identify strategies to increase housing production in Paso Robles.

WHEREAS, in 2017, the HCOC identified the expansion of The Uptown/Town Center Specific Plan (UTSP) area east of Olive St. as an area that could be rezoned to increase housing production. At its August 17, 2023, meeting, the HCOC reviewed the proposed UTSP and general plan amendment and rezoning and voted 6-0 (Neel, Koegler, Russel, Cooke, Warner, and Vanderlip) to recommend the City Council initiate the amendment process. The HCOC determined the UTSP’s flexibility with design standards and dwelling types available under the T-3 zone, rather than R-1 and R-2, could produce more infill housing in the area.

WHEREAS, at its October 17, 2023, meeting the City Council approved staff to initiate a General Plan Amendment and Rezoning of the UTSP boundary expansions as recommended by the HCOC and Opportunities Committee.

WHEREAS, on October 17, 2023 City Council approved Resolution 23-124 which indicated staff would return to City Council with a planning consultant contract and scope of work for City Council approval.

WHEREAS, given the scope of the project, staff requested proposals from qualified, professional planning firms and selected John F. Rickenbach as the top-rated firm to assist with the completion of the project.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council authorizes the City Manager to execute John F.

Rickenbach’s contract of $86,940, based upon the proposal submitted in response to the City’s Request for Proposals and subject to non-substantive technical revisions by the City Attorney, and appropriate funds from General Fund reserves to cover the cost of the contract.

APPROVED this 16th day of April, 2024, by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

John R. Hamon, Jr. , Mayor
ATTEST:

Melissa Boyer, City Clerk
Exhibit A – JFR Proposal

Proposal to Provide Project Management Services for the Uptown/Town Centre Specific Plan Boundary
Expansion, General Plan Amendment and
Rezoning
Submitted to:

City of El Paso de Robles
Community Development Department
February 9, 2024
John F. Rickenbach Consulting
7675 Bella Vista Road
Atascadero, California 93422
_____________________________________________________________________ Exhibit A
JFR Consultant Proposal

John F. Rickenbach Consulting
7675 Bella Vista Road
Atascadero, California 93422
805/610 -1109
[email protected]
February 9, 2024
Darcy Delgado
Associate Planner
City of El Paso de Robles Community Development Department 1000 Spring Street
Paso Robles, CA 93446
Subject: Proposal to Provide Project Management Services for the Uptown/Town Centre Specific Plan Boundary Expansion, General Plan Amendment and Rezoning Dear Darcy:

John F. Rickenbach (JFR) Consulting is very pleased to submit this proposal to provide project management services to assist staff in processing the Uptown/Town Centre Specific Plan Boundary Expansion, General Plan Amendment and Rezoning. JFR Consulting is a local firm specializing in municipal planning services for agencies throughout the Central Coast, and believes strongly in the core principle that the best decisions are made through community based planning. I also believe that for the most conceptually challenging assignments, cities need the most experienced assistance. I have over 32 years of experience managing some of the most complex and controversial projects in the region, applying many years of local planning and CEQA expertise to assignments that require a level head, the ability to build trust with the community, and the experience to provide staff with good advice and clear direction. In my career, I have prepared many long-range planning documents, including General Plans, Specific Plans, complex programmatic CEQA documents, constraints studies, and conducted many public outreach programs in support of these efforts. I am attaching a full resume for your consideration.

I am the sole proprietor of the firm, so there will be no “bait-and-switch” if I am hired for the job. At the same time, I have worked with many technical consultants, so am able to suggest and work with others if additional technical expertise is needed as a result of information gathered through the public outreach process.

I am excited about this project, for many reasons. Frankly, local projects such as this are where I focus my business, and that all starts with building relationships with staff and the greater community whose input is crucial to a successful planning process. I want to do a great job for you, and based on my experience, am extremely confident of leading a process that City staff and the community in general can feel was fair and thorough. If you have questions about this proposal, please feel free to contact me at (805) 610-1109, or at [email protected].

Sincerely,
JOHN F. RICKENBACH CONSULTING
John Rickenbach, AICP
Principal Planner
Exhibit A
JFR Consultant Proposal

City of Paso Robles
Uptown/Town Centre Specific Plan Amendment – Project Management Services JFR Consulting
- 1 -
A. INTRODUCTION AND PROJECT UNDERSTANDING
John F. Rickenbach Consulting is pleased to submit this proposal in response to the City of Paso Robles’ Request for Proposals (RFP) to provide project management services related to amending the Uptown/Town Centre Specific Plan (UTCSP), General Plan Amendment and rezoning. Adopted in 2011, the UTCSP encompasses 1,100 acres of urbanized land on the historic west side of the City, between 1st and 38th Streets and between the Salinas River and Vine Street. The specific plan is a form-based code that establishes a vision for infill development and redevelopment in a manner that incorporates mixed uses, increased residential densities, encourages a variety of multi-family, in-fill residential housing types, and supports a complete streets-based circulation system.

In general, there are three primary purposes for amending the UTCSP and related actions: 1) to expand its boundaries to include additional lower density housing parcels that could benefit from the flexible development standards provided in its form-based code in order to allow multi-family or mixed use development; 2) to refine the objective design standards in the UTCSP for clarity, ease of use, and consistency of application, in order to streamline the application process for individual developments; and 3) to make minor changes to the UTCSP identified by staff to clarify ambiguities in the document to eliminate possible confusion regarding its ongoing use.

Our proposal includes a scope of services, qualifications, and cost estimate, as specified in the RFP. This conceptual scope was developed based on our understanding the nature of the required tasks and goals associated this assignment, and may be modified as needed to better need the City’s needs. The qualifications of the firm, as well as professional references, are also included in this proposal. A professional resume is included at the end.

B. SCOPE OF SERVICES
JFR Consulting proposes the following work program to manage the proposed Uptown/Town Centre Specific Plan (UTCSP) amendment and related actions. This work scope assumes that the process will be highly collaborative with City staff, and assumes close coordination with respect to the review and preparation of key deliverables. Because public outreach is a crucial aspect of this effort, the overall approach will be to conduct a process that is simple and logical, with documentation that is easily understandable. The focus will be on preparing documents that are readily usable by both the public and City staff. The intended outcome of this effort is to provide additional flexibility for those seeking to develop property in the target areas, while at the same time ensuring that such uses remain compatible with neighboring uses and are consistent with the existing conceptual framework of the UTCSP and its form-based code.

