July 1, 2025
Economic Development
Richmond Housing Authority (RHA)
DATE: July 1, 2025
TO: Chair Martinez and Members of the Richmond Housing
Authority (RHA) Board of Commissioners
FROM:
Nannette Beacham, Director of Economic Development
Antoinette Terrell, Executive Director of RHA
Gregory Palomino, Administrative Assistant
Subject:
Contract with SWCA Environmental Consultants to
perform an Environmental Review of the Richmond
Village Property
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed expenditure is funded through the U.S.
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) annual
allocation of Operating Subsidy and Capital Fund. The
total not to exceed amount is $17,500 for Fiscal Year
(FY) 2025-26 (Account String: 42141191 – 400201).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Richmond Housing Authority needs to conduct a 24 Code
of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 50 Environmental
Review in order to be able to dispose of the Richmond
Village property to comply with the 2019 Public Housing Authority Recovery and Sustainability (PHARS)
Agreement with HUD. This review is a required step to
proceed with the disposition of the Richmond Village
Property.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution and APPROVE a contract with
SWCA Environmental Consultants to perform a 24 Code
of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 50 Environmental
Review of the Richmond Village property for an amount
not to exceed $17,500 – Richmond Housing Authority
Antoinette Terrell 510 620-6784/Gregory Palomino 510
621-1361).
AGENDA
REPORT
July 1, 2025
DISCUSSION:
The Richmond Housing Authority (RHA) is required to complete an Environmental Review in accordance with 24 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 50 to comply with the 2019 Public Housing Authority Recovery and Sustainability (PHARS) Agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This review is a critical federal requirement in order to proceed with the disposition of the Richmond Village property and its conversion to Section 8 Project-Based Vouchers under HUD’s Section 18 Disposition/Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program (Attachment 1).
On May 28, 2025, RHA staff solicited and received three (3) responses for the proposed services. SWCA Environmental Consultants was chosen because they have expertise in addressing specialized HUD environmental review requirements, demonstrated ability to meet expedited project deadlines requested by RHA to comply with the 2019 Public Housing Authority Recovery and Sustainability (PHARS) Agreement asset repositioning expectations, and experience working on Part 50 analyses for other housing authorities (Attachment 2).
The proposed scope of work includes preparation of a Categorical Exclusion Not Subject to 50.4 (CENST) Environmental Review Record (ERR) for the Richmond Village, which encompasses 167 public housing units. The ERR will be prepared in accordance with HUD’s required format and will document compliance with all applicable environmental laws, including floodplain management, historic preservation, endangered species protection, and other federal regulations.
The total not-to-exceed contract amount is $17,500, which includes one round of review and assumes no additional field studies are necessary. Should further assessments (e.g., Phase I environmental site services (ESA), lead-based paint, asbestos) be required, they will be proposed separately through a change order.
City staff recommend that the City Council adopt a resolution and approve a contract with SWCA Environmental Consultants to perform a 24 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 50 Environmental Review of the Richmond Village property for an amount not to exceed $17,500 (Attachment 3). Approval of this contract will allow RHA to continue aligning with HUD requirements while advancing the long-term transformation and sustainability of public housing in Richmond (Attachment 4).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Independent Cost Estimate
Attachment 2 – SWCA Environmental Consultants Bid
Attachment 3 – Resolution
Attachment 4 – SWCA Environmental Consultants Contact Draft