City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: JANUARY 23, 2024 FROM: COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANT SERVICES AGREEMENT FROM RFP 2315 FOR COMPREHENSIVE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA) REVIEW AND CLEARANCE FOR THE RIVERSIDE ALIVE PROJECT WITH ALBERT A. WEBB ASSOCIATES FOR $582,690 PLUS 10% CONTINGENCY OF $58,269 FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $640,959, FOR A ONE-YEAR TERM, WITH THE OPTION TO EXTEND FOR THREE (3) ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR TERMS-SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION.
ISSUE:
Approve a Professional Consultant Services Agreement from Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 2315 for Albert A. Webb Associates for the comprehensive California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) environmental review and clearance for a maximum potential development envelope of the proposed Riverside Alive mixed-use project, for a total amount of $582,690 plus a 10% contingency in the amount of $58,269, not to exceed $640,959, with the option to extend for three (3) additional one year terms.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Approve Professional Consultant Services Agreement from Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 2315 for Albert A. Webb Associates for comprehensive California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) environmental review and clearance for a maximum potential development envelope of the proposed Riverside Alive mixed-use project for an amount of $582,690; Authorize a 10% contingency in the amount of $58,269, resulting in a contract amount not to exceed $640,959; and Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute the Professional Consultant Services Agreement with Albert A. Webb Associates, including making minor and non-substantive changes including but not limited to extensions to the term of the Agreement.
By at least five affirmative votes, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record a supplemental appropriation in the amount of $640,959 from the General Fund available Fund Balance to the General Fund, Riverside Alive Account No. 9918900-421000.
BACKGROUND:
The City owns a 108,000-gross-square-foot convention facility (“Riverside Convention Center”) and associated surface parking lot (“Lot 33”), comprising an approximately 10.28-acre site in Downtown Riverside, situated on the superblock bounded by Market, Third, Orange and Fifth Streets. In May of 2019, the City entered into an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) with a joint venture between two developers for the sale and private redevelopment of Lot 33 and a Public-Private Partnership for the expansion of the Riverside Convention Center, known as the Riverside Alive Project. Several extensions to the ENA have been authorized by the Council, most recently on October 24, 2023, and negotiations remain ongoing.
To streamline potential future development of all or part of the Riverside Alive project, the City can elect to conduct the necessary environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) based on the proposed maximum development envelope of the original project proposal. This includes up 150,000 square foot expansion of the existing convention center; two hotels totaling 376 guest rooms; 146 residential units (for-sale and rental); 63,000 square feet of commercial space; 220,000 square feet of office space; 5-level parking facility; and outdoor pedestrian plazas and public gathering spaces. Regardless of the outcome of the ENA process, having a completed and adopted CEQA document for the project will create time and cost savings for future development of the site provided that it fits within the development envelope used for the environmental review.
DISCUSSION:
On September 29, 2023, the City issued RFP No. 2315 for comprehensive CEQA review of the proposed maximum development envelope of the Riverside Alive mixed-use project. The request includes the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and all associated technical reports, analyses, and public engagement required to conduct a fully compliant environmental review. The goals of this environmental review effort are:
To fully evaluate and, where necessary, mitigate potential environmental impacts of the proposed maximum development envelope; Certify an Environmental Impact Report; and
Adopt all necessary Resolutions for environmental clearance to facilitate and streamline the development process of Riverside Alive or similar successor project.
The RFP release was sent to 611 City of Riverside vendors and 500 external vendors. There were a total of 42 prospective bidders, and at the close of RFP on October 16, 2023, the City received six proposals. Purchasing reviewed the responses for the minimum qualifications, and found all six vendors to be responsive and responsible. The submissions were given to an Evaluation Committee comprised of Planning Division Staff to review, evaluate, and score all proposals based on the evaluation criteria set forth in the RFP. As a result of independent cumulative scoring of the proposals by the evaluators, Albert A. Webb Associates was selected as the preferred firm to provide the requested environmental review and clearance services.