In general, the work program envisions taking the lead on this process, including all steps related to document preparation, coordination with City staff, preparation of staff reports, and presentations as needed. The concept is to function as an extension of staff. Based on these assumptions, these are the conceptual tasks that are included in this work scope:

Project Management Process
• Task 1: Coordination Meeting with City Staff
• Task 2: Develop Detailed Work Plan and Project Schedule Exhibit A
JFR Consultant Proposal

City of Paso Robles
Uptown/Town Centre Specific Plan Amendment – Project Management Services JFR Consulting
- 2 -
• Task 3: Prepare Memorandum of Impacts and Constraints • Task 4: Conduct Neighborhood Public Workshop #1
• Task 5: Prepare Draft Specific Plan Amendment
• Task 6: Conduct Neighborhood Public Workshop #2
• Task 7: Prepare CEQA Documentation
• Task 8: Prepare Final Specific Plan Amendment for Public Hearings • Task 9: Public Hearing Process
• Task 10: Coordinate with City staff to Revise Specific Plan Amendment as needed • Task 11: Ongoing Meetings with City Staff as needed (assume 1 hour per week) • Task 12: Project Management (internal administrative management) Each of these tasks is described in greater detail below. It should be noted that the specific tasks and level of effort associated with each one may change based on unforeseen circumstances, or the City’s desire to reallocate consulting resources. Our intent in writing this scope is to be responsive to the City’s current request, understanding that we will work with the City to refine the scope as needed. With that in mind, here are the specific tasks:

Task 1. Coordination Meeting with City Staff. John Rickenbach will attend a kickoff meeting with City staff. The basic goal in this meeting is to determine how we can best help City staff in the most efficient and effective way possible given potential time, budget and staffing constraints. We will confirm the key products and schedule associated with the effort, and establish communication protocols among City staff and the community in general. This task also includes the review of any relevant existing materials that have already been prepared, which may necessitate a follow-up meeting or phone call to refine the project approach established at the kickoff meeting.

Deliverables: Attend kickoff meeting; confirm study goals; receive and review project materials; refine our approach with City staff as needed.

Task 2. Develop Detailed Work Plan and Project Schedule. Based on the input received in the kickoff meeting, we will develop a realistic work plan and project schedule responsive to City goals for the overall effort, aiming to complete the entire process before Fall 2025. This schedule will be reviewed by City staff before being publicly distributed via the City’s website.

Deliverables: Prepare a schedule coordinating the planning process, to be reviewed by City staff prior to public distribution.

Task 3. Prepare Memorandum of Impacts and Constraints. This task is intended to provide a baseline report, which describes the UTCSP, identifies areas that could be considered for possible inclusion within its boundaries, and generally identifies possible constraints related to that action. These constraints could be both physical or regulatory, and could address issues related to land use compatibility, environmental concerns, parcel size and shape, challenges in applying the UTCSP standards to these parcels, and the fairness of considering these parcels and not others. There may be other issues as well.

There are three subtasks involved in this effort. The first is to listen to staff in order to understand the possible issues of concern, how these might best be framed in a report, and the parcels for potential inclusion in the specific plan. The second subtask is to prepare the draft report, which is envisioned as a concise memorandum that describes the project and intended outcome, highlights the key issues, providing just enough supporting information to illustrate possible constraints. It is intended to be Exhibit A
JFR Consultant Proposal

City of Paso Robles
Uptown/Town Centre Specific Plan Amendment – Project Management Services JFR Consulting
- 3 -
easily understandable to the general public, and an exhaustive technical analysis. The third subtask is to refine the report based on City staff’s review. The completed report would then be released to the public by city staff, and would form the basis for workshops described in subsequent tasks.

In all, we anticipate that this memorandum will be as long as needed to draw the necessary conclusions, but sufficiently brief to be user-friendly. To the extent possible, the report will use matrices, tables, and graphics to convey the needed information.

Deliverables: Prepare a concise, readable and non-technical memorandum describing the project, its purpose, potential boundary expansion, and key constraints that could be encountered with respect to future development. We will deliver one (1) electronic copy of the report for City staff review. All printing (if any) will be handled by the City.

Task 4. Conduct Neighborhood Public Workshop #1. John Rickenbach will lead the first of two neighborhood workshops that will focus on as educating the community on the purpose of the project, and then identifying and prioritizing the community’s key issues of concern. We will also present a summary of the key issues and constraints identified in the memorandum prepared in Task 3. Our goal will be to engage participants in a non-threatening and interactive way that will allow the community and stakeholders an opportunity to discuss issues, priorities, and possible solutions to key challenges.

John would prepare workshop handouts as needed, including a PowerPoint presentation, and written project summary materials. It is assumed that City staff will assist in the presentation as needed, such as making copies of workshop materials, recording responses and providing logistical support in terms of securing a location for the workshop.

Optional Task: Key Stakeholder Interviews/Focus Groups. As an optional task for additional cost, we could work with City staff to conduct one day of 30 to 60-minute interviews with key property and business owners, interest groups and neighborhood representatives, decision makers, and others to help explore and understand the issues important to the community relative to this planning process.

The City would coordinate meeting location and set up. This task allows for additional stakeholder coordination throughout the process, and may reveal more candid answers in a one-on-one setting. We would provide a cost estimate for this service upon request.

Deliverables: Lead a City-organized public workshop, the purpose of which would be to gain community input that guides the possible outcome of the project. As appropriate, we will prepare supporting materials, including PowerPoint presentations. City staff to coordinate meeting logistics, notification, microphones, refreshments, and advertisement, as needed.

Task 5. Prepare Draft Specific Plan Amendment. Based on public input gained Workshop #1 and direction from City staff, we will prepare the draft text changes to the specific plan, highlighting those changes with underlined or strikeout text as appropriate. It is assumed that any changes to graphics in the specific plan will be done by City staff, but based on mark-ups provided by JFR Consulting. This administrative draft document will be reviewed by City staff. Based on comments from staff, we will revise the proposed specific plan changes as a draft Specific Plan Amendment document for potential public review. It is assumed the City will provide the noticing, logistics and materials (if any) for public distribution of the document.

