F e b r u a r y 2 5 , 2 0 2 0
O n - C a l l E n v i r o n m e n t a l
P
l
a
n
n
i
n
g
S
e
r
v
i
c
e
s
R F P # P L - 1 9 - 2 0 - 1 4
S u b m i t t e d b y :
February 25, 2020
City of Santa Clarita Community Development Department
Planning Division
23920 West Valencia Boulevard, Suite 302
Santa Clarita, CA 91355-2196
RE: RESPONSE TO THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA’S REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL S (PL-19-20-14) FOR ON-CALL ENVIRONMENTAL
PLANNING SERVICES
To Whom It May Concern:
Michael Baker International, Inc., a privately owned corporation, appreciates the opportunity to submit this Proposal to the City of Santa Clarita (City) for On-Call Environmental Planning Services. Having provided similar services to the City since 2014, Michael Baker is uniquely qualified to assist the City with the preparation or peer review of environmental documentation in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as well as with mitigation monitoring services, for virtually any project, regardless of the project’s size or complexity. Our firm’s strengths include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Extensive Experience in the City of Santa Clarita: Michael Baker has been providing similar environmental consulting services to the City of Santa Clarita since 2014, and our proposed Program Manager, John Bellas, has provided environmental planning services to the City since 2003. As a result of this depth of experience, the Michael Baker team knows the key environmental considerations in Santa Clarita and understands the City’s entitlement process and the expectations of decision makers and the community. - We Offer a Full Range of In-house Services: Michael Baker has a full range of in-house CEQA generalists and technical experts, including land use and urban planners, traffic/transportation engineers, historians, archaeologists, biologists, air quality and noise scientists, hazardous material investigators, greenhouse gas/climate change specialists, hydrologists, water/wastewater engineers, landscape architects, and geographic information system (GIS) specialists. - We Prepare Legally Defensible Documents: Michael Baker has been preparing environmental documentation for more than 40 years. Through this experience, we have gained extensive experience in writing and processing accurate, legally defensible environmental documents for all types of infrastructure, policy, and development projects. - Statewide CEQA Experience with a Local Focus: We regularly observe and evaluate the best environmental planning practices being utilized in California and will bring this unique experience, knowledge, and perspective to the City. Our breadth of experience, depth of knowledge, and local perspective make us ideally suited to continue providing environmental planning services to the City.
We appreciate the opportunity to preview the sample professional services agreement that may be utilized by the City under this contract. Upon selection, we would respectfully request the opportunity to discuss a few contract terms with the City. However, we fully expect to be able to enter into a professional services agreement with the City as we have done many times in the past.
Thank you very much for your consideration of Michael Baker to provide the City with environmental planning services. Please do not hesitate to contact John Bellas if you have any questions or would like additional information.
Sincerely,
Al Warot
Principal in Charge
John Bellas, LEED AP, ENV SP
Project Manager/Department Manager—
Environmental
This page is intentionally left blank.
1 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Qualifications ................................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Experience on Similar Projects ...................................................................................................................................................... 10 References .................................................................................................................................................................................... 18 Program Management and QA/QC................................................................................................................................................ 19 Personnel, Equipment, and Facilities ............................................................................................................................................. 22 Sub-Consultants ........................................................................................................................................................................... 33 Statements and Agreement .......................................................................................................................................................... 34
APPENDICES
Appendix A – Project Team Resumes
Appendix B – Forms and Disclosure Statements
Attachment A: Disclosure Statement Form
Attachment B: References Form
Attachment C: Request for Proposals Form
Attachment D: Addenda
2 INTRODUCTION
In compliance with the requirements of the Request for Proposals (RFP), the following pages provide a general introduction to and description of Michael Baker International’s proposal and the firm’s general information.
Michael Baker International Firm Profile
Established in 1940 and celebrating 80 years
of supporting our local communities, Michael
Baker International (Michael Baker) is a
privately owned, well-capitalized corporation
with a strong history of growth and financial stability. Supported by more than 3,300 employees in nearly 90 offices, Michael Baker has the staff available to offer practical, hands -on experience in assisting public agencies to meet the needs of their communities. We have successfully complete d thousands of projects, ranging from the straightforward to the very complex, for our clients.
Michael Baker stands ready to demonstrate our financial strength, staff resources, and capability to perform services for the City of Santa Clarita Community Development Department, Planning Division upon acceptance of this Proposal. In addition to the many layers of professional staff working on projects, Michael Baker has senior management staff, project management staff, technical editing staff, geographic information services ( GIS) staff, creative services staff, information technology (IT) staff, administrative support staff, and company principals , who oversee all projects to ensure client satisfaction. Because of the firm’s size, we can provide equally trained and experienced project staff as backup , replacement, or additions to any project team to meet the City’s needs. The majority of the work under this contract will be completed by our staff in the Long Beach office, with support from our offices throughout California.
Michael Baker has a rich heritage as a planning and engineering firm specializing in engineering design, planning, architecture, environmental, construction, program management, and full life -cycle support services, as well as information technology and communications solutions. The firm provides a host of differentiated and innovative services that enhance client projects worldwide.
Michael Baker acquired legacy firm s RBF Consulting in October 2011 and PMC in February 2015. With the addition of RBF’s and PMC’s local resources, we bring seasoned staffing and local project experience to the City. Michael Baker is locally recognized as a leader in the areas of environmental analysis and compliance, regulatory permitting, mitigation monitoring, and public outreach.
Understanding of Need
Michael Baker understands that the City is seeking qualified firms to provide as -needed environmental planning services to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for developer and City projects. These services may include, but would not be limited to, reviewing and/or preparing technical studies and CEQA documents for development projects proposed by private entitlement applicants (e.g., applications for entitlements); preparing technical studies and CEQA documents for the City, including annexations, co de amendments, and other policies and programs; implementing CEQA documents through mitigation monitoring and related services; and conducting field monitoring services, as needed. These projects are managed by the City’s Community Development Department, Planning Division. The need for these services stems from the City’s considerable expansion resulting from development and annexations over the last several years.
Michael Baker has selected an in-house team of CEQA specialists, biologists, cultural resources specialists, hazardous materials specialists, and mitigation monitoring and reporting specialists, which will lead to efficiency and the ability to meet the needs of the C ity’s Planning Division in the coming years. We recognize the City has an individual set of programs and needs. The Michael Baker team will engage with Contact Information
Local Office: 3760 Kilroy Airport Way, Suite 270
Long Beach, CA 90806
Office Location Where Work Will be Performed:
Long Beach, CA
Website: www.mbakerintl.com
Point of Contact: John Bellas, LEED AP
Tel: (562) 200-7170
Email: [email protected]
3 you to be sure that we understand your intended role for a partner. Michael Baker will be available for in -house consultation or to act as your representative at local meetings or when coordinating with resource agencies.
Michael Baker is proposing to provide the City with all of the deliverables included in the City’s Request for Proposals, including:
• Technical Reports, such as those reports analyzing private development projects and/or City projects. These reports may include analyses of aesthetics and visual impacts, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, geology and soils, greenhouse gas emissions, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, noise, transportation and traffic, and wildland fire; • Peer Review of Applicant-Provided Technical Reports, such as detailed reviews to determine if technical reports submitted by entitlement applicants are technically accurate and sufficient for a CEQA document; • CEQA Documents, such as Notices of Exemption, including supporting memorandum and technical studies; Initial Studies and corresponding Negative Declarations or Mitigated Negative Declarations; Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs); EIR Addenda and Subsequent and Supplemental EIRs; and
• Mitigation Monitoring Services and Reports, such as providing periodic updates to MMRPs for projects in implementation and providing field services as required.
General Approach
Michael Baker’s approach to providing environmental planning services to the City’s Planning Division is to first and foremost work collaboratively with City staff to produce CEQA documents that are legally defensible, aid the City in the decision -making process, and meet the City’s needs in terms of quality, budget, and schedule. To accomplish these objectives, Michael Baker’s approach is founded on the following principles:
1. Draw upon our extensive experience preparing CEQA documents for the City of Santa Clarita and for similar projects in ot her cities to identify and address the key issues early in the process to prevent delays and setbacks.
2. Ensure technically adequate and complete environmental analyses.
3. Create reader-friendly CEQA documents that use a combination of narrative, figures, photographs, maps, tables, and other visual aids to help the reader understand the environmental consequences of the project.
4. Establish and achieve milestone/critical path project schedules.
5. Openly communicate with Planning Division staff to ensure the City’s desires are met and expectations are exceeded.
Michael Baker has extensive experience working on controversial projects in politically active communities. In addition to Santa Clarita, examples include Los Angeles (e.g., Hollywood, downtown Los An geles), Rolling Hills Estates, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Santa Monica, Signal Hill, Long Beach, and Arcadia. We have prepared CEQA documents for multiple projects in these areas. With this experience, we are highly adept at responding to comments, both in writing and during public meetings/hearings. Moreover, when working with such cities and communities, we regularly strategize with our clients on potential issues and develop approaches to minimize risks and po tential pitfalls.
Contracting with Michael Baker
Michael Baker has reviewed the sample professional services agreement that will be used by the City of Santa Clarita for On -Call Environmental Planning Services. Upon selection of this proposal, we would respectfully request consideration of the following limited comments to certain terms by the City:
1. Section 4, “Payments” – A measurable timeline for payment of invoices is requested as follows: “CITY shall pay CONSULTANT within thirty (30) days of receipt of CONSULTANT’s monthly invoice.”
4 2. Section 10, “Schedule of Performance and Extensions” – Paragraph B under this clause both duplicates and contradicts the “Delay” clause found in Section 38 of the contract. We request removal of Paragraph B, and as regards the difference between the advance notice terms in each of the clauses, 48 hours to notify of any delays could be too short of a period, and the fifteen days stated under the Delay clause seems too long a period. A reasonable compromise is requested, such as three business days.
3. Section 20, “Indemnification and Liability” – Michael Baker will be responsible for any errors we make, but cannot take on financial responsibility for the actions or errors of parties outside our control. We need to ensure that any duty to indemnify can be insured by professional liability insurance, which is the most important insurance to our clientele and to our firm for the profession al services we perform. For this reason, we request modification of this clause to:
“CONSULTANT shall indemnify and hold harmless CITY and its officers, agents, departments, officials, representatives and employees (collectively “Indemnitees”) from and against any and all loss, cost, damage, injury (including injury to or death of an employee of CONSULTANT or its subconsultants), exp ense and liability of every kind, nature and description that arise from or relate to (including, court costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees, litigation expenses and fees of expert consultants or expert witnesses incurred in connection therewith and costs of investigation) to the extent caused by: (1) any negligent act or omission of CONSULTANT, any subconsultant, anyone directly or indirectly employed by them, or anyone that they control; (2) any actual or alleged infringement of the patent rights, copyright, trade secret, trade name, trademark, service mark or any other intellectual or proprietary right of any person or persons in consequence of the use by CITY, or any other Indemnitee, of articles or Serv ices to be supplied in the performance of this Agreement ((However, CONSULTANT will not indemnify CITY if the suit or claim results from: (a) CITY's alteration of a deliverable, in that such alteration created the infringement upon any presently existing U.S. letters patent or copyright or (b) the use of a de liverable in combination with other material not provided by CONSULTANT when it is such use in combination which infringes upon an existing U.S. letters patent or copyright); or (3) any material breach of thi s Agreement (collectively “Liabilities”). Such o bligations to hold harmless and indemnify any Indemnitee shall not apply to the extent such Liabilities are caused by the negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee but shall apply to all other Liabilities.
The foregoing shall be subject to the li mitations of California Civil Code section 2782.8 as to any design professional services performed by CONSULTANT and in particular the limitation on CONSULTANT’s duty to hold harmless and indemnify whereby such duty only arises for claims relating to the n egligence, recklessness or willful misconduct of CONSULTANT as well as the limitation on the cost to defend whereby CONSULTANT will only bear such cost in proportion to CONSULTANT’s proportionate percentage of fault (except as otherwise provided in section 2782.8).
