Administrative
Report
H.12., File # 22-5291 Meeting Date: 12/20/2022
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: BRANDY FORBES, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR GREG KAPOVICH,
WATERFRONT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
TITLE
APPROVE THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH RINCON CONSULTANTS, INC. FOR PREPARATION OF A PARKING STUDY WITH RECOMMENDED REVISIONS TO
PARKING REGULATIONS AND ASSOCIATED CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) DOCUMENTS RELATED TO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ARTESIA / AVIATION CORRIDORS AREA PLAN (AACAP) TO EXTEND THE TERM TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2023, AT NO
ADDITIONAL COST
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On April 20, 2021, the City Council approved a contract with Rincon Consultants, Inc. to prepare a parking study and associated California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documents to identify and implement parking management strategies to utilize the excess parking supply along the Artesia / Aviation Corridors in a more efficient manner. The contract was for a total amount not to exceed $121,101 and a term ending March 31, 2022.
The initial term of the contract was extended to provide time to clarify the project scope for CEQA purposes and to further analyze the full potential parking needs and current utilization rates in the corridors. The first amendment to extend the term of the contract through December 31, 2022, at no additional cost, was approved by the City Council on March 1, 2022.
This contract with Rincon Consultants, Inc., for parking management strategies, is separate and trails a similar contract with Rincon Consultants Inc., to amend the municipal code to accommodate preferred uses in the corridors and to increase the maximum allowed Floor Area Ratio (FAR) development standard from 0.5 to 0.6. Staff is on track to present the preferred land use and increase in FAR to City Council in March 2023. The parking study contract must trail the preferred land use and FAR contract so the parking study can evaluate the adjusted parking demand associated with an increase to the total build-out should the increase in FAR be approved by City Council.
Staff presented recommended parking management strategies to make better use of the excess supply of parking along the AACAP corridors to City Council in July 2022. At that time, City Council directed staff to implement several strategies inclusive of an amendment to the municipal code to lower the minimum parking requirements for the preferred land uses. As a result, the project scope has expanded from identifying short-term and long-term parking strategies to also making specific adjustments to the parking ratios for restaurant and office uses, thus requiring additional time to identify an appropriate parking ratio, prepare the environmental documents associated with the
H.12., File # 22-5291 Meeting Date: 12/20/2022
identify an appropriate parking ratio, prepare the environmental documents associated with the parking project, as well as ensure that adequate time is provided for Planning Commission and City Council review. Additionally, a careful review of the City’s Land Use and Circulation Elements is necessary to verify consistency with proposed zoning code amendments and to confirm that no General Plan amendments are required. To ensure that the consultant is able to carry these phases of the project through to completion the contract with Rincon is recommended for extension through September 30, 2023, at no additional cost.
BACKGROUND
On December 12, 2020, the City Council adopted the AACAP. Staff was later directed to obtain proposals for implementing changes to zoning and parking regulations recommended in the AACAP.
City staff received proposals from the environmental firm Rincon Consultants, Inc. and their subconsultant, traffic engineering firm Fehr & Peers, for preparation of environmental review documents and parking/traffic analysis. On April 6, 2021, the City Council approved a contract with Rincon Consultants, Inc. for the zoning amendments analysis. On April 20, 2021 City Council approved the contract to analyze and implement the full scope of parking regulation amendments recommended in the AACAP.
The scope of the contract with Rincon Consultants, Inc and their subconsultant Fehr & Peers to analyze and implement parking regulation amendments approved by the City Council on April 20, 2021, is summarized below:
· Shared parking model update / recalibration - As part of the AACAP approval, F&P conducted inventory and occupancy counts of existing parking throughout the Corridor Area Plan. This contract included an update to the previous shared parking study to assess parking demand for proposed new land uses envisioned within the AACAP
· Estimate of future parking demand, parking ratios, & supply changes to determine sufficient parking or shortfall
· Parking management strategies, implementation, and recommendations for public parking · Recommended amendments to the City’s existing parking regulations · Parking implementation plan report & public meetings
· Associated CEQA analysis
The contract for the original Agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc. was set to expire on March 31, 2022. However, additional time was needed to clarify the project scope and conduct a comprehensive 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, office and restaurant, in the AACAP. In order to project future parking demand, this additional analysis was required. As a result of the extra time required for analysis, the City Council approved an amendment to the Agreement on March 1, 2022 to extend the term through December 31, 2022.
A second amendment to the contract with Rincon Consultants, Inc. is needed to provide for adequate public outreach and workshops as described above. A careful review of the City’s Land Use and Circulation Elements is also necessary to confirm consistency with the proposed zoning code amendments to ensure that no additional General Plan amendments are required. City staff is currently reviewing the existing language of the General Plan, including the Circulation Element, to
H.12., File # 22-5291 Meeting Date: 12/20/2022
currently reviewing the existing language of the General Plan, including the Circulation Element, to confirm no amendments to the General Plan are required and to ensure the zoning code remains consistent with the General Plan.
Schedule Going Forward
As mentioned, the City Council will receive a presentation on the proposed preferred land uses and increase in FAR in the Artesia and Aviation corridors in March 2023. Staff anticipates the public hearings needed for implementation of the proposed parking management strategies and changes to the Code’s parking standards to occur at the Planning Commission and City Council in July and August 2023.
COORDINATION
The second amendment to the Agreement has been approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office.
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no additional costs associated with the extension of the contract. The cost for the contract is $122,101 and has been funded by the General Plan Maintenance Fund.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
· Second Amendment to the Agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc. · Original Agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc. AACAP Zoning Amendments, April 20, 2021 · First Amendment to the Agreement with Rincon Consultants, March 1, 2022