AgdaPkt 2010-04-26 - Laserfiche WebLink

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6.1H Pa e 1 REPORT To the Honorable Mayor and City Council From the Cit Mana er April 26, 2010 SUBJECT Redwood Creek/Inner Harbor economic development RECOMMENDATION Authorize the City Manager to execute professional services contract amendments: 1. Amendment No. 1 to the agreement with Village Solutions for continuation of data preparation and analysis for subsequent use in development and implementation of economic development strategies. 2. Amendment No. 1 to the agreement with Hart Howerton for continuation of pre- planning and strategy development for draft General Plan Policy BE-17.4 and Program BE-13 - Redwood Creek/Inner Harbor. BACKGROUND The planning process for strengthening linkages with Redwood Creek and the Inner Harbor area is a natural extension of the Draft General Plan, and the City Council has set completion of this overarching plan as top priority for this year. The General Plan created the notion of special study areas. Due to the active and anticipated development applications for lands east of Hwy. 101, between the Seaport industrial area and Bair Island, as well as the City's recent acquisition of additional undeveloped acreage on the north-eastern end of Maple St., staff has determined that moving ahead concurrently with some initial data collection and analysis for subsequent use is in the City's best interest. The continuing economic downturn adds urgency to set a strategic course effectively - and soon. Staff has been working with the City Council Economic Development/Downtown ad hoc Committee (Mayor Ira and Council members Foust and Gee) since the City Council approved the Draft General Plan in late 2009, and as the initial information-gathering work was undertaken. The Committee met recently and provided input and reactions to staff, and asked that the city manager seek the full Council's approval to continue the consultants' work over the next three to four months. The amendments for each consultant cover the following scopes of work and schedule: 1. Village Solutions will coordinate their work with staff and Hart Howerton to expand analysis of base market data compiled in initial agreement; reconcile initial findings with Draft Downtown Precise Plan; augment staff in review and analysis of current development applications as well as future land use scenarios; assist staff in assessing potential to accommodate existing business' needs; and provide support for formation of potential economic development strategies. 2. Hart Howerton will augment staffs review and processing of current development application/permitting in the Redwood Creek /Inner Harbor; provide analysis of impacts and benefits of infrastructure changes; provide design liaison with Peninsula Park; and create conceptual linkages and connections that will