The foregoing indemnification provisions will not reduce or affect other rights or obligations which would otherwise exist in favor of the CITY and other Indemnitees.
CONSULTANT shall place in its sub -consulting agreements and cause its subconsul tants to agree to indemnities and insurance obligations in favor of CITY and other Indemnitees in the exact form and substance of those contained in this Agreement.”
4. Addition of a new Section 42 to address circumstances which can be outside of the control of both parties:
“42. WAIVER OF CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. In no event shall either Party have any claim or right against the other, whether in contract, warranty, tort (including negligence), strict liability or otherwise, for any special, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages or any kind or nature whatsoever, such as but not limited to loss of revenue, loss of profits on revenue, loss of customers or contracts, loss of use of equipment or loss of data, work interruption, increased cost of work or cost of any financing, howsoever caused, even if same were reasonably foreseeable.”
5 QUALIFICATIONS
With more than 40 years of environmental planning experience, Michael Baker has a wide range of experience providing environment planning services to public agencies in compliance with CEQA and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Our experience includes preparing CEQA documentation related to on-call contracts , preparing and reviewing technical reports, and providing mitigation monitoring services. In short, Michael Baker is a multidisciplinary firm that specializes in all major services that the Planning Division is seeking. Below is a list of our environmental services expertise in various service types.
Environmental Services Experience
Service Type Expertise
Technical Reports
(Preparation and
Peer Review)
✓ Biological Surveys, Analysis, and Reporting
✓ Revegetation Plans, Cost Estimates, and
Specifications
✓ Air Quality Analysis
✓ Traffic/Transportation Impact Analysis
✓ Cultural and Historic Resource Studies
✓ Land Evaluation and Site Assessment
Agricultural Land Modeling
✓ Impact Fee Studies
✓ Community Impact Analysis
✓ Noise Analysis
✓ Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate
Change Analysis
✓ Environmental Justice Evaluation
✓ Visual Impact Assessments (VIA)
✓ Section 4(f) Evaluations
✓ Opportunities and Constraints Studies
✓ Hazardous Materials Analyses
✓ Energy Analysis
✓ Water Supply Assessments
✓ Hydrology, Drainage, and Water Quality
Studies
Environmental
Documents
✓ Categorical Exemptions/Categorical Exclusions
✓ Initial Studies/Negative Declarations/Mitigated Negative Declarations (IS/ND/MND) ✓ Environmental Assessments/Finding of No Significant Impacts (EA/FONSI) ✓ Sustainable Community Environmental Assessments (SCEA) ✓ Environmental Impact Reports (EIR)
✓ Environmental Impact Statements (EIS)
✓ Public Outreach: Public Notices, Social Media, Scoping Meetings, Public Hearings and Agency Meetings, and Focus Groups
Mitigation
Monitoring and
Reporting
✓ Mitigation Monitoring Plans (MMPs) and
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Programs
(MMRPs)
✓ Development of Success Criteria and
Monitoring Schedules
✓ Preconstruction and Construction Surveys
✓ On-Site Monitoring Project Mitigation and
Mitigation Bank Evaluation
✓ Field Staff Training
✓ Permit Compliance Documentation
Expertise ✓ Can provide guidance and strategy advice on any of the above technical environmental issues ✓ Coordination with Permitting Agencies and Relevant Stakeholders ✓ Regulatory Assistance and Advice: AB 52 and SB 18 Native American Consultation ✓ Training: City Staff, Planning Commissioner, City Council, and Other Hearing Body Training and Single- and Multiple-Session Tailored CEQA Classes
As-needed contracts require effective coordination of multiple tasks, often simultaneously, and completion of assignments within abbreviated schedules. Michael Baker’s strengths that make us uniquely qualified to provide the City the requested environmental consulting services and technical expertise include the following:
Extensive Experience with On-Call Environmental Consulting Services: Michael Baker has been providing similar on-call environmental consulting services to local municipalities throughout California, including the cities of Santa Clarita, Pasadena, Los Ang eles, Arcadia, Bradbury, Long Beach, Rolling Hills Estates, Laguna Woods, Dublin, and Hollister, as well as the counties of Riverside and Humboldt.
6 Michael Baker has many repeat clients and has worked with many of these municipalities for more than two contract terms (three- to five- year contract terms). More specifically, Michael Baker is currently assisting the City’s Planning Division in preparing CEQA documentation for the following projects:
▪ Bouquet Canyon Residential Development and Bouquet Canyon Road Realignment EIR ▪ Placerita Meadows Development Project EIR
▪ Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Master Plan Second Amendment Supplemental EIR ▪ Mancara Residential Project EIR
▪ Sierra West Assisted Living and Memory Care Facility IS/MND ▪ Westfield Valencia Town Center Patios Connection Project IS/MND In addition, Michael Baker completed the following CEQA documentation for the City’s Planning Division in the last five years:
▪ Dockweiler Residential Development IS/MND (completed in 2019) ▪ Jobs Creation Overlay Zone IS/ND (completed in 2019)
▪ Canyon Country Community Center and Park IS/MND (completed in 2017) ▪ Valencia Suites Hotel Project IS/MND (completed in 2016) ▪ Kaiser Permanente Medical Office Project IS/MND (completed in 2015) ▪ Sierra Highway Street Improvements and Pedestrian Bridge Project (completed in 2015) These projects are described in further detail below under “Experience on Similar Projects.” We Offer a Full Range of In-house Services: Michael Baker has a full range of in-house CEQA generalists and technical experts, including land use and urban planners, traffic /transportation engineers, historians, archaeologists, biologists, air quality and noise scientists, hazardous material investigators , greenhouse gas/climate change specialists, hydrologists, water/ wastewater engineers, landscape architects, and GIS specialists in our Long Beach and Santa Ana offices. An organizational chart is presented below under “ Personnel, Equipment, and Facilities.”
We Prepare Legally Defensible Documents: Michael Baker recognizes that preparation of legally defensible documents is imperative in today’s environment. Michael Baker has been preparing environmental documentation for more than 40 years. Throughout those ye ars, we have attained extensive experie nce in writing and processing accurate, legally defensible environmental documents for all types of infrastructure, policy, and development projects. In our practice, we regularly work with CEQA attorneys to develop and implement strategies to respond to the latest case law. In addition, John, as our proposed contract/project manager, has conducted numerous CEQA training sessions and served as an instructor in the Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP) Advanced CEQA and CEQA Essential training series. Topics that he has instructed have included the CEQA process, preparation of initial studies, analysis of environmental impacts, legislative and case law updates, CEQA trends, and the drafting of enforceable mitigation measures.
Statewide CEQA Experience with a Local Focus: We regularly observe and evaluate the best environmental planning practices being used in California and implement these effective practices. We are highly suited to continue to bring this unique experience, knowledge, and perspective on environmental consulting services to the City. Our breadth of experience, depth of knowledge, and local perspective , as evidenced above, make Michael Baker ideally suited to continue to provide environmental consulting services to the City.
The following paragraphs detail Michael Baker’s qualifications specific to the services requested by the City and described in the Scope of Work.
7 Technical Reports and Peer Review
Michael Baker is a multidisciplinary firm that has extensive expertise preparing nearly all of the technical studies that the Planning Division may request in support of a project’s environmental review. This includes but is not limited to visual impact analyses; air quality and greenhouse gas emissions analyses; energy studies; biological resources assessments; natural environment studies; cultural and tribal resources assessments; Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs); hydrology and water quality studies; noise analyses; traffic/transportation studies; water supply assessments; and utility infrastructure studies. In short, we provide essentially all of the services needed to respond to the technical topics in the CEQA Guidelines Appendix G checklist, including, not limited to:
Air Quality/Greenhouse Gas Emissions Analyses
We prepare a full range of air quality and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions analyses for public and private sector clients, in accordance with local, state, and federal impact assessment criteria. Our staff is trained in using state -of-the art computer models and ass essment protocols developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency, the California Air Resources Board, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Caltrans, and air pollution control districts throughout the state. The computer models include the California Emissions Estimator Model (CalEEMod), EMFAC, CALINE, and AERMOD. These modeling techniques, together with land use and project-specific data, allow us to quantify existing and estimate future criteria pollutants associated with a project. We also prep are Windrose maps and use BREEZE air dispersion software to analyze carbon monoxide hot spots and localized emissions impacts.
We prepare air quality analyses for environmental documents as well as stand -alone studies. With expertise in all project aspect s and phases, including short -term construction emissions and long -term operational emissions, our staff develops the mitigation measures necessary to reduce or avoid project and cumulative air quality impacts. We have extensive experience in the preparati on of health risk assessments, as well as peer reviews of air quality studies prepared by separate entities. Additionally, we prepare GHG emissions analyses which provide an inventory of the emissions (i.e., nitrous oxide, methane, and carbon dioxide) from both direct (i.e., area and mobile sources) and indirect sources (i.e., energy/water consumption and wastewater/solid waste generation).
Biological Resources Assessments
Michael Baker staff have extensive experience conducting general biological surveys, habitat suitability assessments, botanical inventories, jurisdictional delineations, technical peer reviews, and assisting both public and private sector clients in compl iance with a range of environmental regulations, including CEQA and the state and federal Endangered Species Act. In addition, Michael Baker staff have experience processing state and federal regulatory permits pursuant to Sections 404 and 401 of the Clean Water Act, the California Porter- Cologne Water Quality Control Act, and Section 1602 of the California Fish and Game Code. Our firm’s experience includes conducting California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM) analyses, biological monitoring surveys, nesting bird clearance surveys, oak tree surveys, and focused surveys for burrowing owl and least Bell’s vireo.
Cultural Resources Analyses
Michael Baker’s cultural resources expertise is called on for a multitude of project types, including built environment and archaeological surveys; archaeological monitoring and excavation; tribal consultation; historic context development; National Register, California Register, and local register evaluations and nominations; and compliance documentation necessary to address the requirements of CEQA. We complete all types of cultural resources studies, including identification and evaluation studies, finding of effect documents, archaeological monitoring plans, memorandum of agreements, and programmatic agreements, all in cons ultation with applicable agency staff and the State Office of Historic Preservation ( OHP). We can also complete mitigation documentation such as HABS/HAER/HALS and develop interpretive signage. In addition to project -specific studies, we are adept at compl eting preemptive historic resource identification, including reconnaissance level surveys to identify significant property types within a region for the purposes of preservation.
8 Phase I Environmental Assessments
Phase I Environmental Assessments evaluate the potential for hazardous materials on a site based upon readily discernible and/or documented present and historical uses of the property. In accordance with ASTM standards, the Michael Baker team can provide a full range of assessments of potentially impacted properties.
Noise and Vibration Impact Analyses
Michael Baker ’s noise control services include community noise studies, construction and operational noise monitoring and control, inspection and noise testing, and construction vibration impact analyses. All noise control studies involve analyzing or projecting the noise levels generated by a source, determining the level of reduction desired, and recommending mitigation measures to achieve the criterion levels. Noise monitoring equipment maintained by the firm includes state -of-the-art automated digital test equipment and cert ified calibration equipment. Our extensive inventory of noise monitoring equipment thoroughly evaluates noise impacts for our clien ts in both community and industrial settings.
Traffic and Transportation Analyses
Michael Baker provides transportation plann ing and traffic engineering. We understand the local and unique process and requirements involved in transportation planning projects, most specifically transportation impact analysis reports and mobility assessmen ts. We have prepared transportation impact analysis reports for a wide variety of projects including retail, office, commercial, and residential. Our team has been involved in the preparation of transportation impact studies for large, complex, multiuse developments throughout Ca lifornia and has the resources both locally and regionally to support the City. In addition to preparing transportation impact analysis reports, our team provides extension of staff and third-party review services to jurisdictions throughout the state.