Exhibit A
JFR Consultant Proposal

City of Paso Robles
Uptown/Town Centre Specific Plan Amendment – Project Management Services JFR Consulting
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Deliverables: We will prepare an administrative draft version of the specific plan amendment in digital format for City staff review, indicating changes with strikeout and underlined text. Based on City comments, we will revise the document into a Public Draft, which we will provide to the City in digital form. City staff to coordinate printing, noticing, and distribution as needed.

Task 6. Conduct Neighborhood Public Workshop #2. John Rickenbach will lead the second of two neighborhood workshops that will focus on presenting the draft specific plan amendment, and how it responds to community concerns raised in the first workshop. We will take additional public input, with an ear to understanding any remaining concerns, priorities, or challenges that should be considered in public hearings before the Planning Commission and City Council. As with the first workshop, John would prepare workshop handouts as needed, including a PowerPoint presentation, and written project summary materials. It is assumed that City staff will assist in the presentation as needed, such as making copies of workshop materials, recording responses and providing logistical support in terms of securing a location for the workshop.

Deliverables: Lead a City-organized public workshop, the purpose of which would be to gain community input that guides the possible outcome of the project. As appropriate, we will prepare supporting materials, including PowerPoint presentations. City staff to coordinate meeting logistics, notification, microphones, refreshments, and advertisement, as needed.

Task 7. Prepare CEQA Documentation. We are proposing to satisfy requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) through the preparation of an Addendum to the 2011 Final EIR for the Uptown/Town Centre Specific Plan, pursuant to Section 15164 of the State CEQA Guidelines, which allows a lead agency to prepare an addendum to a Final EIR when only “minor technical changes or additions” are necessary to address the effects of a minor change to the approved project since the Final EIR was certified.

In addition, the lead agency is required to explain its decision not to prepare a subsequent EIR pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15162, which requires subsequent EIRs when proposed changes would require major revisions to the previous EIR “due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects.” When there are no new impacts, or an increase in severity from previously identified impacts, and no new or substantially modified mitigation measures required, an Addendum is an appropriate mechanism for CEQA compliance. An EIR Addendum does not require public circulation, but a lead agency may choose to do so if it wishes.

We have used this approach successfully in other cities for similar planning processes that involve specific plan amendments of this type where the type of development that may occur is speculative, and potentially not significantly different than what would have otherwise occurred under the existing regulatory framework. This approach would streamline the planning process upfront (both in terms of time and cost), and recognizes that individual development projects would still be subject to CEQA in any event, some of which could be potentially categorically exempt as infill projects, while other more complex projects may require more robust review under CEQA.

This scope of work assumes that no supporting technical studies would be required, such as an analysis of Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), air quality, greenhouse gas emissions or noise. If the City determines Exhibit A
JFR Consultant Proposal

City of Paso Robles
Uptown/Town Centre Specific Plan Amendment – Project Management Services JFR Consulting
- 5 -
that any or all of these are required, it may still be possible to prepare an Addendum, depending on the conclusions of those studies.

It is recognized that input from the City Attorney, other City staff, or concerns raised by the public through the two workshops could change this strategy, but as an expert CEQA practitioner with over 32 years of experience, I’d be glad to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches to CEQA compliance for this effort before moving forward with this aspect of the process.

Deliverables: We will prepare an administrative draft EIR Addendum for City staff review. It is assumed that no new technical studies will be required to support the CEQA documentation, although it may rely on any relevant technical studies or that have been previously prepared. Based on City staff comments, we will revise the document into a final form. This document is not normally public circulated, but is typically included in the appropriate staff reports when the project is being considered for approval. We will deliver one (1) electronic copy of the report for City staff review. All printing (if any) will be handled by the City. If the City voluntarily chooses to publicly circulate the Addendum, it will be responsible for any noticing or other logistics as it determines to be appropriate.

This scope of work assumes that no supporting technical studies will be required.

Task 8. Prepare Final Specific Plan Amendment for Public Hearings. Based on the outcome of the two workshops, and any insights gained through the CEQA process, we will revise the draft specific plan amendment language into a final version that will be considered during the public hearings for this process. With input from the City Attorney, we will also prepare any required resolutions or ordinances in advance of these hearings. The Addendum will also include any necessary CEQA findings to support its conclusions, which will be carried forward in the staff reports to be prepared for public hearings described in Task 9 below. It is assumed the City will provide the noticing, logistics and materials (if any) for public distribution of the document.

Deliverables: We will prepare a final version of the specific plan amendment in digital format for consideration during upcoming public hearings. This tasks also involves preparing any draft resolutions or ordinances that may be required, in coordination with the City Attorney.

Task 9. Public Hearing Process. It is assumed that the following public hearings will be required prior to project approval:
• Development Review Committee (1 meeting);
• Planning Commission (1 meeting); and
• City Council (2 meetings; the second only for a second reading of the ordinance adopted at the first hearing)
Staff Report Preparation. Based on direction from City staff, John Rickenbach will prepare a staff report and necessary supporting materials for each of the hearings that summarizes the project’s purpose, the specific plan amendment itself, possible constraints and likely long-term outcomes of that action, public input received, and the CEQA review process supporting the action. Each staff report will discuss the action in the context of the General Plan and existing Specific Plan, and its consistency with Exhibit A
JFR Consultant Proposal

City of Paso Robles
Uptown/Town Centre Specific Plan Amendment – Project Management Services JFR Consulting
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other relevant policies and documents that affect planning within the City. The document will include all attachments and exhibits as needed, using City templates.

Deliverables: Prepare a staff report for each public hearing evaluating the proposed project.

City staff will review the report before it is finalized.

Presentation and Hearing Attendance. John Rickenbach will present the project before the Development Review Committee and Planning Commission for their recommendations, and to the City Council for its potential approval. John will prepare a PowerPoint presentation for each hearing, coordinated with City staff, and present it at each hearing. It is assumed that there would be one meeting with the Development Review Committee, one at Planning Commission, and two before the City Council. Attendance and/or presentations at additional meetings will be on a time and materials basis, including time needed to prepare for the meetings. It is estimated that attendance at would cost $720 per meeting (4 hours), along with the cost of any additional staff reports and presentations to be added to this baseline.