Table 1 – RFP 2315 Evaluation Ranking
Rank
Proposers
Location
Total Score
1 Albert A. Webb Associates
Riverside, CA
261.42
2 Harris & Associates, Inc.
Irvine, CA
260.22
3 UltraSystems Environmental
Irvine, CA
250.45
4 Ecotierra Consulting, Inc.
Los Angeles, CA
241.50
5 The Altum Group
Palm Desert, CA
238.00
6 Chambers Group, Inc.
Costa Mesa, CA
221.58
Scope of Work
The contract terms are for one year, with the ability to extend three times by the City Manager as the executor of this agreement. The proposed scope of work can be found in Attachment 2 and summarized below:
Task 1: Kick-Off Meeting: Identify stakeholders, establish EIR objectives, finalize preliminary project schedule.
Task 2: Preparation of Project Description: Define project and objectives based on available plans, assumptions, and information.
Task 3: Technical Studies: Execution of required technical reports based on project description, including but not limited to Traffic/Vehicle Miles Traveled, Noise, Aesthetics, and Cultural Resources.
Task 4: Initial Study and Notice of Preparation: Identify thresholds of significance to be addressed in the EIR, submittal of the Notice of Preparation (NOP), and coordination of required tribal consultations. The goal is to identify and streamline the EIR to focus on issues that require further study, mitigation, or potentially have significant and unavoidable impacts.
Task 5: Scoping Meeting: Facilitate public participation in the CEQA process during the 30-day NOP review period.
Task 6: Draft EIR: Prepare draft EIR for the topic areas found to be potentially significant under Task 4. Anticipated areas of analysis include Aesthetics, Air Quality, Cultural Resources, Energy, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Geology/Soils, Noise, Population/Housing, Transportation, Tribal Cultural Resources, and Utilities.
Task 7: Proof Copy and Public Review of Draft DEIR: Incorporation of City comments into the draft document, post Draft EIR to the County Clerk and State Clearinghouse, initiate 45-day public review period.
Task 8: Final EIR: Final EIR containing all comments received during the 45-day public review period, responses to comments, Mitigation Monitoring Program, and EIR Errata (if necessary).
Task 9: Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations: Final findings of fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations, if necessary.
Task 10: Public Hearings: Consultant team to attend public hearings to certify the final EIR and answer any technical questions or provide information for the Planning Commission or City Council.
Task 11: Notice of Determination (NOD): Prepare and file the NOD with the County Clerk and State Clearinghouse post-certification.
Task 12: Project Management and Coordination: This task extends throughout the life of the project and includes coordination, meetings, correspondence, schedule maintenance, etc. This task includes a standing bi-weekly meeting with staff, the consultant team, and sub-contracting technical experts over the course of the contract term.
The Purchasing Manager concurs that the recommendation is in accordance with Purchasing Resolution 23914.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item contributes to Envision riverside 2025 Strategic Priority 5 – High Performing Government (Goal 5.3 Enhance communication and collaboration with community members to improve transparency, build public trust, and encourage shared decision-making). In addition, the item aligns with all Cross-Cutting Threads:
Community Trust – The RFP was posted and processed through the City’s open bid portal. Additionally, the procurement of environmental services is one part of the transparent process for the Riverside Alive Project.
Equity – The environmental analysis will allow for objective assessment and prepared mitigation for any potentially significant impacts and facilitate a project to increase the housing supply and quality of place within the City.
Fiscal Responsibility – Competitive procurement was used to secure a low cost for high quality services. Additionally, the costs will be recuperated through the Public-Private partnership established through the Riverside Alive ENA.
Innovation – The awarded consultant team will leverage available technologies and innovations to accurately assess all potential impacts and realize a certified EIR.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The awarding of this contract will allow for a comprehensive assessment of all environmental impacts of the project and provide project alternatives to ensure a sustainable and resilient project.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of the action is $640,959. Upon Council approval, a supplemental appropriation will be recorded in the amount of $640,959 from available General Fund balance to the General Fund, Riverside Alive Account No. 9918900-421000. The FY 2023/24 budget was adopted with a surplus sufficient to accommodate the supplemental appropriation. The City intends to recoup all costs incurred through execution of a Purchase, Sale and Development Agreement as part of the overall purchase price for the property, a fee on future development, or similar mechanism to be determined through the current or any future ENA period.
Prepared by: Maribeth Tinio, City Planner
Approved by: Jennifer Lilley, Community & Economic Development Director Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Rafael Guzman, Assistant City Manager Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
Professional Consultant Services Agreement
Award Recommendation
RFP 2315 Final Bid Packet
Presentation
RFP 2135 – Albert A. Webb Associates ● Page 2