SB 743 reconsiders how we look at transportation impacts on the environment, including shifting from evaluating vehicle delay to vehicle miles traveled (VMT). This new metric evaluates the benefits of mixing land uses in urban and suburban environments to reduce trip lengths, which in turn provides for improved air quality and other environmental factors. In addition, the shift will require consider ation for transportation demand management (TDM) strategies, such as transit improvements, pedestrian and bicycle enhancements, and other measures to reduce VMT, which will lead to improved transportation options into the future. Our transportation planning team is committed to sustainable enhancements and believes that multimodal transportation systems are essential to successfully developing the livable communities of the future.
Peer Review Services
Michael Baker is commonly requested by our local agency clients to peer review applicant -provided studies. We review each study for technical best practices and applicable regulatory requirements to ensure the reports are legally defensible. Michael Baker provides peer review services to multiple cities in Southern California, including the City of Pasadena and City of Los Angeles, where CEQA and technical experts review EIRs, Environmental Assessments, Initial Studies, and technical studies for technical and legal adequacy, as well as for inclusion of best practices and compliance with local, regional, and state regulations.
Environmental Documents
Michael Baker brings seasoned staff and local project experience to the City. Michael Baker staff are highly experienced in preparing Categorical Exemptions (CEs), Initial Studies, NDs/MNDs, Sustainable Community Environmental Assessments (SCEAs), and EIRs. Michael Baker staff have extensive experience with all steps in the CEQA process, including the following:
▪ Preparing Initial Studies leading to Negative Declarations, Mitigated Negative Declarations, and Notices of Preparation of an EIR
9 ▪ Preparing and circulating CEQA notices (e.g., Notice of Intent to Adopt an ND/MND, Notice of Preparation, Notice of Availability of a Draft EIR, Notice of Completion, and Notice of Determination ▪ Conducting Scoping Meetings
▪ Preparation of technical studies and environmental analyses ▪ Completion of Draft EIRs
▪ Circulation of Draft EIRs
▪ Responding to agency and public comments on the Draft EIRs and other CEQA documents ▪ Preparation of Final EIRs
▪ Preparing Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Programs ▪ Preparing CEQA Findings and Statements of Overriding Considerations) ▪ Presenting at public hearings/meetings considering CEQA documents Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting
Michael Baker staff have provided mitigation monitoring and reporting services to municipal clients throughout California. This experience includes reviewing, tracking, and updating MMRPs documents, as well as field monitoring services, such as construction monitoring and project site inspections. Michael Baker’s mitigation monitoring and reporting services include , but are not limited to, construction worker interviews, verification of the presence of appropriate technical experts on -site, inspection of noise abatement techniques, observation of dust control measures, biological resource monitoring during construction, and maintaining detailed logs of site inspections to document the mitigation monitoring activities undertaken.
Expertise
As stated above, Michael Baker has a wide range of experience covering all of the technical fields required for completion of CEQA documentation. We have a full range of in -house technical specialists including: land use and urban planners, traffic/transportation engineers, historians, archaeologists, biologists, air quality and noise scientists, hazardous material investigators, greenhouse gas/climate change specialists, hydrologists, water/wastewater engineers, landscape architects, and GIS specialists.
Our firm also has extensive experience assisting public agencies in complying with CEQA and developing CEQA strategy. Examples include developing a CEQA compliance approach, identifying necessary technical studies, identifying/refining the scope of EIR s, formulating alternatives, strategizing on respond ing to comments, considering the need to recirculate all or portions of the Draft EIR, considering changes to the project after adoption/certification of the CEQA document, etc. John Bellas, as project manager, would be available to the City to provide guidance and discuss options/strategies related to environmental issues in support of City and private development projects.
He has served in a similar CEQA advisor role for multiple cities in southern California , including Santa Clarita, Pasadena, Los Angele s, Blythe, Laguna Woods, and California City. As he has done in the past, John would also be available to conduct CEQA training sessions/programs for City staff.
While we understand that the City is typically the main point of contact for coordination wit h resource agencies, Michael Baker has experience coordinating with resource agencies, such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and would be available to represent the City in such coordination upon request.
10 EXPERIENCE ON SIMILAR PROJECTS
Michael Baker has assisted the City of Santa Clarita with multiple CEQA documents over the past five years. Examples include:
Bouquet Canyon Residential Project EIR, Santa Clarita (ongoing) Michael Baker is preparing an EIR for the Bouquet Canyon Residential Project, located along the eastern and southern sides of Bouquet Canyon Road between Copper Canyon Drive and Plum Canyon Road. The proposed project would construct 45 single -family detached units, 102 bungalows, 1 32 row homes, 90 homes arranged in motor courts, and 92 townhomes on 57 acres of mostly undeveloped land. The proposed project would also include closing a portion of and constructing a new alignment of Bouquet Canyon Road. The project requires a condition al use permit, development and architectural design review, a ridgeline alteration permit, an oak tree permit, and a tentative tract map to subdivide the property into 70 lots for residential land uses, streets, private drives, draining infrastructure, and various open space lots. The scope of the EIR includes aesthetics, air quality, cultural and paleontological resources, geology and soils, greenhouse gas emissions, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, noise, transportation and traffic, and utilities and service systems.
Placerita Meadows Development Project EIR,
Santa Clarita (ongoing)
The proposed project would develop 310 two -story, single -family, detached homes, with related infrastructure, open space, trails, recreation, and landscape elements, on approximately 93.56 acres in the Placerita Canyon area of Santa Clarita. The residential lot sizes would range from 2,500 to 4,500 square feet. Homes would be clustered in three neighborhoods within a rectangular area comprising a m ajority of the project site, bordered by Railroad Avenue on the west, 12 th and 13th Streets on the south, a Metropolitan Water District easement on the east, and Placerita Creek on the north. Several mature oak trees within the proposed development area would be preserved in place, in accordance with City regulations. Approximately 38 acres of land in the northern portion of the project site will remain open space with the opportunity for hiking and equestrian trail connections in the Placerita Creek area. The proposed project would be located approximately one -half mile from the Jan Heidt Metrolink Station and the Newhall Community Center.
11 Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Master Plan
Supplemental EIR, Santa Clarita (ongoing)
Michael Baker is currently preparing a Supplemental EIR for an amendment to the Henry Mayo Hospital Master Plan. The
hospital, located at the intersection of McBean Parkway and Orchard Village Road, is proposing to revise the Master Plan to allow an additional 200,000 square feet of building space, as well as expansion of an existing parking facility. The proposed development includes an 84,300 -square-foot, three-story diagnostic and treatment building, a 115,700 -square-foot, five- story inpatient building, and the addition of three abovegroun d levels to an existing parking structure for an additional 292 parking spaces. The scope of the EIR includes aesthetics, air quality, energy, greenhouse gas emissions, noise, transportation, traffic and parking, tribal cultural resources, and utilities and service systems.
Mancara Residential Project EIR,
Santa Clarita (ongoing)
Michael Baker is currently preparing an EIR for the
Mancara Residential Project. The proposed project is
an upscale, large -lot community involving the
development of 109 single -family residential units
and open space areas on approximately 179.2 acres
of primarily undeveloped land. Additional actions
and planning entitlements include a request for a Tentative Tract Map as well as an oak tree permit. The project site is located to the east of the intersection of Oak Spring Canyon Road and Lost Canyon Road, and is generally bounded by the Santa Clara River to the north, unincorporated Los Angeles County and the Angeles National Forest to the east, the Sand Canyon Country Club to the south, and Oak Spring Canyon Wash to the west. The EIR analyzes a number of topics, including aesthetics, biological resources, traffic and circulation, air quality, noise, hydrology and water quality, geology, public services and utilities, and cultural and tribal cultural resources.
Sierra West Assisted Living and Memory Care Project
IS/MND, Santa Clarita (ongoing)
Michael Baker is currently preparing an IS/MND for the Sierra West Assisted Living and Memory Care Project , located on Sierra Highway, 800 feet south of Newhall Avenue. The project would develop an 83-unit senior living facility on
3.99 acres of mostly undeveloped land immediately north of Eternal Valley Memorial Park. The proposed project would include five above-ground levels in addition to one subterranean level used for guest and resident parking. The proposed project would also include amenities such as separate outdoor spaces for assisted living and memory care residents, an indoor gymnasium and salon, and a multi-use trail along Sierra Highway.
12 Westfield Valencia Town Center
Patios Connection Project IS/MND,
Santa Clarita (ongoing)
Michael Baker is currently preparing an IS/MND for the
Westfield Valencia Town Center Patios Connection
Project, on the eastern portion of the V alencia Town
Center development , at the intersection of Valencia
Parkway and Citrus Street . The project would demolish
approximately 128,558 square feet of retail space and
construct approximately 153,930 square feet of new
retail anchor space to be occupied by Costco. The project would also develop 2,600 square feet of outdoor patio
space, a new fueling station with up to 30 pumps, a
34,185-square-foot health and fitness center, a 32,000 -square-foot cinema, and 7,434 square feet of new retail space. At bui ldout, the project would result in a net increase of 101,129 square feet of retail space, bringing the Westfield Valencia Town Center to 1,066,835 square feet of total shopping center uses.
Dockweiler Residential Development IS/MND,
Santa Clarita (completed in 2019)
Michael Baker prepared an IS/MND for the Dockweiler Residential Development Project, located at the southwest corner of Dockweiler Drive and Sierra Highway. The project involved developing 96 detached residential condominiums on 21.44 acres of mostly undeveloped land previously used for oil extraction and storage. The proposed gated community includes homes ranging in size between 2,050 and 2,450 square feet and includes amenities such as a pool, clubhouse, children’s playground, passive park, and a multipurpose trail.
Jobs Creation Overlay Zone IS/ND,
Santa Clarita (completed in 2019)
Michael Baker prepared an Initial Study and Negative Declaration for a proposed Jobs Creation Overlay Zone (JCOZ), which established new procedures for permitting office and industrial developm ent projects that exceed the established heights standards for their underlying zone. The JCOZ replaced an existing conditional use permit requirement with an appealable, director-level discretionary review process for office buildings up to 5 stories and industrial buildings up to 55 feet in height . The IS focused on aesthetic impacts that can reasonably be expected to result from the project, which may encourage development of buildings taller than those currently requiring a conditional use permit.
13 Canyon Country Community Center and Park IS/MND,
Santa Clarita (completed in 2017)
Michael Baker prepared an IS/MND for the Canyon Country Community Center project. The project involves the demolition of three commercial buildings and construction of an approximately 20,000--square-foot community center and park improvements, including open play areas, water features, an outdoor market/ mercado, an event stage, parking, off -site street improvements, and a stormwater infiltration system. The community center building will include spaces such as a multi -purpose room, gymnasium, classrooms, catering and teaching kitchen , fitness room, staff offices, a reception lobby, and supporting uses such as restrooms and storage areas. The facility will also feature an events garden, group picnic areas, a basketball half -court, and a perimeter trail.
Valencia Suites Hotel Project IS/MND, Santa Clarita (completed in 2016) Michael Baker prepared an IS/MND for a proposed extended stay hotel and a 4,000 -square-foot stand-alone restaurant in the northwest corner of the Valencia Boulevard/McBean Parkway intersection. The proposed hotel is 5 stories and approximately 60 feet in he ight and includes 88 studio rooms, 32 one-bedroom rooms, and 14 two-bedroom rooms, for a total of 134 suites. Proposed hotel amenities include an outdoor pool and patio area, a fitness center, a breakfast bar, a lobby, a great room, and business center area.
Kaiser Permanente Medical Office Project IS/MND, Santa Clarita (completed in 2015) Michael Baker pre pared an IS/MND for a 115,610 -square-foot Kaiser Permanente medical office building and seven -story parking structure.
The project consist ed of converting a former US Borax office building/research and development facility into a medical office building that includes doctors’ offices, an outpatient surgery center, an urgent care facility, a laboratory, and a pharmacy. In addition, the project included demolishing an existing 299-space, four-story parking structure and replacing it with a new seven -story, 568-space parking structure, which is the tallest parking structure in Santa Clarita. The proposed facility also includes outdoor space for a farmer’s market and provides meeting space that will be available for use by local community groups.
