Public Works Agency
www.santa-ana.org/public-works
Item # 19
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
October 1, 2024
TOPIC: Climate Action Plan Update Services
AGENDA TITLE
Agreement with Cumming Management Group, Inc. for Climate Action Plan Update Services (General Fund)
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Cumming Management Group, Inc. to prepare a new Climate Action Plan in the base amount of $450,060, with a contingency of $45,006 for a total amount of $495,066, for a three-year term beginning October 1, 2024 and expiring September 30, 2027, with an option for two, one-year extensions (Agreement No. A-2024-XXX).
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: Yes
DISCUSSION
The City of Santa Ana Public Works Agency (PWA)’s Administration Division is responsible for the administration of the Climate Action Plan (CAP), including updating the goals and measures that will continue to move the City towards becoming more sustainable for future generations while mitigating our impact on the environment. Many of the strategies and measures have positive long-term benefits for the community such as improved air quality, reduced energy use, reduced traffic congestion, reinvestment in the community, and a healthier environment.
The measures established in the CAP were projected to accomplish the goals of 15% reduction in community-wide emissions by 2020 and nearly reach a 30% reduction by 2035. Since the CAP’s adoption, the City has implemented several measures that likely have resulted in a decrease in the City’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Approval of the recommended action will provide the consultant services needed to measure the progress made, update new metrics, and track ongoing efforts and emissions toward citywide and state-level goals.
One method for achieving these CAP vision goals relies upon updating existing policies and implementing new strategies and programs in order to further reduce our GHG emissions. Since the approval of the City’s first CAP, GHG emissions within the City were to be reduced in accordance with statewide targets through the implementation of
Climate Action Plan Update Services
October 1, 2024
4 5
4 0
mitigation measures. The CAP outlined GHG reduction for the following emission producing sectors: Transportation and Land Use, Energy, Solid Waste, Water, and Wastewater.
Additionally, the CAP previously committed the City to provide progress reports to track and monitor the implementation of the document. This was not completed due to lack of funding and will be assessed as part of the deliverables of the proposed scope of work.
Included in this scope’s deliverables is the creation of a Community Engagement Plan.
This development will serve as a robust and equitable outreach and engagement plan to detail our process for how all community outreach efforts will be coordinated, finding the right balance between individual interviews, focus groups, online surveys, public workshops, public comment, and community events. The consultant will tailor the type of engagement to the stakeholder group and desired outcomes presented. It is intended to engage with the City Council, the City’s Environmental Justice Action Committee, the City’s Environmental and Transportation Advisory Commission, Santa Ana businesses and residents, and municipal staff for collective engagement.
To properly identify efforts invested and provide meaningful updates to the City’s CAP, PWA seeks to enter into an agreement with a qualified consulting firm to assist with building on past successes and modify any targets to reflect current technologies, policies, and mandates. The consultant shall provide support services including municipal and City-wide GHG inventories, baseline and forecasted greenhouse gas inventories (including business-as-usual) subject to goal setting years, strategy and action selection and quantification, strategy and action prioritization, and other technical support services identified through the development of the updated CAP.
On April 5, 2024, PWA released Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 24-044 (Exhibit 1) to select one firm to provide services in updating the City’s CAP originally adopted in December 2015. The RFP to update this plan included an evaluation criteria consisting of responsiveness to the RFP, understanding of need, relevant property experience/schedule of delivery, and references.
The RFP was advertised on the City’s online procurement management and publication system, PlanetBids, with electronic proposals due on May 24, 2024. Eleven responsive proposals were received and evaluated by a selection committee. Of the 11 proposals received, the top ranked five firms were invited for an interview where the top scoring firm was selected.
Firm City Rank
Cumming Management Group, In.c Los Angeles, CA 1
Dudek Encinitas, CA 2
Placeworks Santa Ana, CA 3
Buro Happold Consulting Engineers, Inc. Los Angeles, CA 4 Climate Action Plan Update Services
October 1, 2024
4 5
4 0
Firm City Rank
Michael Baker International, Inc. Santa Ana, CA 5
Staff recommends awarding an agreement to Cumming Management Group, Inc. (Exhibit 2) to provide necessary updates based on the scope of work and selection criteria outlined in RFP 24-044. Their proposal demonstrated that the firm has the necessary capacity and expertise to complete the required services (Exhibit 3). The firm’s rates are reasonable and within industry standard, the team qualifications are appropriate for this project, and the proposal was determined to provide the best value for the City.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with the action
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds are available in the following account, and will be presented to City Council for approval of carryforward to FY 2024-25 as part of the citywide carryforward process.
Additional proposed carryovers of unspent funds to future fiscal years will be presented to the City Council for approval as needed.
EXHIBIT(S)
1. RFP #24-044: Climate Action Plan Update
2. Agreement with Cumming Management Group, Inc.
3. Fee Proposal
Submitted By: Nabil Saba, P.E., Executive Director – Public Works Agency Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager
Fiscal
Year
Accounting Unit
- Account No.
Fund
Description
Accounting Unit -
Account No.
Description
Amount
FY 24-25 01117017-62300
(24-6006) General Fund
PWA-Service
Enhancement,
Contract Services-
Professional
$495,066
TOTAL: $495,066