Deliverables: Present the project to the Development Review Committee, Planning Commission and City Council based on a PowerPoint presentation.

Task 10. Coordinate with City staff to Revise Specific Plan Amendment as needed. Assuming the project is approved, we will work with City staff to revise and finalize the Specific Plan Amendment and related ordinance and resolution to be consistent with City Council direction.

Deliverable: We will work with staff to revise the revise the specific plan amendment and related ordinance and resolutions (if approved) to be consistent with the City Council findings and direction.

Task 11. Ongoing Meetings with City Staff. Through the course of this project phase, we expect to meet with City staff on a regular basis, either in person, online, or on the phone. Our scope of work assumes one (1) hour of meetings per week on average for the duration of the project, assumed at this point to be 40 weeks. We understand that this is an estimate, and the number or duration of meetings may be higher or lower, depending on how the process unfolds.

Deliverables: Meeting attendance, follow-up as needed
Task 12. Project Management. This task addresses ongoing internal project administration throughout the course of the project, including logistics related to scope and contract issues, as well as other administrative tasks in support of the project.

In all, we anticipate that the entire study will be brief. It will be as long as needed to draw the necessary conclusions, but sufficiently brief to be user-friendly. To the extent possible, the study will use matrices, tables, and graphics to convey the needed information.

Deliverable: Our team will deliver one (1) electronic copy of the First Draft Options Report for City staff review. We will print as many as requested, but for budget purposes have assumed 10 copies at 50 pages each, with multiple color pages.

Exhibit A
JFR Consultant Proposal

City of Paso Robles
Uptown/Town Centre Specific Plan Amendment – Project Management Services JFR Consulting
- 7 -
C. PROJECT MANAGER
John F. Rickenbach Consulting, with John Rickenbach as Project Manager, will manage the contract locally. John will handle all day-to-day coordination with the City and be the primary contact. Based on our experience, this type of assignment requires a high level of consulting expertise and ability to effectively act as an extension of City staff, while interacting with neighborhood groups and the community at large. The City will have John’s full commitment to this assignment.

D. SCHEDULE
We propose to adhere to an aggressive but realistic schedule. We understand the City’s big picture goal is to have the assignment completed by Fall 2025, and we believe this is a realistic and achievable goal.

One reason for this is that we intend to streamline the CEQA process through the preparation of an EIR Addendum, which does not require pubic circulation. In a general sense, this is a possible timeline for the entire process, which with the assumptions stated below is estimated to take about 45 weeks from contract execution:

Kickoff Meeting 1 week after contract execution
Detailed Workplan and Schedule 2 weeks after kickoff meeting Boundary Assessment and Constraints Memo 8 weeks after workplan approval Public Workshop #1 4 weeks after public release of memo Draft Specific Plan Amendment 4 weeks after Public Workshop #1 Public Workshop #2 4 weeks after public release of memo EIR Addendum 6 weeks after Public Workshop #2
Final Specific Plan Amendment Concurrent with EIR Addendum Development Review Committee Meeting 4 weeks after Final Specific Plan Amendment Planning Commission Hearing 4 weeks after DRC Meeting
City Council Hearing #1 4 weeks after Planning Commission Hearing City Council Hearing #2 2 weeks after City Council Hearing #1 Finalize Documents 2 weeks after City Council Hearing #2 It should be noted that we would refine this rough timeline estimate as part of Task 2, where we develop a detailed work plan and schedule in consultation with City staff. In our experience, so much depends on the nature and timing of internal staff coordination, and the level of public and political controversy that may arise surrounding the process. Nevertheless, we endeavor to work diligently on the assignment. Our goal is to assist City staff in any way needed, and we are flexible in terms of reprioritizing the issues laid out in our scope of work to more efficiently meet the City’s needs. We will work closely with staff at the outset to develop a project schedule that can be supported by all parties.

E. COST ESTIMATE
John F. Rickenbach Consulting will provide contract planning services in accordance with our scope of work for an estimated not-to-exceed fee of up to $86,940. This fee includes all project management, meetings, report preparation, report review and other tasks associated with the overall assignment. It also reflects John Rickenbach’s billing rate of $180 per hour, as shown on the accompanying spreadsheet.

Exhibit A
JFR Consultant Proposal

City of Paso Robles
Uptown/Town Centre Specific Plan Amendment – Project Management Services JFR Consulting
- 8 -
Our cost estimate is just that—an estimate. Experience suggests that these processes often take unanticipated directions, and sometimes certain tasks require more (or less) effort than originally estimated. With that in mind, our proposed scope of work and related cost estimate are based on the following assumptions:

1. John Rickenbach will be the Project Manager and single point of contact.

2. Our scope includes attendance at a project kickoff meeting, 2 public workshops, 4 public hearings, and an estimated one hour per week of meetings with City staff through the process, some of which may be informal consultation via email and on the phone. Public hearings would be attended on a time and materials billing basis. Additional meetings are possible at $180 per hour on a time and materials basis.

3. The scope of work does not include any subconsultant tasks or fees, but if the City wishes to include other consultants on the team under separate contract for specific tasks, we will be glad to work with them.

4. We assume the City will incur all printing costs, and that all deliverables will be sent in electronic form.

5. If additional hours are needed in the process, or if additional time is needed for meetings and coordination because of unforeseen project complexities, we will notify the City as early as possible to determine how best to address these issues. If all parties agree, we will request additional funding for items not in the original scope of work.

6. We can re-allocate portions of the budget to different tasks if the City determines that the time is better allocated to such tasks.

7. Subsequent processing steps (if any) cannot be known at this time, and are therefore not covered in this scope of work. We can provide a cost estimate for subsequent tasks if requested by the City.

We intend to invoice the City monthly on a time-and-materials basis, not to exceed the total fee shown above.

The proposed scope of services and associated costs are fully negotiable to meet the needs of the City.

Additional work not included within our proposed work program will be completed only upon written City authorization on a time-and-materials basis. This offer for services is valid for 60 days. Questions regarding the proposal and accompanying cost estimate may be directed to John Rickenbach at 805/610-1109, or at [email protected].