Sierra Highway Street Improvements and
Pedestrian Bridge Project IS/MND, Santa
Clarita (completed in 2015)
Michael Baker prepared an IS/MND for proposed street
improvements and a new pedestrian bridge over Sierra Highway.
The pedestrian bridge was intended to pro vide pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users a grade-separated crossing of Sierra Highway at the intersection with Golden Valley Road. In addition, the project included adding a right -turn lane from Sierra Highway onto Golden Valley Road, sidewalk and crosswalk improvements, new streetlights, and landscaping.
14 On-Call Environmental and Planning Services, City of Pasadena (ongoing since 2013) Michael Baker has provided on-call environmental and planning services to the City of Pasadena since 2013. Under this contract, Michael Baker has undertaken a wide variety of assignments. Relevant environmental Planning assignments include:
Environmental Coordination Services, City of Pasadena (ongoing since 2013) Michael Baker provides environmental coordination services to the City of Pasadena. In this role, Michael Baker, primarily represented by John Bellas, is responsible for overseeing the preparation and management of all the City’s environmental documents. Tasks in clude supervising the CEQA process for all projects in the City; reviewing CEQA and NEPA documents prepared by City staff and other consultants; providing recommendations on the appropriate procedures for complying with CEQA and other environmental regulations; advising the City on env ironmental matters; reviewing technical studies for adequacy; overseeing the preparation, posting, and distribution of environmental notices; and participating in public meetings/hearings. In this role, Michael Baker has overseen the preparatio n and processing numerous CEQA documents.
Caltech Chen Neuroscience Research Building Initial Study, City of Pasadena (completed in 2017)
Michael Baker prepared an Initial Study for the Chen Neuroscience Research Building to satisfy the environmental review commitments identified in the Caltech Master Plan and to support a CEQA CE . The project proposed the construction of a three -story-plus- basement, approximately 155,000 -square-foot research/classroom building on the Caltech campus. The project proposed demolishing a single-family residence and one apartment complex, as well as relocat ing a historic bungalow court. The historical resource relocation was determined to be a less than significant impact because the resource would be restored according to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties: Restoration.
South Fair Oaks Specific Plan Amendment IS/MND, City of Pasadena (completed in 2016)
Michael Baker prepared an IS/MND for the a mendment to the South Fair Oaks Specific Plan . The amendment was proposed to designate “Medical Services – Hospital” use as a conditionally permitted use. The South Fair Oaks Specific Plan was adopted in 1998 with a vision of establishing a district attracting biomedical and technology -based companies that can prosper alongside an energetic mix of community se rving retail, medical facilities and support services. The proposed project would provide for the development of hospital uses upon the approval of a Conditional Use Permit throughout the Specific Plan area. Key issues analyzed in the document included lan d use, aesthetics, cultural resources, and parking.
15 Hyatt Place Hotel/Paseo Colorado Revitalization IS/MND, City of Pasadena (completed in 2014)
Michael Baker prepared the IS/MND for a revitalization project for the Paseo Colorado retail/mixed-use center (the Paseo), which proposed a new Hyatt Place Hotel, up to 100 multi-family residential units, new restaurant and retail spaces, reconfigured patron amenities, and improved pedestrian connectivity. The project’s most significant improvements were propose d at the eastern end of the Paseo, where the 158,900-square-foot Macy’s building, which closed in the spring of 2013, would be demolished. Two buildings would be developed in its place—a new 179 -room hotel and a new 6 -story mixed -use building, which would flank a proposed extension of the Paseo’s central pedestrian mall.
On-Call Environmental Consultant Contract, City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning (ongoing since 2017)
Michael Baker has provided on-call environmetal consultant services to the De partment of City Planning since 2017. In this role, Michael Baker has peer reviewed numerous CEQA documents and has created a new software system to facilitate the preparation and processing of Initial Studies. Details of these efforts are included below.
EIR Review Services, City of Los Angeles (ongoing)
Michael Baker has provided EIR Peer Review Services to the Los Angeles Department of City Planning since March 2017. Our responsibilities in this role include reviewing Initial Studies, Draft EIRs, Final E IRs, and CEQA Findings/Statements of Overriding Considerations prior to release for public review; overseeing the EIR process for development projects; ensuring compliance with CEQA’s noticing requ irements; and attending/presenting at scoping meetings and public hearings (e.g., Hearing Officer, City Planning Commission, and City Council meetings). In addition, in this role, Michael Baker is often called upon to provide strategic CEQA advice to the City. To date, Michael Baker has assisted the City with the CEQA documentation for more than 60 projects, including major development applications in Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, the Arts District, the San Fernando Valley, and the Westside.
Initial Study Program Development (ongoing)
Michael Baker is developing an Initial Study preparation software program to replace the City’s EForms program. The program guides City planning staff through the Initial Study preparation process, with auto -populated fields, suggested language and outlines, helpful hints, and automatically generated maps. The program also assists the user in completing the CEQA process by tracking internal and public review drafts, automatically building mitigation monitoring programs, and providing a database of adopted IS/ND/MNDs.
On-Call Environmental Services, City of Arcadia (ongoing since 2015) Michael Baker has been providing on -call environmental consulting services to the City since 2015, with an updated on -call contract beginning in 2019. In this role, Michael Baker has undertaken the following assignments:
16 Artis Senior Living Project IS/MND, City of Arcadia, (ongoing) Michael Baker is preparing an IS/MND for a proposed memory care senior living facility located in the northwestern portion of the City of Arcadia. The project would develop a senior living facility entirely dedicated to people afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease and related memory disorders. The facility would include a new two -story 44,192 - square-foot building with 80 senior housing units; each unit, which would range in size generally between 216 square feet and 302 square feet, would primarily consist of a bed and a private bathroom with a shower . The project site currently contains a restaurant surrounded by a surface parki ng lot, which would be demolished and removed as part of the proposed project. Key issues analyzed in the IS/MND include aesthetics, cultural resources, air quality, noise, and biological resources.
Arroyo Pacific Academy Specific Plan IS/MND, City of
Arcadia (completed in 2016)
Michael Baker prepared an IS/MND for the proposed relocation and expansion of the Arroyo Pacific Academy private school. The project involved consolidating educational programs and administration onto a single school campus, governed by a proposed Specific Plan, with three buildings (referred to as Buildings A, B, and C), circulation for pedestrians and vehicles, and three parking areas. Building A, the Gateway Structure, would be a one -story elevated structure built over an existin g surface parking lot and would accommodate classrooms and offices. Building B, a rehabilitated commercial office structure, would be the school’s Scien ce, Math, and Technology Center. Building C, the Clarke Center, would include theater and various related performing arts studios for educational purposes.
Canyon Private Residence Project EIR Peer Review, EIR Findings and Statement of Overriding Considerations, City of Arcadia (completed in 2015)
Michael Baker conducted a peer review of the Canyon Private Residence EIR and prepared the EIR Findings and Statement of Overriding Considerations for the project. The proposed project consisted of developing one single -family residence on an undeveloped 90.5 -acre hillside parcel. The project included a Ten tative Parcel Map that would divide the project site into two parcels. Parcel 1 would be approximately 11.68 acres and would include the proposed residence as well as an access drive. Parcel 2 would be approximatel y 78.8 acres and was proposed as permanent open space. The project proposed to limit grading to 1.34 acres of the project site to create an access drive and a 15,600-square-foot building pad.
Mitigation Monitoring Services, Pacific Plaza Project, City of Arcadia (completed in 2019)
Michael Baker provided mitigation monitoring services to the City of Arcadia for the Pacific Plaza Mixed-Use Development Project. The Project total ed over 85,000 square feet, containing 37 residential units and 19,000 square feet of commercial space. Key mitigation measures that Michael Baker monitored included those designed to protect the residents to the south and east from noise and dust generated during construction.
Michael Baker conducted 50 inspections over the 28-month project construction period and performed c onstruction worker interviews, verification of the presence of appropriate technical experts on -site, inspection of noise abatement techniques, and
17 observation of dust and erosion control measures. Michael Baker also maintained a log of site inspections to document the mitigation monitoring activities undertaken.
On-Call Environmental Services, City of Long Beach (ongoing since 2016) Michael Baker has recently been retained by the City of Long Beach for a second three-year term to provide on-call environmental/planning services for a diverse range of projects requiring CEQA and NEPA clearance documentation. In this role, and under past contracts with the City of Long Beach, Michael Baker has overseen the preparation and processing numerous CEQA and NEPA documents, including the following limited sample of major CEQA documents:
Oceanaire Apartment Project IS/MND, City of Long Beach
(completed in 2015)
Michael Baker International assisted the City of Long Beach with preparation of an IS/MND for t he Oceanaire Apartment Project. The project involves development of a 215-unit multi-family/mixed-use apartment complex on a 1.76- acre site. The project includes a single structure that would consist of nine levels (two subterranean levels and seven aboveg round levels). Analysis within the IS/MND was based upon a range of technical studies prepared by Michael Baker, including air quality, greenhouse gases, noise, and traffic. Michael Baker also prepared a range of visual simulations documenting the project’ s effects on the aesthetic character of the project area. The IS/MND developed mitigation measures to reduce impacts to below the level of sig nificance for aesthetics, air quality, cultural resources, geology and soils, and noise.
Shoreline Gateway Project and Supplemental EIR, City of Long Beach (completed in 2010) Michael Baker International completed a Project and Supplemental EIR for the Shoreline Gateway Project for the City of Long B each. The project EIR evaluated a mixed-use development involving a 22-story residential tower, a 15- to 19-story stepped slab building, and a 10 - story building on nine parcels (approximately 2.2 acres), generally located north of Ocean Boulevard, between Atlantic and Al amitos Avenues. The Supplemental EIR addressed dev elopment of a 35 -story residential tower on the site. The location of the project site serves as an entrance to the East Village Arts District and the eastern edge of the downtown. For both the project and Supplemental EIR, the proposal involved 358 reside ntial units, a maximum of 20,000 square feet of ground floor retail, art gallery, café, civic space uses, and parking for approximately 860 cars. The environmental review involved an aesthetics analysis, including light/glare, shade/shadow and land use com patibility, traffic and parking, air quality, noise, historic resources, hazardous materials assessment, and public services, and utilities.
Alamitos Battery Energy Storage System IS/MND, City of Long Beach (completed in 2017)
Michael Baker International assisted the City of Long Beach with preparation of an IS/MND and supporting technical analyses for the Alamitos Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the existing Alamitos Generating Station in Long Beach. The project included construction of a 300-megawatt battery energy storage facility consisting of three 50-foot high buildings, similar in appearance to server farms, and constructed within the existing surface parking lot between existing Units 1 through 4 and the switchyard. Constructio n required moving the existing generator tie lines to the switchyard to accommodate the new battery storage buildings. The project’s coastal location required a detailed analysis of aesthetics, land use/Coastal Act consistency, air quality, and noise. The IS/MND also included an analysis of potential sea level rise impacts.
18 REFERENCES
Three references, in addition to the City of Santa Clarita, that can attest to our environmental planning experience and expertise are provided below. This information is also included in the References Form, provided by the City, and included in this proposal as Attachment B of Appendix A.
On-Call/As-Needed Services Contracts
City of Santa Clarita, On-Call Environmental Services
(ongoing since 2014)
Michael Baker has been providing on -call environmental services to the City since 201 4.
Michael Baker has undertaken a variety of assignments, including preparing CEQA documents for land development projects (please refer to the list presented above), long- range planning policy initiatives, and capital improvement projects; conducting CEQA training for City staff; and preparing an In itial Study template that provides standard/suggested response language for the questions on the Initial Study checklist, sources of information, and other guidance language and helpful hints.
City of Pasadena, On-Call Environmental and Planning Services Contract (ongoing since 2013)
Michael Ba ker has undertaken a variety of assignments under this contract including preparing CEQA and NEPA documents, reviewing and processing CEQA documents, and providing contract staff assistance. Select projects undertaken by Michael Baker are described above and include Caltech Chen Neuroscience Research Building Initial Study , South Fair Oaks Specific Plan Amendment IS/MND, and Hyatt Place Hotel/Paseo Colorado Revitalization IS/MND. Under this contract, Michael Baker also provides environmental coordination services. Michael Baker, primarily represented by John Bellas, is responsible for overseeing the preparation and management of all the City’s environmental documents.
