City of Simi Valley
Staff Report
J
une 8, 2026
To: Cit
y Council
Fr
om: Department of Environmental Services
Stratis Perros, Environmental Services Director
Subj
ect: Approve the second amendment to contract with Rincon Consultants, Inc. for professional environmental consulting services
Sta
ff Recommendation
I
t is recommended that the City Council approve the second amendment to the contract with Rincon Consultants, Inc. (Attachment A), for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) consulting services to update the fee schedule and maintain the existing not-to-exceed compensation amount.
Ba
ckground
I
n December 2022, a request for a Letter of Intent to provide the City of Simi Valley (City) with CEQA and NEPA consulting services was sent to eight local consulting firms. Four firms responded: Aspen Environmental Group, EcoTierra Consulting, Psomas and Rincon Consultants, Inc. On July 10, 2023, the City Manager awarded contracts to all four consultants, each with a not -to-exceed amount of $100,000 and valid through June 30, 2026, with an option to extend for one (1) additional, two (2) year term. By contracting on- call services with all four firms, availability of at least one at any given time is secured should one consultant become unavailable for various reasons.
In J
anuary 2026, the City Council approved the first amendments to all four contracts to increase the not-to-exceed amount to $300,000 and extend the term s through June 30, 2028, for each. With the City acting as a pass -through agency, expenses for all four contracts have been paid entirely by trust funds deposited by project applicants.
Di
scussion
A
fter the execution of the first amendment with Rincon Consultants, Inc (Rincon), it was discovered that its attached Schedule of Fees, which would take effect July 1, 2026, would stipulate a lower hourly rate than is currently agreed upon in the initial contract. As such, Rincon asked Exhibit B -1 Schedule of Fees attached to the first amendment to be replaced by Exhibit B-2 Schedule of Fees attached to the proposed second amendment.
By superseding Exhibit B -1, Exhibit B -2 will adhere to the timeline specified in the first amendment to take effect July 1, 2026, and receive a three percent (3%) increase on July 1, 2027.
Agenda Item No.
Consent (6)
Rincon continues to provide CEQA and NEPA reviews to the satisfaction of City staff.
This second amendment will ensure Rincon is compensated competitively with the other contracted firms. There is currently no dedicated Environmental Planner on staff with the City who can perform the same service, hence the need to keep contracts with Rincon and the three other firms.
Further, even though the hourly rates for work will increase, the contract ’s total not-to- exceed amount will remain at $300,000 per the first amendment. The term through June 30, 2028, will also remain the same.
Financial Impact
Though the hourly rates will increase, t he n ot-to-exceed amount will remain firm at $300,000 per the first amendment. All expenditures for this contract will continue to be paid from applicant-deposited trust funds, with no cost to the City.
City Council Priority
This item supports the Excellent City Government Pillar of Excellence by e nsuring the continuation of quality and timely CEQA and NEPA reviews for applicants’ projects.
Suggested Motion
I move to approve the second amendment to the contract with Rincon Consultants, Inc. for CEQA and NEPA consulting services to replace Exhibit B -1 Schedule of Fees with Exhibit B-2 Schedule of Fees.
Summary
In December 2022, a request for a Letter of Intent to provide the City of Simi Valley with CEQA and NEPA consulting services was sent to eight local consulting firms. Four firms responded: Aspen Environmental Group, EcoTierra Consulting, Psomas and Rincon Consultants, Inc. On July 10, 2023, the City awarded contracts to all four consultants, each with a not-to-exceed amount of $100,000 and valid through June 30, 2026, with an option to extend for one (1) additional two (2) year term. By contracting on- call services with all four firms, availability of at least one at any given time is secured should one consultant become unavailable for various reasons. It is recommended that the City Council approve the second amendment to the contract with Rincon Consultants, Inc. for CEQA and NEPA consulting services to update the fee schedule and maintain the existing not-to-exceed compensation amount.
P
repared by: Hannah Schiff, Management Assistant
Attachments:
Attachment A – Second Amendment
2 Attachment A
SECOND AMENDMENT TO
AGREEMENT NO. 3240012 BETWEEN
THE CITY OF SIMI VALLEY AND
RINCON CONSULTANTS INC
THIS SECOND AMENDMENT (“Amendment”) is made and entered into this 1 st day of July
2026, by and between the CITY OF SIMI VALLEY, a general law city and municipal corporation (“CITY”), and RINCON CONSULTANTS, INC. , a California S Corporation ("CONSULTANT").
