ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS, INC.

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to identify potential challenges at the beginning of document preparation, and performs a high degree of due diligence to ensure adherence to all pertinent local, state, and federal regulations, such as the local municipal code, CEQA Statute and Guidelines, Fish and Game Code, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, federal and state Endangered Species Act, and numerous others. EPD's focus on effective communication is the hallmark of its approach to addressing the City's objectives and project requirements. Prior to initiating work, the project manager prepares a project schedule showing key milestones and the start/end dates for each activity leading up to the milestone on a Gantt chart. This is critical for tasks requiring long lead times (e.g., preparation of technical studies and Native American consultations) and for seasonal biological surveys. With the project schedule in hand, the project manager then develops a projected breakdown of hours required per staff member per week for the duration of the project. This action early in the project helps ensure that staff members are neither underutilized nor overutilized each week, and that an appropriate amount of time is allocated to each task to ensure work products are completed on schedule. A cloud -based time and expense tracking system is utilized that allows for a real-time review of each project's budget status. By comparing actual and projected costs, project managers are able to quickly identify any areas of concern and take corrective action to avoid budget overages. We are generally always available by phone or email and we conduct weekly workload check -in meetings and collaborate internally to ensure we meet project schedule commitments. Realizing the face-to-face interaction can be necessary to achieve the collaboration necessary to complete a complicated technical study, EPD staff also meet with local agency staff to discuss projects at appropriate points in the document preparation process. We are conscientious about project schedules and will inform the City about any unforeseen matter which could delay the timeline of a project. Preparation of CEQA/NEPA Documents In the outline of tasks below, we demonstrate our team's approach and organization necessary to prepare various types of environmental documents and technical studies/memorandums, including the issues involved and plans to address them. The scope of services details the process EPD proposes to use in efficiently producing reliable, quality, and defensible environmental documents for the City of Santa Ana as part of CEQA/NEPA compliance. EPD's approach to environmental analysis and regulation compliance is to assess early and often the projects against environmental requirements and be an active participant in concert with the City as projects are proposed, considered by city decision makers, and implemented. Our desire to be involved is with the intention of streamlining the environmental review process by guiding and informing the design, approval and construction processes to avoid significant environmental effects to extent feasible, limit project delays, reduce costs, and prevent unforeseen issues from arising related to environmental compliance. Our general approach to CEQA/NEPA projects follows these steps: Task 1. Project Initiation and Technical Study Preparation When assigned a project pursuant to this RFQ, EPD will develop a project environmental compliance strategy in close coordination with the City. This will come from an early and thorough assessment of the environmental and regulatory conditions in which the project will be considered and executed. As a first step in project implementation, EPD will coordinate with city staff to establish roles and protocols to guide communication between staff and EPD. The purpose of this step is to establish and maintain credibility with the community and ensure the legal defensibility of the CEQA documentation. This step will occur within five working days of receiving a notice of proceed. Environmental and Planning Services RFQ #20-100 q EPD Solutions, Inc.