City of Los Angeles, On-Call Environmental Consultant Contract (ongoing since 2017)
Michael Baker provides on -call environmetal consultant services to the Department of City Planning. Significant assignments undertaken by Michael Baker under this contract include EIR Review Services, under which Michael Baker has reviewed more than 40 CEQA documents , and the development of an Initial Study Program to replace the City’s existing EForms system. Both of these assignments are described in detail in the preceeding section.
City of Arcadia, On-Call Environmental Services
(ongoing since 2015)
Michael Baker has been providing on -call environmental consulting services to the City since 2015, with an updated on -call contract beginning in 2019. Notable projects undertaken by Michael Baker include the IS/MND for the Artis Memory Care Senior Living Facility; the Arroyo Pacific Campus Plan Specific Plan and IS/MND ; the Canyon Private Residence Project EIR Peer Review , EIR Findings, and Statement of Overriding Considerations; and Mitigaiton Monitoring Services for the Pacific Plaza Project. These assignments are detailed in the preceding section.
David Reyes, Director
City of Pasadena
Planning & Community Development
175 N. Garfield Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 744-4650;
[email protected]
James Chow, Senior Planner
City of Santa Clarita
23920 Valencia Blvd., Suite 300
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
(661) 255-4330
[email protected]
Lisa Webber, AICP, Deputy Director of
Project Planning
City of Los Angeles
200 N. Spring Street, Room 525
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 978-1274
[email protected]
Lisa Flores, Administrator
Planning and Community Development
City of Arcadia
240 West Huntington Drive
Arcadia, CA 91066
(626) 574-5445
[email protected]
19 PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND QA/QC
General Approach
Given the diversity of environmental resources and stakeholders in Santa Clarita, the City’s CEQA documents must consider a full range of environmental topics and be comprehensive enough to engage a dynamic project entitlement process that could include multiple decision- making and advisory bodies. Additionally, CEQA documents must be able to stand up to scrutiny by an engaged citizenry and act ive organizations, as well as special interest groups. Michael Baker focuses on preparing legally defensible and reader-friendly documents that fulfill CEQA’s purposes of disclosing environmental impacts to the public and decision -makers while also identifying ways to reduce or avoid such impacts. Our analytical practices are based on sound methodology, and we co ntinually refine the content of our CEQA documents to match the latest legislation and case law.
Principal-in-Charge Al Warot will provide contract oversight and support, ensuring the Michael Baker team has the resources it needs to serve the City successfully and effectively. If warranted, Mr. Warot will provide public hearing support and sit in for the program manager, in the event they have a conflict. This ensures the availability of either the program manager or principal-in-charge for project meetings.
Program Manager John Bellas will serve as the primary contact to the City and coordinate with the City on all task orders. Mr . Bellas will work with the City to identify an appropriate leader (project manager) for each task. He will be supported by a team of local and qualified technical staff. In addition to Mr. Bellas, Michael Baker has a deep bench of CEQA project managers available to support the City, including Madonna Marcelo, Randy Nichols, Alan Ashimine, and Pei-Ming Chou. Each task will be appropriately supported by additional CEQA practitioners, an assistant project manager, technical specialists, and administrative staff.
Below is a description of Michael Baker’s general method of project mana gement and procedures for ensuring the quality of technical analyses and environmental documents.
Project Management
Our project managers and technical experts subscribe to a philosophy that is rooted in consistent open communication, respons iveness, and high-quality service. We place a strong emphasis on the consultant-client partnership based on effective communication and a detailed understanding of the City’s overall goals, which provide a clear path to success on each and every assignment.
We will always be available to Planning Division staff and quick to respond with a strategy and an appropriately scoped approach to any task by drawing on our expertise and a team of experienced environmental professionals. When developing a strategy, we always seek the most cost-effective and schedule -sensitive approach that provides our clients with the proper level of defensibility. We regularly look beyond the norm to identify innovative and streamlined approaches to complying with environmental and regulatory per mitting requirements. We recognize that every agency has nuances that must be addressed for them to accept the analysis. So, we ask questions first, learn as much as we can about the project description, then scope the assignment appropriately. This eliminates last-minute surprises, opens communication early in the project, and minimizes the need to change scopes, budgets, or timelines.
During our initial review of any project, we focus on the issues applicable to the project (i.e., how the other relevant documents address environmental issues that may not need to be addressed). Further, since each project is different, we configure the project t eam to bring only the necessary resources to the project. This approach ensures that the City pays only for those personnel essential to the project, and we will only assign qualified staff members who have time to commit to the assignment.
Before we start each work task, Michael Baker will coordinate with the City to obtain key project information and develop an appropriate scope, schedule, and fee for the work. No work will occur without prior authorization, and no work effort will exceed our estimate without approval. Control of the project schedule and project costs is an important element of contract administrat ion. Michael Baker will inform
20 the City as soon as any event occurs that would affect the established budget or project timeline. Michael Baker’s adherence to the original scope of work, timeline, and budget is achieved through timely, open/honest, and continuous communications with City staff.
Michael Baker has a proven track record of meeting established project timelines and schedules. We do this by working efficie ntly in the following ways:
▪ We establish realistic schedules, in consultation with our clie nts, that are typically based on our experience with comparable projects.
▪ We apply a variety of tracking tools for timely milestone delivery. ▪ We use available data to the extent feasible.
▪ We avoid unnecessary analyses and data collection.
▪ We produce quality documents that get it right the first time to avoid endless rewrites and revisions. ▪ We start by knowing when we want to finish the project and working our way back to a reasonable, feasible schedule.
We are accustomed to providing deliverables on an accelerated timetable, a practice enabled by the high level of internal collaboration among staff at Michael Baker and by the depth of staff resources available to a given project.
Our staff members not only solve problems by staying cognizant of project details and technical issues and applying resources to creatively resolve any difficulties or issues that may arise during the process, but are also experienced at asking the right questions, drawing on in- house resources when needed, and providing effective resolutions that comply with applicable regulations and respond to any issue at hand. Our goal is to facilitate the environmental review, technical study preparation, and mitigation monitoring and report processes.
In short, the early identification and resolution of critical issues are imperative to keep a project on track and on schedule. Based on the above project management approach, we will proactively deal with potential variances from the schedule, early and intelligent ly, before they become a problem. As part of our issue/risk management technique, our project managers and task leaders will communicate to Planning Division staff the impact of any schedule changes necessitated by circumstances outside of our control before or as they occur.
These project management tools and techniques will result in constant vigilance over schedule and budget performance and consistent communications, with no surprises to the City.
Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC)
In addition, to maintain high-quality service for every assignment, we have established an active quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program. Quality of project deliverables implies numerical accuracy, intern al consistency, and conformance to specified methods and project performance or operational standards. Key elements of our QA/QC program include the following:
▪ Assignment of highly experienced technical and management personnel. ▪ Assignment of highly qualified staff, who have proven experience in project administ ration, planning, and agency and environmental coordination, as well as resource agency coordination. ▪ Assignment of staff with local experience and knowledge of key local issues. ▪ Coordination among team members, including clear direction on assignments, co nsistent communication of project status, and use of standard templates and style guides to ensure efficient development of the documents.
Specific to the preparation of legally defensible technical reports and environmental documents, Michael Baker ensures document quality by adhering to the following QA/QC steps:
21 ▪ Technical reports and technical sections of environmental documents are reviewed by senior staff knowledgeable in the topic (e.g., biological resources director, principal land use planner) for technical accuracy and completeness. ▪ After technical sections are approved by senior staff, they are reviewed by the project management team (project manager and assistant project manager) for accuracy in addressing the specifics of the project, meeting cl ient expectations, and compliance with the scope of work.
▪ After the project management team review, technical sections are reviewed by senior environmental QC staff, who review for adequacy associated with current case law and as a set of “clean eyes” since this staff is not directly working on the project. ▪ The final review consists of a thorough read-through by Michael Baker’s technical editor, who checks for consistency in use of terms, facts, references, grammar, spelling, style, and document format.
Because of our firm’s philosophy and the range and depth of our team’s experience, we are confident that we can meet the City’s needs for services related to environmental documentation, technical studies, and mitigation monitoring and reporting.
22 PERSONNEL, EQUIPMENT, AND FACILITIES
We have carefully selected highly qualified professionals with demonstrated experience for future assignment with the City’s Planning Division. A detailed organizational chart is presented below, followed by key personnel bios. Full, detailed resumes for the entire Michael Baker team, including a description of projects and municipalities each team member has worked with in the past five years, are included in Appendix A, Project Team Resumes . The majority of the work under this contract will be completed by our staff in the Long Beach office, with support from all our offices in California.
Organizational Chart
23 Key Staff
Al Warot, Associate Vice President | Principal in Charge
Years of Experience: 46
Mr. Warot has more than four decades of professional planning experience involving both public and private sector employment. His experience spans all aspects of planning, including current, advance, and environmental planning, as well as housing and community development. As an operations manager, Al is responsible for managing and overseeing numerous projects in a number of Michael Baker International’s service areas. Al has served various Southern California cities in management capacities, such as interim planning director for the cities of Avalon and Calimesa, acting community development manager for the city of South El Monte, and Community Development Block Grant Program coordinator/manager for the cities of Cudahy, Bell Gardens, La Puente, Rosemead, and San Gabriel.
Additionally, Al has prepared environmental documents for large-scale projects and has processed major development proposals, including a 428 -unit hillside development in the City of Westlake Village, a residential and commercial mixed use development on 131 acres near the Lindero Canyon Road interchange on the 101 freeway, the Torrance Municipal Airport Master Plan, and other major redevelopment projects in Lynwood, Oxnard, Torrance, and Pasadena.
Field of Expertise: CEQA Registrations/Licenses/Certificates: None Education: BS, Geography, Northern Arizona
University; Graduate Studies/Teaching
Assistance, Geography, University of Arizona
Office Location: Long Beach
John Bellas, LEED AP, Department Manager - Environmental | Program Manager
Years of Experience: 20
John is a recognized expert in the environmental planning field in Southern California. He has managed the preparation of numerous CEQA documents for a wide range of projects, including land development/entitlement projects, land use plans/programs, and capital improvement projects. Notably, John has provided environmental planning services to the City of Santa Clarita since 2003. He has prepared/overseen the preparation of multiple CEQA documents for the City, which recently include the Valencia Town Cente r Patios Connection (Costco) Project IS/MND, Jobs Creation Overlay Zone IS/ND, Canyon Country Community Center Project IS/MND , Valencia Suites Hotel Project IS/MND, Kaiser Permanente Medical Office Building IS/MND, and Sierra Highway Pedestrian Bridge IS/MND. In addition, he serves as an in-house/on-call environmental administrator/coordinator for several prominent cities in Southern California . As the City of Pasadena’s Environmental Coordinator , John is responsible for overseeing the preparation and management of all of the City’s environmental documents. Tasks include providing strategic advice to the City on CEQA matters ; supervising the CEQA process for all projects in the city; reviewing CEQA documents prepared by City staff and other consultants; reviewing technical studies for adequacy; overseeing the preparation, posting, and distribution of environmental notices; and participating in public meetings and hearings. For the City of Los Angeles, John leads a team of five principal-level environmental planners that provide EIR review services to the Major Projects Section of the Department of City Planning. In this role, he oversees the EIR process for major development projects, provides technical review of Initial Studies, SCEAs, Draft EIRs, Final EIRs, and CEQA Findings/Statements of Overriding Considerations, and regularly advises the City on CEQA matters.