INSURANCE
JFR Consulting certifies that we carry professional insurance coverage that meets the City’s requirements, as set forth in the RFP. We are prepared to provide necessary documentation to that effect upon request.

Exhibit A
JFR Consultant Proposal

City of Paso Robles
Uptown/Town Centre Specific Plan Amendment – Project Management Services JFR Consulting
- 9 -
Exhibit A
JFR Consultant Proposal

City of Paso Robles
Uptown/Town Centre Specific Plan Amendment – Project Management Services JFR Consulting
- 10 -
F. QUALIFICATIONS AND RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
John F. Rickenbach Consulting is a land use planning and environmental consulting firm based in Atascadero, California. John Rickenbach is an acknowledged expert in California state planning law, as well as the application of CEQA, NEPA, and other state and federal environmental laws, particularly with regard to Program EIRs for long-range planning efforts. With over 32 years working throughout the State of California, John has unparalleled experience with a variety of complex assignments requiring exceptional communication skills. He specializes in General Plans, Specific Plans, and comparative site analysis. John was the project manager for the City of Paso Robles APA award-winning 2003 General Plan Update.

JFR Consulting is a sole proprietorship firm, with John Rickenbach as the sole proprietor. There are no employees, but John regularly works with outside consultants in various technical specialties as appropriate. Because John has been working independently or with other firms in the area since the mid-1990s, he is highly familiar with and has excellent working relationships with many of the potential partnering consultants that either have or may work on projects for most agencies within the Central Coast region.

John has a very broad background on a variety of project types, both locally and throughout the state, over the course of his career. He has acted as contract planning staff to directly assist cities to process some of their most complex projects. The following examples illustrate his project experience relevant to the proposed assignment.

Municipal Project Management, Policy Planning and CEQA Compliance John Rickenbach, AICP has specific technical expertise is in long-range planning, including General Plans, Specific Plans, and other programmatic policy documents. Through this experience, he has managed complex long-range projects as consulting staff, conducted numerous public outreach programs, and has managed some of the most complex and controversial long-range planning programs in the region. He brings considerable experience to a variety of assignments, including:
• General Plans, Specific Plans and Master Plans
• Program EIRs on Long-Range Plans
• Policy Analysis and Interpretation
• Constraints Studies
• Interagency Coordination and Facilitation
• Public Agency Municipal Planning Assistance
• Public Outreach Programs
The following represents our broad long-range planning, municipal project management, policy planning, constraints studies, and public outreach experience:

Municipal Project Management (various assignments, including specific plans) City of San Luis Obispo
John Rickenbach has been processing complex planning and development projects for the City of San Luis Obispo since 2013. Some of these have been among the largest housing developments in the City’s Exhibit A
JFR Consultant Proposal

City of Paso Robles
Uptown/Town Centre Specific Plan Amendment – Project Management Services JFR Consulting
- 11 -
history, including the San Luis Ranch and Avila Ranch projects, which collectively envision roughly 1,500 new housing units, and when fully built and occupied would represent nearly 10% of the City’s population. The San Luis Ranch project provides a good example of John’s experience with the City.

John has functioned as the City’s project manager for the San Luis Ranch Specific Plan project since 2013.

This is a complex long-range assignment managing one of the most complex project’s in the City’s history, from project inception, through its approval in 2017, and implementation in recent years.

John’s role has included, but has not been limited to, acting as staff project planner, preparing staff reports and related materials, project review, and consultant oversight during the CEQA process. It also has included ongoing close coordination with the applicant team and various City departments, including the City attorney’s office, Public Works, Utilities, and Finance, both during planning and building phases.

The following list of projects are recent representative of projects John has either recently managed for the City or played a major role assisting City planning staff:
• San Luis Ranch Specific Plan
• Avila Ranch Development Plan
• 600 Tank Farm Road Project
• Bullock Ranch Project
City of Paso Robles General Plan Update and EIR
City of Paso Robles
While at another firm, John Rickenbach managed a
comprehensive update of the City of Paso Robles’ General Plan, including all seven state mandated elements, as well as the City’s Parks and Recreation Element. The two-year
process included the creation, distribution, and analysis of a public survey, followed up by a series of public workshops.

Based on this input, several alternative land use patterns were developed. John combined his planning and
environmental expertise to coordinate the entire effort, minimizing the use of subcontractors, and ensuring a smooth and efficient blending of baseline data, policy development, and public participation. The City of Paso Robles was
awarded an “Award of Merit” by the Central Coast Section of the American Planning Association for its work on this
regionally important project.

Airport Area Specific Plan Amendment Processing
City of San Luis Obispo
John is currently assisting the City of San Luis Obispo to amend its 1,500-acre Airport Area Specific Plan, in order to allow mixed use development in portions of the plan area that are designated for commercial service or manufacturing uses. This effort involves a comprehensive parcel inventory, and examining the physical and regulatory constraints associated with considering this kind of change. It also involves working closely with the public and development community who might be impacted by this amendment. He is working the City to strategize on the appropriate approach to CEQA compliance for Exhibit A
JFR Consultant Proposal

City of Paso Robles
Uptown/Town Centre Specific Plan Amendment – Project Management Services JFR Consulting
- 12 -
this programmatic action with uncertain outcomes, the long-term impacts of which may be difficult to assess.

Avenue of Flags Specific Plan and Corridor Constraints Study City of Buellton
John Rickenbach was part of an interdisciplinary team that prepared the Avenue of Flags Specific Plan, which is intended to guide future development on one of the most important gateway corridors in the City of Buellton. The plan includes a form-based code, and is a multi-faceted regulatory document that provides economic incentives for multi-use developments in exchange for key public amenities, and in that was represents an innovative public-private partnership. The document will serve as an engine for enhancing an underutilized asset of the community, both physically and economically. The successful program took nearly two years, and involved close coordination with architects, engineers, and economists, as well as a significant outreach component.

In advance of the Specific Plan process, John prepared a comprehensive constraints study to assist the City of Buellton in evaluating potential realignment options for the Avenue of Flags. The purpose of this study is to recommend a new configuration for that roadway, which provided important direction for a future specific plan centered on this area, integrating trails and open space into the context of a revitalized downtown core. It described three possible alternatives, identified the key issues within the study area, and assessed the severity of the constraints associated with each alignment. Finally, it identified the alignment considered to present the fewest constraints with respect to these issues.

