COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Brett Fulgoni, Director of Public Works
DATE: April 15, 2025
SUBJECT: Adoption of Resolutions Approving Professional Services Agreements for On -Call Environmental Planning And Permitting Services
Description:
The City Council will consider approving the award of On -Call Environmental Planning and Permitting Services to five consultants: 1) Kevin Merk Associates, LLC.; 2) Rincon Consultants Inc.; 3) CSG Consultants Inc.; 4) EMC Planning Group Inc.; and 5) Nichols Consulting Engineers.
Environmental Notice: The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Adopt a Resolution awarding a Professional Services Agreement for On -Call Environmental Planning and Permitting Services to Kevin Merk Associates, LLC.; and
2. Adopt a Resolution awarding a Professional Services Agreement for On -Call Environmental Planning and Permitting Services to Rincon Consultants Inc.; and
3. Adopt a Resolution awarding a Professional Services Agreement for On -Call Environmental Planning and Permitting Services to CSG Consultants Inc.; and
4. Adopt a Resolution awarding a Professional Services Agreement for On -Call Environmental Planning and Permitting Services to EMC Planning Group Inc.; and
5. Adopt a Resolution awarding a Professional Services Agreeme nt for On -Call Environmental Planning and Permitting Services to Nichols Consulting Engineers.
BACKGROUND:
The City owns, operates, and maintains municipal infrastructure, structures, and facilities throughout the City. The City has active and pending projects that require planning and permitting assistance from Environmental Consultants. While the City employs Civil Engineers and Planners on staff, these buildings and facilities require professional engineering beyond the capabilities and purview of t he existing staff and their normal workloads; therefore, necessitating the hiring of outside consultants for such services. 2 Having on-call consultants who can provide these services will allow the City to deliver projects in a timely manner.
DISCUSSION:
On February 24, 2025, a Request for Proposal was issued and advertised through the City website. In addition, notification emails were sent to firms that expressed interest in providing Environmental Planning and Permitting Services to the City.
Selection of the best-qualified firms was made in accordance with the City’s Purchasing Guidelines. Seven proposals were received on March 24, 2025. A selection committee, consisting of Engineering Division staff, independently evaluated and ranked the proposals. After deliberations, the top five ranked firms chosen are as follows:
Firm and Location
Kevin Merk Associates, LLC, San Luis Obispo, CA
Rincon Consultants, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA
CSG Consultants, Inc., Paso Robles, CA
EMC Planning Group, Monterey, CA
Nichols Consulting Engineers, Anaheim, CA
Alternative(s)
City Council could decide not to award these Environmental Planning and Permitting Services Agreements and direct staff to issue Requests for Proposals for each project individually. However, this alternative is not recommended as there is a significant backlog of funded projects for wh ich outside Environmental Planning and Permitting Services are required to augment City staff. Further, having pre -approved, on-call, as- needed firms readily available will allow for more efficient and timely delivery of projects, as multiple projects can be designed concurrently.
Fiscal Considerations
Fees for Environmental Planning and Permitting Services will be based on a project -by- project basis and directly charged to individual project budgets. Each project is separately approved and budgeted by the City Council. The City is under no obligation to expend any funds under these Professional Services Agreements.
3 Impact to the Community
The additional use of Environmental Consultants will have a beneficial impact on the community by allowing the prep aration of plans to be planned and designed in accordance with residents’ desires, while also complying with local, state, and federal statutes.
ATTACHMENT(S)
A. Resolution - Kevin Merk Associates, LLC
B. Resolution - Rincon Consultants Inc.
C. Resolution - CSG Consultants, Inc.
D. Resolution - EMC Planning Group
E. Resolution - Nichols Consulting Engineers
F. Agreement - Kevin Merk Associates, LLC
G. Agreement - Rincon Consultants Inc.
H. Agreement - CSG Consultants, Inc.
I. Agreement - EMC Planning Group, Inc.
J. Agreement - Nichols Consulting Engineers