Field of Expertise: CEQA; CEQA Training Registrations/Licenses/Certificates: LEED Accredited Professional; Envision Sustainable Professional
24 Education: BS, 1999, Environmental Resource
Management (Minor: Marine Science), Penn
State University
Office Location: Long Beach
Madonna Marcelo, Senior Project Manager/Principal Environmental Planner | CEQA Project Manager and Support
Years of Experience: 29
Madonna has 29 years of experience in preparing CEQA documentation, including EIRs, NDs, MNDs, ISs, and Categorical Exemptions (CatEx). Her years in the environmental field have provided her with the knowledge and experience necessary to evaluate the adequacy of technical analyses (e.g., traffic studies, air quality and noise reports, Phase I ESAs, hydrology studies, geotechnical studies, biological resources assessments, and cultural resources assessments). She has an eye for detail, caters to the needs of clients, and delivers quality reports. Madonna is currently assisting the City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning staff in reviewing environmental documents, specifically EIRs and ISs, prepared by third -party consultants for projects in the city. Acting as an extension of staff, Madonna reviews environmental documents to ensure adequacy and consistency with the requirements of CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines and participates in discussions with City staff regarding new CEQA case laws and how the City may bes t implement the changes to the CEQA Guidelines.
Field of Expertise: CEQA Registrations/Licenses/Certificates: None Education: BS, 1991, Environmental Science,
UC Riverside
Office Location: Long Beach
Alan Ashimine, Senior Associate/Senior Project Manager | CEQA Project Manager and Support
Years of Experience: 19
Alan prepares environmental and planning studies for public and private sector clients under CEQA. He has extensive experience in the research, analysis, and writing of environmental documentation for a variety of projects involving infrastructure, redevel opment, residential, and industrial uses. Using his broad background and understanding of environmental constraints, Alan provides defensible CEQA compliance review and environmental documentation. He uses the skills developed in each of his specialized disciplines to prepare and process environmental documents for a diverse range of projects and land uses. Alan uses his experience to manage and author environmental documentation, often incorporating the results of complex technical documentation to substan tiate conclusions in the document. He has also successfully prepared environmental documentation for a range of highly controversial projects subject to scrutiny by the general public, environmental organizations, and public agencies. Using his broad backg round and understanding of environmental constraints, Alan provides detailed, legally sound CEQA compliance review and environmental documentation.
Field of Expertise: CEQA Registrations/Licenses/Certificates: None Education: BA, 2000, Environmental Analysis
and Design, UC Irvine
Office Location: Santa Ana
25 Randy Nichols, LEED Green Associate, Senior Project Manager/Principal Environmental Planner | CEQA Project Manager and Support
Years of Experience: 39
Randy is a veteran land use planner with more than 39 years of professional experience in California. He prepares and manages CEQA documents; provides professional critiques and QA reviews of technical reports and documents prepared by other consulting firms; w rites, interprets, and evaluates planning policies; conducts due diligence investigations; and handles entitlement applications. His clients include municipal agencies, builders, land developers, attorneys, architectural and planning firms, and utility agencies. Randy is also currently assisting the City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning staff in reviewing environmental documents, specifically EIRs and ISs, prepared by third -party consultants for projects in the city. In addition, Randy has worked for local government agencies, as a staff planner and for a municipal planning consultant, where he was a contract planner in a dozen cities.
Field of Expertise: CEQA Registrations/Licenses/Certificates: LEED Green Associate
Education: BS, 1979, Urban Studies,
Environmental Planning, Grand Valley State
University
Office Location: Long Beach
Kristen Bogue, Senior Project Manager | Aesthetics/Visual Assessment and Hazardous Materials
Years of Experience: 15
Kristen is a senior project manager and assists in the preparation of environmental and planning studies for public and private sector clients, with a focus on due diligence planning activities. In addition to being a CEQA generalist, Kristen specializes in the prepara tion of hazardous materials studies and visual analysis services. She has prepared numerous hazardous materials related studies, including Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, Phase I Initial Site Assessments for Caltrans, Preliminary Hazardous Materials Assessments pursuant to CEQA, and Environmental Baseline Surveys for the Department of the Navy. Additionally, Ms. Bogue is involved with Visual Impact Assessments in conformance with appropriate agency standards, including the Federal Highway Administration “Visual Impact Assessment (VIA) for Highway Projects,” United States Bureau of Land Management guidelines, and California Energy Commission guidelines. Other visual services Ms. Bogue has prepared include photo simulations, shade/shadow studies, viewshed mapping, and light and glare studies.
Field of Expertise: CEQA, Aesthetics/ Visual
Assessment, and Hazardous Materials
Registrations/Licenses/Certificates: 2.13.1
Hazardous Materials Initial Site Assessment, Texas,
2015
Education: BA, 2005, Environmental Analysis and
Design, UC Irvine
Office Location: Santa Ana
26 Pierre Glaize, Air Quality and Climate Change Specialist| Air Quality and GHG Analyses
Years of Experience: 3
Pierre serves as an environmental analyst, with a specialty in acoustics, air quality, and climate change.
He has experience in the research, preparation, and analysis consistent with CEQA for a variety of environmental planning projects involving redevelopment, infrastructure, residential, mixed use, institutional, and commercial uses. Mr. Glaize is an expert in Air Quality, Greenhouse Gas, and Health Risk Assessments. He is also highly experienced in technical modeling using various State- and Federally- approved programs such as; the California Emissions Estimator Model (CalEEmod), the Atmospheric Dispersion Modeling System (AERMOD), and the EMission FACtors (EMFAC) model. He also has experience with the Federal Highway Administration Traffic Noise Model (TNM2.5). Mr. Glaize is a board member of the Assoc iation of Environmental Professionals Orange County Chapter and currently holds the position of President.
Field of Expertise: Air Quality and GHG Emissions Registrations/Licenses/Certificates: None Education: BS, 2016, Meteorology/Climatology,
San Jose State University
Office Location: Santa Ana
Pei-Ming Chou, Senior Environmental Planner | General CEQA Assistance
Years of Experience: 15
Pei-Ming is a planning professional with a diverse skill set with experience in urban, environmental, and preservation planning. She specializes in preparing CEQA documents for medium to large mixed -use projects. Pei-Ming has strong organizational skills w ith the proven ability to mult itask and successfully handle numerous projects simultaneously and under tight deadlines. In addition, she is highly committed to providing quality work products, and has an excellent track record of identifying inconsistencie s in complex technical documents. Pei-Ming has completed the graduate coursework for Cornell University’s Master of Arts in historic preservation planning and has experience conducting historic resources surveys, preparing historic resources reports and contexts, and Section 106 compliance.
Field of Expertise: CEQA Registrations/Licenses/Certificates: None Education: BA, 1998, English Literature, UC Los
Angeles
Office Location: Long Beach
Frances Yau, AICP, Project Manager | General CEQA Assistance
Years of Experience: 6
Frances is an Environmental Specialist and Project Manager at Michael Baker and is part of both the Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources teams. She is knowledgeable in the management and preparation of environmental compliance documents for both public and private sector clients. Ms. Yau has extensive experience in preparing CEQA documents for a wide -range of projects, including programmatic-level General Plans/Specific Plans, mixed -use, commercial, residential, and infrastructure projects. She has a comprehensive understanding of complex CEQA processes and is a resourceful team player who understands client needs.
Field of Expertise: CEQA Registrations/Licenses/Certificates: American Institute of Certified Planners (2016)
Education: MRP, 2013, Regional Planning, Cornell
University; BS, 2011, Environmental Systems, UC
San Diego
Office Location: Santa Ana
27 Danielle Regimbal, Senior Technical Specialist | Air Quality, Hazardous Materials, and Noise
Years of Experience: 6
Danielle is an environmental analyst specializing in air quality, climate change, hazardous materials, and acoustics. She has experience in the research, preparation, and analysis consistent with CEQA and NEPA for a variety of environmental planning projec ts involving redevelopment, infrastructure, residential, mixed use, institutional, and commercial uses. Danielle has previous experience with federal Department of Defense contracts, including environmental remediation and hazardous waste projects. As a se rving board member in the Orange County AEP, Danielle is committed to improving the processing and implementation of CEQA.
Field of Expertise: Air Quality, Hazardous
Materials, and Noise
Registrations/Licenses/Certificates: None
Education: BS, 2012, Environmental Science, UC
Santa Barbara
Office Location: Santa Ana
Brent Schleck, Associate Environmental Planner | General CEQA Assistance
Years of Experience: 7
Brent has extensive experience with environmental documentation in accordance with NEPA for a variety of federal actions, including Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funded affordable housing projects and public infrastructure and facilities improvements. Brent a lso assists with and manages the preparation of environmental documentation in accordance with CEQA, such as CEQA categorical exemptions, IS/MNDs, and EIRs for residential, industrial, commercial, mixed -use, and institutional projects throughout California.
Field of Expertise: CEQA Registrations/Licenses/Certificates: None Education: MUP, 2012, Land Use and
Environmental Planning, University of Michigan ;
BS, 2010, Ecology, Evolution and Environmental
Biology, Purdue University
Office Location: Long Beach
Nathan Levey, Assistant Environmental Planner | General CEQA Assistance
Years of Experience: <1
Nathan is an assistant environmental planner with Michael Baker’s Long Beach office. Nathan currently assists in the preparation of environmental documentation in accordance with CEQA, such as IS/MNDs and EIRs for residential, industrial, institutional, and commercial projects throughout Southern California.
Field of Expertise: CEQA Registrations/Licenses/Certificates: None Education: JD, 2015, University of California,
Davis; MS, 2010, Environmental Toxicology,
University of California, Irvine ; BA, 2009,
Molecular and Cell Biology, University of
California, Berkeley
Office Location: Long Beach
28 Carla Dietrich, PE, PTOE, Senior Transportation Engineer | Transportation
Years of Experience: 22
Carla is experienced in traffic engineering and transportation planning studies. She has served as a traffic task manager on various projects including conceptual engineering studies, corridor studies, feasibility studies, interchange justification reports, and traffic analysis in support of environmental documents. Carla is knowledgeable in the areas of traffic signalization, safety, complete streets, access management, bicycle and pedestrian design, and context -sensitive solutions. Her technical expertise includes crash analysis, traffic simulation, capacity analysis including roundabouts and coordinated signal systems, queuing analysis, and trip generation analysis.
Field of Expertise: Transportation Registrations/Licenses/Certificates: Professional Engineer, Pennsylvania, 2004, PE070655;
Professional Traffic Operations Engineer, 2008, 2468;
Professional Engineer, Louisiana, 2010, 35480
Education: BS, 1997, Civil and Environmental
Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University
Office Location: Ontario
Robert Davis, Project Manager | Transportation
Years of Experience: 39
Bob has extensive experience in both transportation planning and traffic engineering. He has prepared studies for agencies throughout both Southern and Northern California. His experience includes the preparation of circulation element plans, environmental traffic impact studies, parking studies, transportation facilities design projects, and bicycle facilities planning.
Field of Expertise: Transportation/Parking Registrations/Licenses/Certificates: None Education: BS, 1975, Transportation Engineering,
California State Polytechnic University, San Luis
Obispo
Office Location: Carlsbad
Margo Nayyar, MA, Senior Cultural Resources Manager / Architectural Historian | Cultural Resources
Years of Experience: 10
Margo is an architectural historian with ten years of cultural resources management experience in California. Her experience includes built environment surveys, evaluation of historic -era resources using guidelines outlined in the National Register of Historic Places and California Register of Histo rical Resources, and preparation of cultural resources technical studies pursuant to CEQA and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), municipal preservation planning and general plan updates, Native American consultation, historic pre servation ordinance updates, and provision of certified local government training to interested local governments. Margo also specializes in producing Historic American Buildings Survey, Historic American Engineering Record, and Historic American Landscape s Survey heritage documentation. She meets the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards for history and architectural history.
