City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: July 28, 2026
Agenda Item: 4.B
1 of 4
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Jing Yeo, Director, Administration
Subject: Authorization to enter into Third Modification to Agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc. for Local Coastal Plan Implementation Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of Statutory Exemption pursuant to Section 15265 (Adoption of Coastal Plans and Programs) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute a third modification to agreement #3897 (CCS) in the amount of $100,000 with Rincon Consultants, Inc., to provide a revised Local Coastal Program Implementation Plan for the Community Development Department. This will result in a four-year amended agreement with a new total amount not to exceed $158,930.85, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
Summary
The City of Santa Monica (City) has been working toward full Local Coastal Program (LCP) certification since 1992. The LCP consists of both the Land Use Plan (LUP), which contains the policies, and the Implementation Plan (IP), which is essentially a coastal zoning ordinance. To meet the City Council's target completion date of December 2027, additional consultant support is needed to complete the IP. Staff recommends modifying the City's existing agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc., whose extensive knowledge of and longstanding involvement with the LCP uniquely positions the firm to complete the IP within the required timeframe. Completing the LCP will allow the City to issue Coastal Development Permits and advance the City's strategic goal of activating economic opportunity and growth. 2 of 4
Discussion
The City received Coastal Commission approval of its Land Use Plan (LUP) in 1992; however, the accompanying Implementation Plan (IP) was never approved – a requirement for full Local Coastal Program (LCP) certification.
In June 2019, the City entered into an agreement with Rincon to complete the IP portion of the LCP. Under this agreement, Rincon produced administrative draft versions of the Coastal Zoning Ordinance. However, prior to the City’s submission of the IP to the Coastal Commission for certification, the City’s priorities shifted back to the Land Use Plan to address new policy comments raised by Coastal Commission staff. In 2023, the City formally re-started the LUP process with Coastal Commission staff. Rincon was engaged to assist the City in researching and updating LUP policies related to Sea Level Rise and Environmental Justice. In May 2026, Council directed staff to negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding with the Coastal Commission, establishing a target date of December 2027 for completion of the LCP.
Rincon’s existing contract with the City to complete the aforementioned work is for a total of $58,930.85, with $50,000 funded by a grant from the Coastal Commission. The proposed additional scope and budget proposed would enable the City to partner with Rincon to complete the IP with the aim of achieving certification by the Coastal Commission by the target December 2027 date. Given Rincon’s extensive prior involvement with both the LUP and IP, and its familiarity with the outstanding policy discussions between the City and the Coastal Commission, they are uniquely positioned to help the City meet the accelerated timeline directed by Council.
Vendor Selection
Rincon was selected through a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process advertised on PlanetBids in April 2019. This third contract modification requires City Council approval because the total contract authority will exceed the applicable approval threshold. The Procurement Manager has approved an exception to the competitive bidding process (ECB #481).
3 of 4
Environmental Review
The agreement for the preparation of the LCP is statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15265, which states that CEQA does not apply to activities and approvals pursuant to the California Coastal Act (commencing with Section 30000 of the Public Resources Code) by: (1) Any local government, as defined in Section 30109 of the Public Resources Code, necessary for the preparation and adoption of a local coastal program, or (2) Any state university or college, as defined in Section 30119, as necessary for the preparation and adoption of a long-range land use development plan.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to approve available funding from the General Fund to increase the amount of agreement #3897 with Rincon Consultants, Inc. for a revised draft of the City’s Local Coastal Program Implementation Plan.
Agreement Modification Request
Agreement #
Current Authorized
Amount
FY 2026-27
Modified Request
Amount
Dept Account # Total Revised
Contract Amount
3897 $58,930.85 $100,000 01700002.552010 $158,930.85
Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval.
Prepared By: Denise Smith, Principal Administrative Analyst Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. 10 Original Executed Contract
Rincon_PSA_Complete_Coastal_Zoning_Ordinance
B. 11_EXECUTED_Rincon_CT3897_First_Modification
C. 12_EXECUTED_Second_Modification_CT3897_Rincon_Consultants,_Inc_with_ Attachment
D. 04 OAKS INITIATIVE FORM_06.25.2026
4 of 4
E. 07 Levine Act Disclosure Form_ Signed 1.8.26