City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: December 16, 2025
Agenda Item: 4.C
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Natalie Verlinich, Acting Director, Housing and Human Services Department Subject: Approval of First Modification to Agreement with Elizabeth Anderson Consulting for Aging & Disability Strategic Planning Implementation Consulting Services
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effect pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a first modification to agreement # 11564 (CCS) in the amount of $63,000 with Elizabeth Anderson Consulting to provide consulting services for the citywide Aging and Disability Action Plan for the Housing & Human Services Department. This will result in a 5-year amended agreement with a new total amount not to exceed $218,000, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
Summary
The City of Santa Monica (City) is experiencing a demographic shift with nearly one in five residents over the age of 65 and many living with disabilities or serving as caregivers. To address these trends and strengthen community livability, the City developed the Santa Monica Aging and Disability Action Plan (“Plan”) - a three-year roadmap to advance equity, accessibility, and inclusion for older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers which was approved by City Council on September 9, 2025.
This Plan builds on that foundation to guide the City’s next steps to advance as an ageand disability-friendly community. 2 of 4
To develop the Plan, the City retained Elizabeth Anderson Consulting (EAC) through competitive RFP #400 (Attachment A). With the Plan now finalized, the City will advance to the Implementation Phase led by the Housing and Human Services Department (HHS). HHS seeks to modify the agreement with EAC to support development of the Plan implementation framework and activities, in alignment with applicable reporting and evaluation requirements.
Background:
In November 2023 the City of Santa Monica was awarded a $200,000 grant through the competitive, statewide California Department of Aging (CDA) Local Aging & Disability Action Planning (LADAP) Grant Program (Attachment B) to develop a local Plan aimed at improving a community’s livability for people of all ages, centering on equity, cultural competency, community engagement, and disability inclusion principles and practices.
In February 2024, the City issued a formal competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) #400 to procure an expert consultant to help lead the Plan development alongside interdepartmental City staff, City Commissions, and community-based partners. EAC was awarded the contract based on their experience managing similar projects and previous experience working with the City of Santa Monica; their unique position within local aging and disability networks; their demonstrated understanding of issues impacting older adults and people with disabilities in Santa Monica; and a proposed workplan that aligned with the grant’s goals and Council priorities.
The City fully leveraged the CDA grant and partnership with EAC to create the community-driven Plan approved by City Council on September 9, 2025. The CDA grant has been fully committed to development of the plan and does not include sufficient funding to support ongoing coordination throughout implementation of the three-year Plan. General Funds have been identified in the HHS budget to facilitate these activities.
Past Council Actions
The following past council actions relate to this item:
Meeting Date Description
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02/27/2024
(Attachment B)
City Council authorized acceptance of California Department of Aging Local Aging and Disability Planning grant funds as part of the 2023-24 Mid-Year Budget Update
04/23/2024
(Attachment A)
City Council awarded a Contract for Aging and Disability Strategic Planning Consulting Services to Elizabeth
Anderson Consulting
09/09/2025
(Attachment C)
City Council approved and received the Santa Monica Aging and Disability Action Plan
Discussion
Following approval of the Plan by City Council on September 9, 2025, three-year implementation is set to begin in early 2026. HHS will convene a collaborative of City departments, community organizations, and stakeholders with lived experience to coordinate efforts, align with other City initiatives, and monitor progress. The implementation collaborative will set annual work plans, identify budgetary needs and funding strategies, set performance measures, and provide regular updates to the public through the City website, social media, commission meetings, and Council reports. Staff recommends modifying the contract with EAC to ensure that the collaborative carries out implementation activities in alignment with all ongoing grant reporting and evaluation requirements.
Environmental Review
The approval of this contract modification is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines. This is covered by the common-sense exemption which states that CEQA does not apply, “where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.” The agreement is administrative in nature and provides the City with support in implementing the Plan. Therefore, it can be seen with certainty that this item would not result in adverse physical impacts on the environment, and as such, is exempt from CEQA.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
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Staff seeks authority to approve available funding from the General Fund to increase the contract amount with Elizabeth Anderson Consulting.
Agreement
#
Fund
Name
Current
Authorized
Amount
FY 2025-
26 Budget
Modified
Request
Amount
Dept / Account #
Total
Revised
Contract
Amount
11564
(CCS)
General
Fund - $63,000 HHS / 01420007.552010
Misc. $218,000
Grants
Fund
$155,000 - HHS / 20420001.556090
Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval.
Prepared By: Alana Riemermann, Senior Human Services Analyst Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Attachment A - Award a Contract for Aging and Disability Strategic Planning Consulting Services to Elizabeth Anderson Consulting
B. Attachment B - City Council authorized acceptance of California Department of Aging Local Aging and Disability Planning grant funds as part of the 2023-24 Mid-Year Budget Update (Web Link)
C. Attachment C - Approval of Santa Monica Aging and Disability Action Plan D. Attachment D - Elizabeth Anderson Consulting Oaks Initiative Form E. Attachment E - Elizabeth Anderson Consulting - Levine Act Disclosure