Field of Expertise: Historical Resources Registrations/Licenses/Certificates: Secretary of the Interior Professionally Qualified Historian;
Secretary of the Interior Professionally Qualified
Architectural Historian
29 Education: MA, 2013, Public History, California
State University, Sacramento; BA, 2006, History,
UC Santa Cruz
Office Location: Rancho Cordova/Long Beach
Katie Molnar, Architectural Historian | Cultural Resources
Years of Experience: 12
Katie is an architectural historian with 12 years of experience in Section 106 consultation, historic resource surveys, state inventory form preparation, criteria of effects evaluations, programmatic agreement preparation, archival records research, deed research, and Historic American Buildings Survey /Historic American Engineering Record documentation. She prepares cultural resources environmental document sections for environmental impact statements, EIRs, and environmental assessments . She is also instrumental in designing field surveys and organizing the data for use in electronic formats, such as Access and GIS. In addition, Katie works on historic mitigation projects preparing interpretive wayside markers and kiosks for historic tra ils and roadways. She is well versed in historic preservation planning.
She is a qualified architectural historian in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation (36 CFR Part 61).
Field of Expertise: Historic Resources Registrations/Licenses/Certificates: Architectural Historian (36 CFR 61) Qualified
Education: MS, 2007, Historic Preservation, Ball
State University; BA, 2005, Art History, Colorado
State University, Fort Collins
Office Location: Cleveland, OH
Sara Smith, Archaeologist | Cultural Resources
Years of Experience: 14
Sara has 14 years of experience throughout California and Nevada with experience in archaeological field surveys, site identification and recordation, testing, excavation, monitoring, and technical report writing, for federal and state governments, as well as in the private sector. She has extensive experience in Native American consultation and working with tribal governments Field of Expertise: Cultural Resources Registrations/Licenses/Certificates: Nevada Archaeological Association
Education: MA, Archaeological Management of
Resource Policy, California State University
Stanislaus; BA, Anthropology/Archaeology,
California State University, Stanislaus
Office Location: Rancho Cordova
30 Brian Seymour, Archaeologist | Cultural Resources
Years of Experience: 20
Brian is a field supervisor experienced in all phases of archaeological excavation, both historic and prehistoric, nationally and internationally. With an MSc in maritime archaeology, his specialization allows him to work on projects both on land and underwater. His background of archaeological survey knowledge comes from surveys and excavations of projects ranging from sand borrow a rea and large land parcel surveys to narrow corridors and delicate shipwreck excavations. Brian is well acquainted with 3D computer modeling, comparative mapping, CAD, GIS, and photogrammetry while also having a background in historic structures surveying, historic background research, and archival research. Brian has worked both professionally and voluntarily on archaeological projects both on land and underwater and has presented original work in both academic and industry settings. He is a Secretary of the Interior Professionally Qualified archeologist and a Registered Professional Archaeologist.
Field of Expertise: Cultural Resources Registrations/Licenses/Certificates: PADI Advanced Diver, 2011, 11050E9464 ; Registered
Professional Archaeologist, 2010, 16568 ; OSHA 10
Hour Construction Safety, 2015 ; OSHA Trenching
and Excavation Competent Person, 2013; PEC Safety
Certification, Pennsylvania, 2014, 100631883 ; First
Aid/CPR/AED Sept. 30, 2015
Education: MSc, 2009, Maritime Archaeology ,
University of Southampton ; BA, 2004, English,
Emory University
Office Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Chris Wendt, Architectural Historian | Cultural Resources
Years of Experience: 12
Chris is an architectural historian with over 12 years of experience teaching history and English. He has served as the visitor services and volunteer coordinator for the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust and Museum of Sonoma County. He also worked with the Petaluma Historical Museum and Library and Cotati Muse um and Historical Society where he conducted archival research and aided in the identification of historical resources. He is a Secretary of the Interior Professionally Qualified historian and architectural historian
Field of Expertise: Cultural Resources Registrations/Licenses/Certificates: Society of Architectural Historians
Education: MA, History, California State
University, Sonoma; BA, History, California State
University, Sonoma.
Office Location: Rancho Cordova
31 Tom Millington, Biologist/Project Manager | Biological Resources
Years of Experience: 7
Tom is a senior -level biologist specializing in conducting due diligence surveys, habitat assessments, preparing biological and jurisdictional technical reports, and assisting with environmental permitting and compliance for public and private sector clients. He assists clients in compliance with a range of environmental regulations, including CEQA, NEPA, state and federal ESA, and has experience processing state and federal regulatory permits pursuant to CWA Sections 404 and 401, the California Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, and FGC Section 1602. Tom also prepares and conducts Worker Environmental Awareness Programs, California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM) analyses, biological monitoring, and nesting bird and burrowing owl clearance surveys in compliance with the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and FGC Sections 3503, 3503.5, and 3513.
Field of Expertise: Biological Resources Registrations/Licenses/Certificates: Rare Plant Survey Protocols Certificate (2016); Advanced Hydric
Soils Certificate (2015), Field Ornithology
Certification (2014); CRAM Practitioner
Riverine/Depressional Wetlands Certificate (2014);
Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Survey Methods
Certificate (2013); Certificate, Desert Tortoise Survey and Field Techniques Certificate (2013); Wetland
Delineation Certificate (2012)
Education: BA, 2010, Environmental Studies, UC
Santa Barbara
Office Location: Santa Ana
Ashley Spencer, Biologist | Biological Resources
Years of Experience: 7
Ashley has seven years of experience in field research, environmental data acquisition, construction monitoring, and regulatory compliance. She specializes in conducting habitat as sessments, general biological surveys, botanical inventories, preconstruction nesting bird clearance surveys, and construction monitoring for various residential, com mercial, and transportation projects throughout Southern California. Ashley also specializes in preparing habitat as sessment reports, Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan compliance documents, Natural Environmental Study (Minimal Impacts) reports, and preparing biological monitoring reports. In addition, she has experience in conducting focused surveys for biologically sensitive species, such as least Bell’s vireo, coastal California gnatcatcher, California least tern, burrowing owl, desert tortoise, and sensitive flora pursuant to the protocols established by the CDFW and the USFWS.
Field of Expertise: Biological Resources Registrations/Licenses/Certificates: Certified CRAM Practitioner, Riverine/Depressional Wetlands,
SCCWRP, California (2018); Wetland Delineation
Training Certificate, WTI, California (2016); Desert
Tortoise Survey and Field Techniques Certificate,
Desert Tortoise Council, California (2015); Arroyo
Toad Field Ecology and Survey Methods Workshop,
The Wildlife Society Southern Ca lifornia Chapter,
32 California (2017); Calflora Data Collection Workshop Certificate, Calflora, California (2017)
Education: MS, 2014, Environmental Studies,
California State University, Fullerton; BA, 2010,
Environmental Science, Whittier College
Office Location: Santa Ana
33 SUB-CONSULTANTS
We do not anticipate using any sub-consultants at this time.
34 STATEMENTS AND AGREEMENT
Michael Baker submits the following forms and disclosure statements in Appendix B:
▪ Attachment A – Disclosure Statement Form
▪ Attachment B – References Form
▪ Attachment C – Request for Proposals Form
▪ Attachment D – Addenda Acknowledgement
Albert Warot
Principal In Charge/Associate Vice President
General Qualifications
Mr. Warot has more than four decades of professional planning experience involving both public and private sector employment. His experience spans all aspects of planning, including current, advance, and environmental planning, as well as housing and community development. As an operations manager, Mr. Warot is responsible for managing and overseeing numerous projects in a number of Michael Baker International’s service areas.
Experience
Mr. Warot has served various cities in management capacities that include the following:
City of Avalon, Interim Planning Director and Planning Coach
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program
Coordinator/Manager for the Cities of Cudahy, Bell
Gardens, La Puente, Rosemead, and San Gabriel
City of South El Monte, Acting Community Development
Director
City of Calimesa, Planning Director
City of Westlake Village, Special Planning Advisor
Planning Advisor for the Cities of Hawaiian Gardens, La Habra Heights, Lynwood, and West Hollywood
Mr. Warot has prepared environmental documents for large-scale projects and has processed major development proposals, including the following:
Reynolds Ranch Project. Consisted of a development plan for 220 acres of farmland in the southeast section of the City of Lodi’s Sphere of Influence with a mix of uses
including a 350,000-square- foot, 40-acre lifestyle retail center; a 200,000-square-foot, 20-acre office complex;
1,084 residential units; a 10-acre school site; 9 acres of parkland; and a 1-acre fire station site. Project also proposed adaptive reuse of historic farmhouse as a
theme restaurant.
A 428-unit Residential Development on the hillsides
adjoining the Las Virgenes Reservoir in the City of
Westlake Village
Years with Michael Baker: 6
Years with Other Firms: 40
Education
B.S., Geography, Northern Arizona
University
Graduate Studies/Teaching
Assistant, Geography, University
of Arizona
PROFESSIONAL
AFFILIATIONS
American Planning Association
Association of Environmental
Professionals
National Association of Housing
and Redevelopment Officials
AFFILIATIONS
Sustainable City Committee, City of
Signal Hill
Redevelopment Successor Agency
Oversight Board, City of Signal Hill
Los Cerritos Wetlands Restoration
Advisory Committee, City of Long
Beach
Chairman, City Advisory
Committee, Los Angeles Urban
County CDBG Program
AWARDS
Distinguished Leadership Award
from the Los Angeles Section of the
American Planning Association
Development of 131 acres near the Lindero Canyon Road interchange on the Ventura (101) Freeway in Southern California with a mixture of business park, general commercial, hotel, and high-density residential uses
Torrance Municipal Airport Master Plan
Gateway Plaza mixed-use project in Garden Grove
Major redevelopment projects in Lynwood, Oxnard, Torrance, and Pasadena Gateway Cities Council of Governments. Led a team in assisting the COG in determining its response to SB 375 and the associated formulation of a Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) from a sub-regional standpoint. The COG comprises 27 cities in southeast Los Angeles County with a combined population of two million. Based on the recommendations contained in the final report prepared under Mr. Warot’s direction, the COG accepted delegation from the Southern California Association of Governments for the development of the SCS for the Gateway Cities subregion, as allowed by SB 375. As an extension of that earlier effort, Mr.
Warot subsequently assisted the COG, as a member of a Cambridge Systematics–led team, with the actual development of the SCS for the Gateway Cities subregion.
Mr. Warot has prepared applications for and subsequently administered numerous state and federal grants related to planning and community development (e.g., CDBG, HOME, CalHome, Section 108, and historic preservation). He has designed and administered programs dealing with residential and commercial property rehabilitation and the development of low- and moderate-income housing. He has also managed the updating of general plan housing elements certified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development for a number of California cities including:
Other noteworthy housing and community development-related projects he managed include:
City of Tehama. A series of CDBG-funded housing studies for the City, which included household income and housing condition surveys and an investigation of potential funding sources to assist low-income residents with housing costs.
City of Ontario Redevelopment Agency. A survey of physical blight conditions for a proposed amendment to the Cimarron Redevelopment Project Area Plan. Managed the provision of on-call redevelopment and planning services to the City and its Redevelopment Agency and Housing Authority.
City of Bell Gardens. Administration of the City’s annual CDBG program as needed. Responsible for training City staff in the administration of the grant, providing direction in the formulation and implementation of projects, and satisfying federal reporting requirements. The City was recognized by the County’s Community Development Commission for overall program performance and for Project of the Year in the Urban County of Los Angeles.
Barstow La Habra
Calexico La Mirada
Carson La Puente
Colusa Oroville
Grand Terrace Westlake Village
John M. Bellas, LEED AP, ENV SP
Senior Associate/Program Manager
General Qualifications
Mr. Bellas is a recognized expert in the environmental planning field in the Los Angeles area, and has assisted agencies across California in developing and implementing unique strategies to comply with CEQA. He has 20 years of experience managing the preparation of numerous CEQA and NEPA documents for a wide range of projects, including land development projects, land use plans/programs, and capital improvement projects. In addition, he has served as an in-house/on-call strategic environmental advisor for several prominent Southern California cities, most notably including the City of Santa Clarita (Planning Division), City of Los Angeles (Department of City Planning) and the City of Pasadena. Mr. Bellas has also conducted specialized CEQA training programs for clients, served as an instructor in AEP’s Advanced CEQA and CEQA Essentials series, and presented on CEQA topics at AEP and APA conferences
Relevant Experience
On-Call Environmental Services Contract Management Experience City of Santa Clarita, On-Call Environmental Services Contract: Mr. Bellas is Michael Baker’s Project Manager for the firm’s On-Call Environmental Services Contract with the City of Santa Clarita. Michael Baker has undertaken a variety of assignments under this contract including preparing CEQA and NEPA documents for land development projects, long-range planning policy initiatives, and capital improvement projects; conducting CEQA training for City staff; and preparing an Initial Study template that provides standard/suggested response language for the questions on the Initial Study checklist, sources of information, and other guidance language and helpful hints.