Eagle Ranch Specific Plan Processing Services
City of Atascadero
John provided contract planning services to the City of Atascadero to process the Eagle Ranch Specific Plan, which is located within the rural southwestern fringe of the City. This effort required an update of the General Plan policy framework to ensure internal consistency among all efforts. John worked closely with the City’s Community Development Director to ensure that the City’s interests are ensured, assisting him as needed.

Chandler Ranch Area Specific Plan and EIR
City of Paso Robles
John Rickenbach, while at another firm, managed and prepared a Specific Plan and subsequently an EIR that examined the proposed future development of an 837-acre area in the Chandler Ranch area of the City of Paso Robles. The Specific Plan combines zoning regulations, capital improvement programs, detailed development standards, and other regulatory schemes into one document that were tailored to meet the needs of the specific area. The land uses proposed for the Chandler Ranch Area Specific Plan include a mix of residential, commercial, open spaces and school uses. In total, the Plan calls for development of more than 1,400 residential units and over 200,000 square feet of commercial uses.

The EIR examined land use, transportation, air quality, noise, safety and geologic hazards, cultural and historic resources, aesthetics and community design, flooding and drainage, public services and infrastructure and biological resources. This project involved an extensive public involvement program.

Exhibit A
JFR Consultant Proposal

City of Paso Robles
Uptown/Town Centre Specific Plan Amendment – Project Management Services JFR Consulting
- 13 -
Los Osos Community Plan EIR
County of San Luis Obispo
John was the project manager and lead preparer of the Los Osos Community Plan EIR, which examined the possible impacts of future development in the unincorporated community of Los Osos. The IR considered the effects of growth in the coastal community in San Luis Obispo County, notably focusing on issues related to sea level rise, climate change, water use, and biological resources. The complex and controversial project included extensive public outreach to a community that has historically been very involved in local planning decisions, but the project’s successful outcome allowed the County to move forward on some of the ore innovative aspects of the plan that relate to the protection of key resources affecting the community. The EIR was prepared collaboratively with the community, and many of the required mitigation measures were ultimately folded into the community plan itself.

Morro Bay New Wastewater Reclamation Facility Project
City of Morro Bay
John Rickenbach prepared a comprehensive constraints study of 17 possible sites for a new wastewater reclamation facility for the City of Morro Bay, and managed the site selection process for the facility. He also acted as the City’s assistant project manager in developing the Facilities Master Plan that ultimately led to the development of the project itself, which is still ongoing. John helped select and then managed the CEQA consultant for the project.

The project was highly controversial because of competing interests related to cost and environmental protection against the backdrop of Coastal Act and Local Coastal Program policies. The new WRF is intended to replace an existing wastewater treatment plant at a coastal location, a potential upgrade of which had been rejected by the California Coastal Commission in January 2013. The report was based on a combination of existing technical studies and a robust public outreach program, which, when collectively considered in the context of newly developed technical information, allowed the community to understand the rationale behind the recommendations contained in this report. The success of the project depended on John’s hands-on approach with the community that ensured a smooth process in a very contentious public environment.

City of Guadalupe Contract Planning Director
City of Guadalupe
While with another firm, John acted as contract Planning Director for the City of Guadalupe, and oversaw much of the successful process that led to the approval of the 209-acre DJ Farms Specific Plan.

His primary functions included: 1) coordinating with the development community, regulatory agencies, City staff, elected officials, and the community in general to ensure that plans and projects address the broad issues of concern to all; 2) preparing and presenting recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council to allow those bodies to make decisions on projects; and 3) providing technical expertise. John was instrumental in helping the City to acquire and utilize Clean Air and Climate Protection software to help the City calculate and track emissions and reductions of greenhouse gases. In his role as Planning Director, John also sat on the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) Technical Planning Advisory Committee (TPAC), which was a regional land use planning advisory body, consisting of representatives from each city within the county, as well as the county itself and APCD. In this role, he provided key input at a regional level with regard to strategies related to implementing long-range housing and climate action planning requirements.

Exhibit A
JFR Consultant Proposal

City of Paso Robles
Uptown/Town Centre Specific Plan Amendment – Project Management Services JFR Consulting
- 14 -

REFERENCES
We invite you to contact any of these professional references if you wish to know more about JFR Consulting’s experience or past performance on any relevant assignment.

Tyler Corey
City of San Luis Obispo
Deputy Community Development Director
805/781-7169
[email protected]
Phil Dunsmore
City of Atascadero
Community Development Director
805/470-3488
[email protected]
Scot Graham
City of Morro Bay
Community Development Director
805/772-6569
[email protected]
Irma Tucker
City of Buellton
Contract Senior Planner
805/688-7474
[email protected]
Exhibit A
JFR Consultant Proposal

JOHN F. RICKENBACH, AICP
7675 Bella Vista Road
Atascadero, CA 93422
805/610-1109
[email protected]
______________________________________________________________________________________ John Rickenbach is an environmental and planning consultant with over 32 years of broad-ranging experience serving both the public and private sectors.

His experience includes preparing and overseeing a wide range of technical studies, particularly General Plans and Specific Plans, CEQA and NEPA documents, transportation plans, and a variety of constraint studies. He has a strong background in applying GIS technology and database management to many of these projects. In addition, his expertise includes the creative application of the environmental and public participation processes to guide longrange planning efforts, including complicated annexation studies. Mr. Rickenbach also has high-level public sector planning experience, most notably as the contract planning director for the City of Guadalupe, and as a contract planner for various .

