RESOLUTION NO. (N.C.S.)
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH EMC PLANNING GROUP FOR PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES FOR THEFERRASCI BUSINESS CENTER SPECIFIC PLAN WHEREAS, the Economic Development Element (EDE, 2017) identifies an area outside the City’s current northern Sphere of Influence boundary as a future growth area for economic development. The lands which comprise EDE Economic Opportunity Area K (EOA K), include a Target Area, where near to mid-term development (three (3) to five (5) years) is projected by the City; and WHEREAS, with the adoption of the EDE, the General Plan Land Use and Circulation Map was amended to reflect Business Park and Commercial Retail uses in Target Area K and projected development capacity impacts were evaluated in the EDE Program EIR, certified by the City Council on December 5, 2017; and WHEREAS, the Salinas General Plan requires the approval of Specific Plans by the City prior to any development in the Future Growth Area; and WHEREAS, in June 2021, the City received applications for the proposed Ferrasci Business Center Specific Plan, Sphere of Influence Amendment and Annexation (reorganzation), General Plan Amendment and Prezoning of EDE Target Area K (Project); and WHEREAS, the City has determined that an Environmental Impact Report must be prepared to analyze the potential environmental impacts of the Ferrasci Business Center Specific Plan in accordance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and WHEREAS, outside planning and technical project support is required for the preparation, packaging and processing of planning entitlements and associated Califonia Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance for the proposed Project; and WHEREAS, on February 17, 2022, the City issued a Request for Proposals seeking a consultant team, or consultant teams, that have extensive experience in preparing General Plan Amendments, Pre-Zoning applications, Sphere of Influence Amendment and Annexation applications, Specific Plans, and associated California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documents for the Project; and WHEREAS, one proposal from EMC Planning Group was submitted by the March 25th deadline. Staff evaluated EMC’s proposal and confirmed EMC has the qualifications and experience to perform the requested work; and WHEREAS, the cost of the Environmental Impact Report is defined as $486,128.50; and WHEREAS, by Resolution XXX, the City Council approved the execution of a Funding Agreement with the applicant in which applicant agrees to be responsible for all costs and expenses associated with EMC’s work, city staff time to administer consultant agreement(s) and work, and city staff time for project management and administrative costs and expenses incurred with the processing of Project entitlements; and WHEREAS, the action of authorizing the execution of the proposed Agreement is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Section 15061 (b) (3) as there is no possibility that the activity in question, in this case the execution of the Agreement for Professional Services with EMC, may have a significant effect on the environment. Execution of the Agreement allows the City to proceed to process the submitted applications and prepare the required CEQA compliance for the Project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Salinas City Council authorizes the Mayor to execute an Agreement for Professional Services for an amount not to exceed $486,128.50 with EMC Planning Group for planning and technical project support for the preparation, packaging, and processing of planning entitlements and associated CEQA compliance for the proposed Project.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 24th day of May 2022, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
APPROVED:
________________________
Kimbley Craig, Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________
Patricia M. Barajas, City Clerk
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