City of Los Angeles, On-Call Environmental Consultant Contract for New Community Plans, Policy Planning, and Environmental Review Services. Mr. Bellas is the Project Manager for Michael Baker’s on-call environmental services contract with the City of Los Angeles, Department of City Planning. The assignments undertaken by Michael Baker and led by Mr. Bellas under this contract include:
EIR Review Services: Mr. Bellas leads a team of five senior/principal-level environmental planners that provide EIR Review Services to the Major Projects section of the Department of City Planning. In this role, he oversees the EIR process for major development projects and provides technical review of Initial Studies, SCEAs, Draft EIRs, Final EIRs, and CEQA Findings/Statements of Overriding Considerations. He also regularly advises the City on CEQA matters. Examples include working with the City Attorney’s Office to develop the City’s approach to addressing key CEQA issues (e.g., greenhouse gas analysis approach, Friant Ranch case, Zanja Madre, OEHHA health risk assessment guidelines, etc.); providing feedback on the ongoing update of the City’s CEQA Thresholds Manual; assisting in the development of a standardized EIR template; and drafting/compiling standardized regulatory framework language for the City’s EIRs. Initial Study Program: Mr. Bellas is managing the development of an Initial Study preparation software program to replace the City’s EForms program. The program guides City planning staff through the Initial Study preparation process, with auto-populated fields, suggested language and outlines, helpful hints, and Years with Michael Baker: 6
Years with Other Firms: 14
Degrees
B.S., 1999, Environmental Resource
Management (Minor: Marine
Science), Penn State University
Licenses/Certifications
LEED Accredited Professional
Envision Sustainability
Professional
John M. Bellas, LEED AP, ENV SP
automatically generated maps. The program also assists the user in completing the CEQA process by tracking internal and public review drafts, automatically building Mitigation Monitoring Programs, and providing a database of adopted Initial Studies and Negative/Mitigated Negative Declarations.
City of Pasadena, On-Call Environmental and Planning Services Contract: Mr. Bellas is Michael Baker’s Project Manager for the firm’s On-Call Environmental and Planning Services Contract with the City of Pasadena. Michael Baker has undertaken a variety of assignments under this contract including preparing CEQA and NEPA documents, reviewing and processing CEQA documents, and providing contract staff assistance.
Under this contract, Mr. Bellas serves as the City’s Environmental Coordinator. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the preparation and management of all of the City’s environmental documents. Tasks include supervising the CEQA process for all projects in the City; reviewing CEQA and NEPA documents prepared by City staff and other consultants; providing recommendations on the appropriate procedures for complying with CEQA and other environmental regulations; advising the City on environmental matters; reviewing technical studies for adequacy; overseeing the preparation, posting, and distribution of environmental notices; and participating in public meetings and hearings.
CEQA/NEPA Document Project Management Experience
Mr. Bellas has managed the preparation of numerous CEQA/NEPA documents, ranging from program EIRs for community plans, specific plans, and other land use plans to project-level EIRs and IS/MNDs for land development and public works projects. He served as project manager or project director for the following projects, which represent a limited sample of his experience (* denotes projects completed prior to joining Michael Baker International):
City of Santa Clarita, Westfield Valencia Town Center Patios Connection (Costco) Project IS/MND City of Santa Clarita, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Supplemental EIR City of Santa Clarita, Bouquet Canyon Residential Project EIR City of Santa Clarita, Placerita Meadows Development Project EIR City of Santa Clarita, Jobs Creation Overlay Zone IS/ND City of Santa Clarita, Sierra Highway Street Improvements and Pedestrian Bridge Project IS/MND City of Santa Clarita Dockweiler Residential Development IS/MND City of Santa Clarita, Canyon Country Community Center Project IS/MND City of Santa Clarita, Kaiser Permanente Medical Office Building IS/MND City of Santa Clarita, Valencia Suites Hotel IS/MND
City of Pasadena, Hahamongna Watershed Park Master Plan CEQA Document* City of Pasadena, Monk Hill Treatment Facility IS/MND* City of Lomita, Cypress Street Reservoir EA/EIR*
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, Santa Monica High School Campus Plan EIR County of Santa Barbara, Energy and Climate Action Plan EIR City of Laguna Woods, General Plan EIR
City of Laguna Woods, Golden Rain Foundation GPA/ZC IS/MND City of Westlake Village, Community Park EIR *
City of South Pasadena/South Pasadena Unified School District, Mission Place Project EIR
‐
‐
Danielle Regimbal
Environmental Specialist
General Qualifications
Ms. Regimbal specializes in the fields of air quality, climate change, hazardous materials, and acoustics. She has experience in the research, preparation, and analysis consistent with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for a variety of environmental planning projects involving redevelopment, infrastructure, residential, mixed use, institutional, and commercial uses.
Ms. Regimbal has previous experience with Federal Department of Defense contracts, including environmental remediation and hazardous waste projects. As a serving board member in the Orange County Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP), Ms. Regimbal is committed to improving the processing and implementation of CEQA.
Relevant Experience
Bouquet Canyon Road Residential Community Project , Santa Clarita, California. City of Santa Clarita.
Provided air quality and greenhouse gas support services for the Environmental Impact Report. Michael Baker was responsible for master plan for development of 366 for-sale homes in 5 neighborhoods in a total development area of 84 acres. Includes detached and a variety of attached types of housing units, along with community infrastructure, recreation, landscaping and lighting improvements. Project also includes construction of a new segment of Bouquet Canyon Road, as envisioned in the City's Circulation Element. 25421 Orchard Village Road Medical Office Project Air Quality Assessment , Santa Clarita, California. Intertex Property Advisors, Inc. Environmental Specialist. Michael Baker prepared an Air Quality Assessment for the 25421 Orchard Village Road Medical Office Project (project). The project proposed to develop an approximate 42,000 square‐foot medical office building and at‐grade parking spaces. The Air Quality Assessment analyzed the construction and operational emissions associated with the project.
SR-91 Improvements between SR -57 and SR -55 Project, Cities of Anaheim, Fullerton, Orange, and Placentia, California. Orange County Transportation Authority. Environmental Specialist. Prepared the Air Quality Assessment and Air Quality Conformity Analysis. Michael Baker is preparing the project approval and environmental document (PA/ED) for the S.R. 91 improvement project from the S.R. 91/S.R. 57 to the S.R. 91/S.R. 55 interchanges to address significant congestion and operational deficiencies within the project study area. The improvements are part of the OCTA Renewed Measure M, a voter -approved half-cent sales tax program for transportation improvements, as Project I. The PA/ED documents are being prepared in accordance with Caltrans' latest guidelines and include various environmental technical studies, project report (PR), and ED, that prov ide a foundation for subsequent plans, specifications, and cost estimates (PS&E).
Aviation Boulevard at Artesia Boulevard Intersection Improvement Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration, Manhattan Beach, California. City of Manhattan Beach. Environmental Specialist. Prepared the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment. Michael Baker assisted the City of Manhattan Beach with preparation of an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for the Aviation Boulevard at Artesia Boulevard Years with Michael Baker: 2
Years with Other Firms: 4
Degrees
B.S., 2012, Environmental Science,
University of California, Santa
Barbara
M.S., 2021 (expected),
Environmental Engineering,
California State University,
Fullerton
Danielle Regimbal
Southbound to Westbound Right Turn Improvement Project (project). The proposed project would widen the west side of Aviation Boulevard to the north of the intersection at Artesia Boulevard to accommodate a 12.5 foot right turn lane and an eight-foot pedestrian walkway; construct a new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) pedestrian curb ramp on the northwest corner of the Aviation Boulevard and Artesia Boulevard intersection; re -stripe the north leg of Aviation Boulevard; and provide new crosswalk striping at the west and north legs of the intersection. These improvements would address queuing deficiencies, improve roadway operations, and implement improvements consistent with the Manhattan Beach General Plan Transportation Element .
Nort h Shore Pipeline Replacement Project Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration, County of San Bernardino, California. Southwest Gas Corporation. Environmental Specialist. Provided hazardous materials and acoustical support services for the IS/MND. Michael Baker was retained by Southwest Gas Corporation to prepare an IS/MND for the North Shore Pipeline Replacement Project (project). Southwest Gas currently provides natural gas services to the Big Bear area. To better serve the area’s existing and future demands for natural gas, Southwest Gas is proposing to upgrade existing high-pressure pipeline infrastructure along North Shore Lane, State Route 38, and Stanfield Cutoff. The proposed improvements would involve replacing the existing 6 -inch high-pressure steel natural gas pipeline with an 8-inch high-pressure steel natural gas pipeline. Other lateral pipelines would also be upgraded. The existing natural gas pipelines would be abandoned in place and capped off, and new natural gas pipelines would be installed primarily by open trench excavation with some areas installed by horizontal directional drilling to avoid impacts to existing culverts along Stanfield Cutoff and other resources along the project alignment.
Required discretionary approvals include an Encroachment Permit and Construction Permit from the County of San Bernardino; Encroachment Permits from the United States Forest Service and California Department of Transportation; a Construction Permit from the City of Big Bear Lake; and a Sectio n 1602 Streambed Alteration Agreement from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife .
Brine Line Project, Harmony Grove to Broadway , City of Escondido, California. City of Escondido.
Environmental Specialist. Prepared the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment. Michael Baker was responsible for the design of 13,000 feet of combined 15-inch PVC and 16-inch HDPE gravity brine pipeline, including approximately 750 feet of jack and bore operations. The work effort involved preliminary and final engineering design, agency coordination, permitting with Caltrans and the North County Transit District, surveying, mapping and easements, and geotechnical investigation.
Long Beach Cruise Ship Terminal Improvement Project, Port of Long Beach, Ca lifornia. City of Long Beach.
Environmental Specialist. Provided air quality and greenhouse gas support services for the IS/MND. Michael Baker is currently assisting the City of Long Beach and Port of Long Beach with preparation of an IS/MND for improvements to the existing cruise ship terminal at the port. The project includes improvements to accommodate a new and larger class of cruise ships capable of holding approximately 4,000 passengers, to safely moor the larger cruise ships at the existing berth, and to improve existing safety at the berth related to ocean swells. Maritime improvements include deepening the existing berth by dredging approximately 33,250 cubic yards; installing additional mooring dolphins and catwalks; constructing a passenger walkway bridge extension, new tower element on the existing wharf deck, and a new tower and new platform deck; and replacing worn fenders on the wharf deck with new high-density foam-filled fenders and backing plates. Onshore improvements include expandin g the existing parking garage to accommodate 2,050 parking spaces; filling an abandoned tunnel; and reconfiguring adjacent traffic lanes. In addition to preparing the IS/MND, the Michael Baker Team is providing technical peer reviews of the project applicant’s Air Quality/Greenhouse Gases Assessment, Noise Study, Cultural and Paleontological Resources Study, Marine Biological Analysis, and Traffic Impact Analysis.
•
•
•
3 7
6 0
K
i
l
r
o
y
A
i
r
p
o
r
t
W
a
y
,
S
u
i
t
e
2 7
0 L
o
n
g
B
e
a
c
h
,
C
A
9 0
8 0
6 P
h
5 6
2 -
2 0
0 -
7 1
6 5
,
F
x
5 6
2 -
2 0
0 -
7 1
6 6
W e M a k e A D i f f e r e n c e