KEY CAPABILITIES and EXPERTISE
• General Plans and Public Outreach. Mr. Rickenbach has prepared a wide range of planning studies, including General Plans, Specific Plans, constraints analyses, and other long-range special studies. His particular expertise is planning within rural communities, and for cities in the process of urbanizing. He is an expert at coordinating public input to produce planning documents based on consensus, and has successfully developed plans for communities with differing needs. In many of these planning efforts, he led many successful public outreach programs.
• CEQA and NEPA Expertise. Mr. Rickenbach is an expert in the application of state and federal environmental laws, particularly the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). He has prepared has prepared a wide range of CEQA and NEPA documents for a very wide range of projects, from long-range programmatic planning efforts, to industrial facilities, commercial projects, and residential subdivisions. He has provided expert legal testimony in court cases involving CEQA issues, and regularly provides training at regional and statewide workshops, both for practicing professionals and students.
• Public Sector Contract Planning. As a consultant, Mr. Rickenbach developed a successful contract planning service for several public agencies, and applied his expertise to a variety of roles, including that of a contract planning director, staff assistance to process projects, and preparing CEQA studies and staff reports. He has also represented cities to LAFCo boards during complex annexation processes, and has served on a Technical Planning Advisory Committee for a regional planning agency. • GIS Planning Applications. Mr. Rickenbach is technically skilled in a variety of GIS applications, and has successfully used his GIS skills for projects such as general plan updates, groundwater quality studies, transportation studies, and oil pipeline corridor analyses. • Award-Winning Special Studies. Mr. Rickenbach is an authority regarding the concepts surrounding neo-traditional town development. He co-authored an award-winning study that compared the costs and benefits of standard suburban development to the principles of neo-traditional planning, an approach that emphasizes site planning to improve the functionality of development. He also prepared a corridor constraints study that was recognized with a statewide award by the American Planning Association.

EDUCATION, REGISTRATIONS AND AFFILIATIONS
B.S., Physical Geography, University of California, Davis, 1985 M.C.R.P., City and Regional Planning, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, 1991 American Institute of Certified Planners
American Planning Association
Exhibit A
JFR Consultant Proposal

John F. Rickenbach, AICP

REPRESENTATIVE PROJECT EXPERIENCE
General Plans, Specific Plans and related CEQA Studies
• General Plan Update and EIR, Cities of Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Buellton and Lompoc • Kings County General Plan Update EIR
• Housing Element Update, City of Solvang
• Housing Element, City of Guadalupe
• Mahoney Ranch, Blosser Southeast and Southwest Specific Plans, City of Santa Maria • Chandler Ranch Area Specific Plan and EIR, City of Paso Robles • Downtown Specific Plan EIR, City of Santa Maria
• Marina Downtown Specific Plan and EIR, City of Marina • Downtown Project EIR, City of Grover Beach
• Scotts Valley Town Center Specific Plan EIR
• River Oaks Specific Plan – Environmental and Demographic Studies Municipal Contract Planning
• San Luis Ranch Specific Plan Processing, City of San Luis Obispo • Eagle Ranch Specific Plan Processing, City of Atascadero • East Cherry Avenue Specific Plan Processing, City of Arroyo Grande • Avila Ranch Development Plan Processing, City of San Luis Obispo • 600 Tank Farm Road Project, City of San Luis Obispo
• Bullock Ranch Project, City of San Luis Obispo
• Contract Planning Director, City of Guadalupe (2006-2009) • Spanish Springs Specific Plan Processing, City of Pismo Beach • Los Robles Del Mar Specific Plan Processing, City of Pismo Beach • Orcutt Area Specific Plan Processing, City of San Luis Obispo • On-Call CEQA and Planning Support, Monterey County
Other Long-Range Planning/CEQA and NEPA Studies
• New Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) Site Selection and Management, City of Morro Bay • Avenue of Flags Corridor Study, City of Buellton
• Sphere of Influence and Concurrent Annexation Study and EIR, City of Santa Maria • Dalidio Marketplace Commercial Annexation Project EIR, City of San Luis Obispo • Report Comparing Conventional and Neo-Traditional Development, City of Santa Maria • Santa Barbara County 2003-2008 Housing Element Rezone EIR, Santa Barbara County Transportation Planning Studies
• Regional Transportation Plan EIRs, Santa Cruz, Kings, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara Counties • Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, City of Marina
• Templeton-Atascadero Bicycle Trail Constraints Analysis, San Luis Obispo County • U.S. Highway 101 Corridor Constraints Study, SLOCOG
• Fulkerth/SR 99 PEAR and CEQA Studies, City of Turlock and Caltrans • Union Valley Parkway Extension/Interchange Project EIR/EA, City of Santa Maria • Santa Clara River Bike Trail EIR, City of Santa Clarita Rural and Agricultural CEQA Studies
• Biddle Ranch Agricultural Cluster Subdivision EIR, San Luis Obispo County • Paso Robles Agricultural Cluster Subdivision EIR, San Luis Obispo County • Santa Margarita Ranch Future Development Program EIR, San Luis Obispo County • Rabbit Ridge Winery CEQA Monitoring, San Luis Obispo County Exhibit A
JFR Consultant Proposal

John F. Rickenbach, AICP

School District Studies
• Twin Rivers Unified School District New High School SEIR • Monterey Peninsula Unified School District High School EIR • Inglewood Unified School District, CEQA and NEPA Processing • Marysville Joint Unified School District IS/MND
• Ceres Unified School District High School EIR
Other Special Studies
• North County Hydrogeologic Study, GIS Land Use Analysis, Monterey County • Communitywide Preferences Survey, City of Paso Robles • Tri-Cities Minor League Stadium Constraints Study, Cities of Ventura, Oxnard and Camarillo AWARDS
Innovative Project Award, Templeton-Atascadero Corridor Constraints Study, State AEP, 2005 Comprehensive Planning Award, City of Paso Robles General Plan, APA Central Coast, 2004 Technology Award, City of Santa Paula GIS Database, APA Central Coast Chapter, 1995 Comprehensive Planning, Award Santa Maria Sphere of Influence Study, APA Central Coast, 1994 Education Project Award, Report on Neo-Traditional Town Development, APA Central Coast, 1993

PUBLICATIONS
“Monsoon in the Americas: Opportunities and Challenges”, Geography Compass, 2009 (co-author, in conjunction with East Carolina University)
“The E-Ticket to Historic Preservation”, APA Cal Planner, 1998 TEACHING and TRAINING EXPERIENCE
Cal Poly State University San Luis Obispo, Guest Lecturer, General Planning and CEQA Classes East Carolina University, Guest Lecturer, Climate and Water Resource Issues in the Western United States Association of Environmental Professionals, CEQA Workshop Lecturer and Panelist Association of Environmental Professionals, Lecturer: Greenhouse Gas Issues, AB 32, SB 97 and SB 375 Curriculum Advisor to Cal Poly City and Regional Planning Department Exhibit A
JFR Consultant Proposal

Attachment 3
RESOLUTION 24-XXX(B)

RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF EL PASO DE ROBLES CITY COUNCIL

AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CITY COUNCIL AD-HOC COMMITTEE TO ASSIST IN THE OVERSIGHT OF A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT AND REZONING PROCESS – UPTOWN / TOWN CENTER SPECIFIC PLAN BOUNDARY EXPANSIONS – “OLIVE STREET AREA REZONING” AND APPROVING AN EXPENDITURE OF $86,940 FOR CONSULTANT SERVICES.

