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7.1.B. - Page <br /> REPORT <br /> To the Honorable Mayor and City Council <br /> From the City Manager <br /> January 12, 2015 <br /> SUBJECT <br /> Agreements with David J. Powers and Associates Inc. and LSA Associates, Inc. for On- <br /> Call Environmental Consulting Services <br /> RECOMMENDATION <br /> By motion, approve and authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with <br /> David J. Powers and Associates Inc. allowing for on -call environmental consulting <br /> services with a cost not to exceed $250,000 and an amendment with LSA Associates, <br /> Inc. allowing for on -call environmental consulting services with a cost not to exceed <br /> $190,000, for a total contract amount of $250,000. <br /> BACKGROUND <br /> The Community Development Department (CDD) has historically maintained contracts <br /> with several consultants to provide the various on -call services. In recent years, the <br /> department has relied on the use of on -call service providers to meet performance <br /> objectives and to address increases in workloads as the economy has rebounded and <br /> development activity has accelerated. Consultants have been increasingly called upon <br /> to help with environmental evaluations and project reviews. For example, the City has <br /> an agreement with Moore, lacofano, Goltsman Inc. (MIG) to provide environmental <br /> review services specifically for the review of development proposals within the <br /> Downtown Precise Plan area. <br /> From time to time, the Planning Division requires assistance from consultants with <br /> environmental review or other professional planning expertise. CDD has been using the <br /> services of contract planners to access specific skills and as a way to increase the <br /> Department's capacity when workloads increase. New contracts are needed to ensure <br /> continued service delivery that is efficient, reliable, accurate, responsive, and cost - <br /> effective. <br /> Consultants are used as project managers to manage applications for planning <br /> entitlements or as independent technical consultants. In July 2014, the City issued a <br /> Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to identify consultants with extensive experience <br /> working with public entities to provide expertise in project planning and environmental <br /> review services. Executing contracts with the firms selected as a result of the RFQ will <br /> create an "on call" list of consultants that can be used on short notice when the CDD's <br /> workload requires their assistance. This would allow CDD staff to quickly access the <br /> professional skills and assistance that is needed in a particular situation. <br />