AgdaPkt 2003-10-13 - Laserfiche WebLink

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��PD��" 8.a-� 'Co #he Retle�elopm�nt Board. - Frorn the RedeYelopment Manager October 13, �t003 Subject - • Agreement for Professional Services with Communities By Design Recommendation Approve an agreement with Communities By Design ("CBD") to provide urban design training and education to Ciry staff, Redwood City and Peninsula officials and leaders. Background Over the last several years, the City and Redevelopment Agency has been diligentlyworking to establish high quality urban design for its downtown and other parts of the community. There have been several Council workshops discussing how to create "nice places" and also joint meetings on urban design issues associated with the downtown retail/cinema project. Staff now wishes to continue and formalize this dialogue on city design by establishing a series of workshops called `The Forum at Redwood City'. The purpose of the Forum will be to provide urban design training and education to staff and local govemment officials of the Cityof Redwood City and other key community leaders throughout the Peninsula. _. The workshops will be held on every first Wednesday of the month and will include dynamic and interesting guest speakers who are leaders in the urban design field. The workshops will be open to commu�ity officials, leaders, and professional staff. The lectures will be held in the Little Fox Theatre for a nominal fee of $20, with the proceeds partially covering travel costs for ` the speakers and overhead. Following the discussion, there would be an option for dinner and conversation at a local downtown restaurant. 7he first workshop is tentatively scheduled on December 3. Please refer to the attached proposal for more information. Staff is proposing to hire Communities By Design ("CBD") to produce the event. As producer of the event CBD would do the following: • Authorize use of the concept as developed by CBD for "The rorum" � . Make recommendations about potential speakers for `The Forum" and authorize use of CBD's name and contacts with those speakers; and • Have CBD's Executive Director (Mr. Bruce Liedstrand or a substitute appointed by the Agency) serve as host at each Forum The cost of CBD's work would be $500 per event �ot to exceed 8 months or $4000. Normally proposals less than $10,000 do not require Redevelopment Agency approval. However, in this particular case where the executive director of "CBD", Mr. Bruce Liedstrand. also consults with the City as the Community Development Services Director, staff felt it was important for the Agency to review the proposal. Mr. Liedstrand is a non-paid official of CBD and hence this contract does not benefit him financially. Staff is proposing to utifize Redevelopment Agency funds for the work since the Forum will