DATE: NOVEMBER 15, 2022
DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
FROM: MEGAN HUNTER, DIRECTOR
BY: JONATHAN MOORE, SENIOR PLANNER
THROUGH: LISA BRINTON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
TITLE: AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO AGREEMENT WITH PLACEWORKS, INC.
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to approve a resolution authorizing the City Manager and City Attorney to execute Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement for Professional Services between the City of Salinas and PlaceWorks, Inc.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City is updating its General Plan and preparing its first Climate Action Plan under the umbrella of Visión Salinas 2040. In May 2021 the City entered into an Agreement for Professional Services (Agreement) with PlaceWorks, Inc. (PlaceWorks) to prepare environmental and technical studies, including an environmental impact report for the General Plan Update (GPU), as well as preparation of a Climate Action Plan. Staff is seeking to amend their Agreement for Professional Services (Agreement) to increase resource capacity for these efforts. Amendment No. 1 adds tasks for finalizing a General Plan Existing Conditions Report, creating a General Plan Element chapter outline and framework, policy consolidation and gap analysis and the development of an implementation program. A more details scope of work and the associated budget augmentation of $156,171 is attached to this report as Exhibit A to the Amendment No. 1. The original Agreement’s total not to exceed compensation amount is $992,210. Amendment No. 1 increases the total not to exceed compensation amount to $1,148,381. The funding source for both Amendment No. 1 is CIP 9701 - General Plan Update and Local Early Action Planning Grant – LEAP Fund 2952.
BACKGROUND:
In May 2021 the City selected PlaceWorks, following a competitive proposal process, for preparation of the Climate Action Plan and for preparation of the Environmental Impact Report for the General Plan Update (Legistar link), and executed a Professional Services Agreement (Agreement) with the consultant. This work is well underway.
DISCUSSION:
The scope of the original Agreement included limited funding for consultant assistance in preparing General Plan Elements as it was anticipated that staff experience gained during recent planning efforts meant a high level of internal capacity for writing most of the General Plan content. While staff is still directly working on many components, reduction in staffing levels and the magnitude of regulatory changes since the 2002 Salinas General Plan necessitate additional consultant resources for timely completion of the GPU. Because of PlaceWorks’ current involvement with the GPU, familiarity with Salinas, and experience with General Plans, increasing their scope and budget is the most expedient way of dedicating resources to the GPU.
Amendment No. 1 (Amendment) adds five subtasks under Agreement Task 1.5 General Plan Staff Assistance. These additional tasks will help draft policy content which will be the heart of the General Plan Update and produce documents that will be used to guide public engagement and review in early 2023:
Meetings and Communication with City Staff
Existing Conditions Report
PlaceWorks will build on an early draft started by staff and the Existing Conditions Presentation by preparing a graphically rich Existing Conditions Report that provides context for the GPU.
General Plan Policy Matrix and Outline
PlaceWorks will prepare an Excel Matrix containing all current General Plan and related strategic plan (Alisal Vibrancy Plan, Chinatown Revitalization Plan, etc.) goals, policies, and actions. Based on desired organization and structure, PlaceWorks will also prepare a Word template that outlines a framwork for the General Plan Elements.
Policy Scan
PlaceWorks will perform a gap analysis on existing policies to identify areas that must be addressed to reflect updates to State legislation, recommended best practices, and input received through existing General Plan engagement. PlaceWorks will work with staff to refine the General Plan goals, policies, and actions into a revised Policy Scan for each element.
Implementation Program
PlaceWorks will draft an implementation program for the General Plan Update. This program will identify responsible parties and timeframes for implementing emerging priorities from the General Plan Update. The program will be a separate tabular document to allow the City to revise it over time without the need to initiate General Plan Amendments.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
Not a Project. The City of Salinas has determined that the proposed action is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378). Placeworks’ scope of work includes the preparation of an environmental impact report and associated analysis and technical studies for CEQA compliance.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
This Amendment is critical to the timely completion of the General Plan Update, Housing Element, and Climate Action Plan, which further and relate to multiple components of the Strategic Plan. The Land Use and Housing Elements are crucial tools for identifying housing sites at multiple income levels and encouraging Transit Oriented Development. The Climate Action Plan (CAP) itself is a part of Infrastructure and Environmental Sustainability and the Safety and Environmental Justice Elements will also address vulnerability and resiliency.
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION:
CDD staff utilized the standard Amendment template provided by Legal. Staff from Public Works was included in the original selection process of PlaceWorks. It is expected that all departments, the City Council and Commissions continue to be involved in the General Plan Update FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
Neither the Agreement nor Amendment No. 1 is expected to have a direct impact on the Operating Budget and General Fund. The augmented total contract amount will be charged to CIP 9701 (General Plan Update) and Local Early Action Planning Grant – LEAP Fund 2952 as follows:
$30,182 in Local Early Action Planning Grant – LEAP Fund 2952; and $125,989 in CIP 9701 General Plan Update.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution authorizing Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement for Professional Services Between the City of Salinas and PlaceWorks, Inc.
Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement for Professional Services Between the City of Salinas and PlaceWorks, Inc.
Original Agreement for Professional Services Between the City of Salinas and PlaceWorks, Inc.
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