25C - AGMT - ENVIRONMENTAL SRVS CONSULTANTS

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Environmental Consultant Agreements October 3, 2017 Page 2 DISCUSSION In October 2014, the City Council approved a list of consultants that were qualified to assist staff and developers in the preparation of environmental documents and related technical studies. The list was approved for a period of three years. In June 2017, in anticipation of the lists expiration, the City Council authorized staff to distribute a Request for Qualifications for any and all work efforts related to the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, technical studies, and/or planning services. The Planning Division received Statement of Qualifications from 33 firms in response to the Request for Qualifications. The proposals were reviewed for adequacy, evaluated based on the criteria in the RFQ and compiled into a list of qualified firms. One firm did not provide the submittal requirements listed in the RFQ and one firm has since closed. The pre -qualified list is for on-call environmental consultants, the Planning Division is not establishing a list of consultants for planning services at this time. If a development project requires an environmental analysis, the developer is given the option to select a firm from the pre -qualified list or if the developer does not have a preferred firm, the City can obtain proposal from five firms on the pre -qualified list to provide to the developer to choose from. Upon request, the developer may be provided the scope of work and fee rates of the consultant firms prior to selection. The developer is required to submit payment to the City for the full cost of the contracted service plus 10 percent for administrative services. Upon receipt of payment from the developer the City, as the lead agency, will execute a side letter Agreement to Provide On -Call Environmental Services. When the environmental analysis is completed, the City will pay the consultant for work completed out of the pass through account. Selecting a consultant from a pre -approved list eliminates the need to circulate a Request for Proposal, reducing the time it takes to hire a consultant and streamlining the entitlement process. It is recommended that the consultant list be approved due to the technical expertise that the firms possess in providing environmental and planning services. STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT Approval of this item supports the City's effort to meet Goal #3 - Economic Development, Objective #3 (Promote a solutions -based customer focus in all efforts to facilitate development and investment in the community). 25C-2