1. Pursuant to Section 8 (Amendments) of Agreement No. 3240012 (“Agreement”), the parties agree as follows:
a. Section 2 (Term) is amended to read as follows:
The term of this Agreement will be from the date entered through June 30, 2028. Rates contained in the “Schedule of Fees” as set forth in Exhibit “B-2” will take effect as of July 1, 2026, and receive a three percent (3%) increase beginning July 1, 2027.
b. Subsection A of Section 4 ( Compensation and Payment ) is amended to read as follows:
A. The total compensation payable to CONSULTANT by CITY for services under this Agreement will not exceed the sum of $300,000 (the “Not -To-Exceed Amount”).
Compensation will be earned as the work progresses. Payment will be made based on the rates contained in the “Schedule of Fees” as set forth by Exhibit “B-2” attached hereto and incorporated herein this Amendment. CONSULTANT acknowledges that CONSULTANT is not guaranteed to receive the Not -To-Exceed Amount or any particular or minimum amount of compensation or work under this Amendment.
c. Exhibit “B-1” “Schedule of Fees” is deleted and replaced with Exhibit “B-2” “Schedule of Fees ” attached to this Amendment as Attachment 1, which is incorporated by reference.
2. ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES. This Amendment may be executed by the Parties on any number of separate counterparts, and all such counterparts so executed constitute one Amendment binding on all the Parties notwithstanding that all the Parties are not signatories to the same counterpart. In accordance with Government Code §16.5, the Parties agree that this Amendment will be considered signed when the signature of a party is delivered by electronic transmission. Such electronic signature will be treated in all respects as having the same effect as an original signature.
3 City of Simi Valley
Second Amendment to Agreement No. 3240012
Rincon Consultants, Inc.
3. Except as modified by this Amendment, all other terms and conditions of Agreement No. 3240012 remain the same.
[SIGNATURES ON NEXT PAGE]
4 City of Simi Valley
Second Amendment to Agreement No. 3240012
Rincon Consultants, Inc.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have executed this contract the day and year first hereinabove written.
Attest: City of Simi Valley, A Municipal Corporation
By:
Lucy Blanco, City Clerk D ee Dee Cavanaugh, Mayor of the City of Simi Valley, California
Approved as to Form: Rincon Consultants, Inc.
Algeria R. Ford, City Attorney By:
Print Name: Richard Daulton
Approved as to Content:
Title: Executive Vice President
Samantha C. Argabrite, City Manager By:
Print Name: Danielle Griffith
Johanna Medrano, Title: Principal
Deputy Administrative Services Director/
Budget & Purchasing
Stratis Perros,
Environmental Services Director
5 City of Simi Valley
Second Amendment to Agreement No. 3240012
Rincon Consultants, Inc.
ATTACHMENT 1
EXHIBIT B-2 SCHEDULE OF FEES
1. City of Simi Valley CEQA/Environmental Consulting
Professional, Technical and Support Personnel* July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 Senior Principal $323
Principal $312
Director $312
Senior Supervisor II $283
Supervisor I $263
Senior Professional II $246
Senior Professional I $228
Professional IV $201
Professional III $186
Professional II $167
Professional I $149
Associate III $128
Associate II $112
Associate I $105
Field Technician $90
Technical Editor $143
Project Accountant $121
Billing Specialist $105
Publishing Specialist $115
Clerical $105
* Professional classifications include environmental scientists, urban planners, biologists, geologists, marine scientists, GHG verifiers, sustainability, cultural resources, GIS, data technology, and other professionals. Expert witness services consisting of depositions or in-court testimony are charged at the hourly rate of $400.
Reimbursable Expenses
Equipment Rate (per day)
Equipment Package (covers field equipment) $150
UAS Drone $300
Boat (20-foot Boston Whaler or Similar) $800
Light-Duty and Passenger Vehicles* $90
4WD and Off-Road Vehicles* $150
* Current IRS mileage rate for mileage over 50 and for all miles incurred in employee-owned vehicles. 6 City of Simi Valley
Second Amendment to Agreement No. 3240012
Rincon Consultants, Inc.
Direct Costs. Other direct costs associated with the execution of a project, that are not included in the hourly rates above, are billed at cost plus 16%. These may include, but are not limited to, printing and production, laboratory and drilling services, subcontractor s, vendors, authorized travel expenses, permit charges and filing fees, mailings and postage, performance bonds, sample handling and shipment, rental equipment, and vehicles other than covered by the above charges.
Budget Reallocation. Rincon reserves the right to reallocate the budget between tasks and staff classifications, while remaining within the approved contract amount.
Annual Escalation. Standard rates subject to 3% annual escalation on July 1, 2027.
Payment Terms. Any invoice not paid within 30 days will be considered delinquent.
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