Agenda Item: 11
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: August 23, 2022
SUBJECT: ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN REVIEW SERVICES FOR PROPOSED
PROJECTS WITHIN THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA'S
ENTITLEMENT REVIEW PROCESS CONTRACT
DEPARTMENT: Community Development
PRESENTER: David Peterson
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Award a contract to PlaceWorks, Inc., to provide architectural design services, for an annual base amount not to exceed $90,000, for a total five-year amount not to exceed $450,000.
2. Appropriate funding from the General Fund (Fund 100) to the Planning Services Expenditure Account 1003100-516101 in the amount of $80,000 annually, beginning in Fiscal Year 2022- 23 through Fiscal Year 2027-28.
3. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all contracts and associated documents, subject to City Attorney approval.
BACKGROUND
In 2009, the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita (City) adopted the Community Character and Design Guidelines (CCDG). This document provides architectural guidance for development projects within the City, ensures continuity of architectural styles, and preserves the varied and unique architectural character found within each community of the City. Guidelines are included for all types of development including residential, commercial, mixed-use, business park, and industrial projects.
To supplement architectural review by City staff, the City retains the services of a professional architecture firm. Beginning in June of 2021, staff conducted two requests for proposal (RFP) processes for architectural design services to replace the prior consultant. Ultimately, proposals from two consultants were considered: PlaceWorks, Inc., and John Kaliski Architects, Inc.
The proposals were rated on the following criteria:
• Qualifications
• Scope of work and program management
• Experience with similar projects
• Thoroughness of proposal
• References
A panel of three City staff members evaluated and scored both proposals, based on the criteria above. The proposals scored as follows:
COMPANY LOCATION SCORE
PlaceWorks, Inc. Los Angeles, CA 96
John Kaliski Architects, Inc. Los Angeles, CA 74
In addition to being evaluated and scored by staff, PlaceWorks, Inc., presented an overview of its firm and the proposed services to the City Council Development Committee on July 6, 2022.
If awarded the contract, PlaceWorks, Inc., would provide architectural design review services for all new development projects subject to a conditional use permit. The architectural review will ensure a project’s consistency with the existing CCDG. Staff anticipates as many as ten projects per year, at an average cost of $9,000 per project.
The current base budget for architectural review is $10,000 annually. The recommended action would increase this base budget by $80,000 annually, for a total budgeted amount of $90,000.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other actions as identified by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Upon approval of the recommended actions, $80,000 would be appropriated annually from the General Fund to Expenditure Account 1003100-516101 for the duration of the contract.
ATTACHMENTS
PlaceWorks Request for Proposal Response (available in the City Clerk's Reading File)