Administrative
Report
H.19., File # 22-4736 Meeting Date: 9/6/2022
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: GREG KAPOVICH, WATERFRONT & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTOR
TITLE
APPROVE THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH RINCON CONSULTANTS, INC. FOR PREPARATION OF ZONING AMENDMENTS NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT THE ARTESIA
AND AVIATION CORRIDORS AREA PLAN (AACAP) TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT TERM THROUGH MARCH 31, 2023 AT NO ADDITIONAL COST
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On April 6, 2021, the City Council approved an agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc. to provide consulting services for the preparation of zoning code amendments to the Redondo Beach Municipal Code needed to implement the Artesia and Aviation Corridors Area Plan (AACAP) for an amount not to exceed $53,591 for the term April 6, 2021 through January 31, 2022.
The initial term of the contract was insufficient, as additional time was required to clarify the project scope and analyze the potential build-out of the preferred uses in the AACAP. Subsequently, on January 18, 2022, the City Council approved the first amendment to the original agreement, which extended the term of the contract through August 31, 2022.
Additional time has become necessary to navigate State requirements attributable to the CEQA process. Upon further review, the project scope not only requires amendments to the zoning code but also necessitates amendments to the Redondo Beach General Plan to ensure both documents reflect the desired changes. Proposed changes to the General Plan require consultation with California Native American Tribes. To ensure that the consultant is able to carry the project through completion, including completion of required CEQA procedures, Planning Commission review, and City Council consideration, the contract is recommended for extension through March 31, 2023 at no additional cost. The identified General Plan amendments are administrative in nature and do not require a vote of the residents to be implemented.
BACKGROUND
On December 12, 2020, the City Council adopted the AACAP. City staff received a proposal from Rincon Consultants, Inc. for environmental review of the ordinance needed for implementation of the adopted AACAP.
At their meeting on April 6, 2021, the City Council approved a contract with Rincon Consultants to further revitalization efforts of the Artesia and Aviation corridors as envisioned within the AACAP. The
H.19., File # 22-4736 Meeting Date: 9/6/2022
scope of the contract, approved by the City Council on April 6, 2021, is summarized below.
Rincon Consultants, Inc. shall prepare an Initial Study-Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS-MND) for the following amendments to the Redondo Beach Zoning Ordinance. · An amendment to the City’s Zoning Ordinance to “activate” the AACAP and require future development in the AACAP Area to be consistent with the “intent” of the AACAP. Actions allowed under the AACAP include increases in the allowable floor area ratio from 0.5 to 0.6 (FAR), the application of design guidelines, alterations to signage, improvements to walking and biking infrastructure, and the creation of new public spaces. · An amendment to Section 10-2.621, Additional Land Use Regulations, which applies to the C2-PD Zone. The amendment would remove the restriction of “Office” uses, including “Medical Office” to only the second floor or on the ground floor to the rear of other permitted retail or services uses in the AACAP area.
The contract for the original agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc. was set to expire on January 31, 2022. However, additional time was needed to clarify the project scope and conduct deep analysis of the potential build-out of preferred uses in the AACAP. An analysis of the existing land use mix for the corridor was compared with the land use mix of Riviera Village to develop a “target” for the amount of preferred uses in the AACAP (office and restaurant). As a result of the extra time required for analysis, City Council approved an amendment to the agreement on January 18, 2022 to extend the term through August 31, 2022.
The amended agreement expired on August 31, 2022 and staff seeks City Council approval of a second amendment to continue the contract with Rincon Consultants, Inc. An additional extension of the contract term is necessary to navigate State requirements attributable to the CEQA process.
Review to-date indicates the project scope requires not only amendments to the zoning code but also necessitates amendments to the Redondo Beach General Plan to ensure both documents reflect the desired changes. Proposed changes to the General Plan require consultation with California Native American Tribes. Staff has distributed the project to the California Native American Tribes and await comments, if any, and are currently reviewing the existing language of the General Plan to identify the specific text changes necessary to ensure the zoning code of the Municipal Code remains consistent with the General Plan. The amendments to the General Plan can be approved by the City Council and do not require a vote of the residents to implement.
With the clarified project scope, inclusive of necessary General Plan text amendments, the environmental review is estimated to take two months from the date of this extension. Following completion of the environmental review, the public hearing process can commence, which is estimated to take approximately three months. Therefore, the estimated time for completion and adoption of the amendments is approximately five months from now. To ensure that the consultant is able to carry the project through completion, including completion of required CEQA procedures, Planning Commission review, and City Council consideration, the contract is recommended for extension through March 31, 2023 at no additional cost.
COORDINATION
The Second Amendment to the Agreement has been approved as to form by the City Attorney.
H.19., File # 22-4736 Meeting Date: 9/6/2022
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no additional costs associated with the extension of the contract, as City staff will perform the tasks associated with outreach to the California Native American Tribes and analysis of the necessary General Plan text changes. Funding for the $53,491 cost of the original agreement was provided by the General Plan Maintenance Fund.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
· Agmt - Proposed Second Amendment to the Agreement
· Agmt - Rincon Consultants, Inc. AACAP Zoning Amendments, April 6, 2021 · Agmt - First Amendment to Rincon Consultants, Inc. AACAP Zoning Amendments, January 18, 2022