WHEREAS, in 2016 the City Council formed the Housing Constraints and Opportunities Committee (HCOC) to work with staff to identify strategies to increase housing production in Paso Robles.

WHEREAS, in 2017, the HCOC identified the expansion of The Uptown/Town Center Specific Plan (UTSP) area east of Olive St. as an area that could be rezoned to increase housing production.

WHEREAS, at its October 17, 2023, meeting the City Council approved staff to initiate a General Plan Amendment and Rezoning of the UTSP boundary expansions as recommended by the HCOC and Opportunities Committee.

WHEREAS, an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of two members of the City Council could provide guidance during the amendment and re-zoning process. The Committee could also be involved in the public participation process to ensure community issues are addressed and communicated to the entire City Council.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council authorize the establishment of an ad-hoc committee, comprised of the following two members of the City Council to provide guidance over the General Plan Amendment and Rezoning Process – Uptown / Town Center Specific Plan Boundary Expansions:

Olive Street Area Rezoning Ad Hoc Committee Members

1. ____________________________

2. _____________________________
APPROVED this 16
th day of April, 2024, by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ABSTAIN:

John R. Hamon, Jr. , Mayor
ATTEST:

Melissa Boyer, City Clerk

From: Jeff Carr
To: City Clerk
Subject: Public Comment--City Council Agenda Discussion Item 2: "Olive Street Area Rezoning" Date: Tuesday, April 16, 2024 11:28:19 AM
[EXTERNAL EMAIL]
Public Comment---Discussion Item 2:

Approval of Consultant Agreement and Establishment of a City Council Ad-hoc Committee for the General Plan Amendment and Rezoning Process - Uptown/Town Center Specific Plan Boundary Expansions - "Olive Street Area Rezoning"
I suggest the council deny approval of this item and--"Take no action"--because:

1. The staff report does not clearly define any benefits to the city that will be derived from taking this action. The city only provides a vague claim, a claim that contradicts the city staff's own claim from August 2023.

2. The true motivation for this project appears to be for some perception of control--that has not been defined. As I understand it, the State of California's ADU rules can not be restricted by the city. In addition, I'm told by others that the controls that do exist in T3 can be more constraining to property owners than in R1; and could actually inhibit building.

3. The city held a workshop on the topic--and not one resident in the 'Olive Street Area' stood up in support of the project. I don't recall any participation at all from area residents. This implies to me that there is no clear support for this project. Will that change?

4. Changing from R1 to T3 can potentially lower available housing in the area because of the more constraining rules, newly available commercial opportunities, and more Short Term Rental opportunities.

5. The subject of Short Term Rentals is completely and suspiciously missing from this discussion. A change from R1 to T3 will have affects on the STR balance in the city that must be addressed. In addition, STRs moving from R1 to T3 will then be allowed to transfer that STR permit upon a property sale. This could disrupt this area greatly. The STR issues need to be studied and resolved; including, (1) reassess the STR situation in T3 and R1 zones caused by this change; and (2) consider eliminating STR permit transfers in T3.

6. The Short Term Rental issue is even more concerning on this item because of the risk of conflict of interest that exists with our council members and city staff.

With the recent appointment of Council Member Roden and the need to build a voting quorum for the council--this risk can no longer be eliminated. --- I'll be blunt: If you don't already know, there are people that feel this entire effort is a plan to increase STRs in the city and potentially benefit STR owners in this area.

Of course I have no proof of this claim, but I can understand why people might think so--especially when the city has not provided a clear list of city benefits that will result from "Olive Street Area Rezoning".

7. The staff report does not provide adequate detail of staff hours required to Carr, Jeff
Q2 - Public Comment

support this project. Time has already been spent and more staff time will be required in order to monitor and support the contractor--and then in addition, time to assemble and manage an ad hoc committee. I feel the city is trivializing this fiscal impact--especially as we've learned that available staff is limited as some city staff members have 'conflicts of interest' with this project.

Background
This item's staff report claims, on August 17, 2023: "The HCOC determined the UTSP’s flexibility with design standards and dwelling types available under the T-3 zone, rather than R-1 and R-2, could produce more infill housing in the area." Having attended that HCOC meeting, I don't recall anyone at the HCOC meeting making such a statement. In fact, the comments I recall hearing on the topic leaned more like this:
there was very little space in the area available for new development or infill. the rezone would give the city more control; and that they didn't like the state dictating planning in the city (i.e. wrt ADUs).
want property owners to have more choice with how they use their property. -- I assume to take advantage of the added commercial opportunities that might exist in T3 vs. R1.
there was still opportunity in the other nearby T-zones that was not being used. So--this rezoning can wait.

In addition--the city's staff report for the August 2023 HCOC meeting stated,

4. In 2017, the HCOC identified the expansion of the UTSP east of Olive St. as an area that could be rezoned to increase housing production. At the January 22, 2022 meeting the HCOC considered a report from staff and recommended the City Council consider a specific plan expansion and rezoning of the block east of Olive St. The basis of the recommendation was the assumption the UTSP’s T-3 zoning district allowed more units (density) than the R-1 zoning district.

5. The State of California has recently implemented a number of single-family residential zoning preemptions that now allow both ministerial lot splits and multiple accessory dwelling units on all R-1 lots (SB-9, AB-345, AB-3182, AB-68, AB881, SB-13). Consequently, it is now possible to a similar number of units in the R-1 zoning district as the T-3 zoning district
This contradicts any claims of additional housing benefits when moving from R1 to T3. Who's correct?
Jeff Carr, Paso Robles CA
Carr, Jeff
Q2 - Public Comment