Title
Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute a First Amendment of the Service Provider Agreement with Eastern Research Group for Continued Climate Action and Resiliency Plan Services by Extending the Term Five Months and Increasing the Compensation in an Amount Not to Exceed $78,542, Including Contingency, for a Total Agreement Expenditure of $378,437; and
Adoption of Resolution Increasing the Fiscal Year 2018-19 Capital Projects Fund Budget for the Climate Action Plan Project by $50,000 from the Tidelands Fund. (Public Works 310)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Eric Levitt, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On May 2, 2018, the City entered into contract with Eastern Research Group (ERG) in the amount of $299,895. The original work scope included development of a new roadmap to reduce greenhouse (GHG) emissions and establishment of new climate action goals beyond 2020. In addition to GHG emission reduction strategies, the work scope included a climate awareness campaign, a public opinion survey, and the development of sea-level rise and other climate change adaptation strategies.
The new work scope for the First Amendment includes an economic assessment for building resiliency and the development of a report for Assembly Bill (AB) 691 compliance. AB 691 - Proactively Planning for Sea-Level Rise Impacts, affirmed that addressing the impacts of sea-level rise for legislatively granted public trust lands must be among the management priorities of a local trustee. The bill also requires local trustees meeting certain criteria, which the City of Alameda (City) does, to prepare and submit to the State Lands Commission, no later than July 1, 2019, an assessment of how it proposes to address sea-level rise.
BACKGROUND
On May 2, 2017, the City Council unanimously approved a high-priority referral directing staff to update the City’s 2008 Local Action Plan for Climate Protection. On December 5, 2017, the City Council approved a scope of work to be used to solicit a consultant for the plan, developed with input from the public, Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda (CASA), and other City environmental groups and organizations. At that time, the City Council also approved the award of a consultant contract up to $300,000, including contingency.
The work scope included development of a new roadmap to reduce GHG emissions and establishment of new climate action goals beyond 2020. In addition to GHG emission reduction strategies, the work scope included a climate awareness campaign, a public opinion survey, and the development of sea-level rise and other climate change adaptation strategies.
On October 20, 2017, the City applied for a grant from the Caltrans Adaptation Planning Grant Program to fund a climate adaptation plan, a component of the City’s update of the 2008 Local Action Plan for Climate Protection. Caltrans awarded the City $236,375, including an 11.74% local match ($30,625) which helped fund the creation of the Climate Action and Resiliency Plan.
On December 6, 2017, City staff issued a Request for Proposal to update the City’s Local Action Plan for Climate Protection, conduct a climate change vulnerability assessment, and develop strategies to build resiliency. The updated report will become Alameda’s Climate Action and Resiliency Plan. On May 2, 2018, the City entered into a contract with ERG in an amount of $299,895 to do this work.
A “Green Working Team” was convened and has met regularly throughout the update process. The Green Working Team is comprised of CASA representatives, and staff from Alameda Municipal Power (AMP), Community Development, Public Works and Transportation Planning, and external stakeholders (i.e. Caltrans, Port of Oakland). A task force of key community and business group representative was also convened. Two community input sessions were held and a third is planned for May 2019. Extensive outreach and education is ongoing with the Alameda Unified School District, local community groups, and Alameda Point Collaborative, as well as a robust online presence.
DISCUSSION
The City Council awarded a contract to ERG for a total amount of $299,895 (see Exhibit 1). Staff is requesting a contract increase of $78,542 to (i) comply with AB 691, which has additional and unique requirements applicable to granted trust lands, (ii) add additional measures for GHG reduction beyond those to which the City has already committed, (iii) calculate potential reductions, and (iv) prepare a vulnerability assessment and develop strategies to build resiliency. The first amendment is attached as Exhibit 2.
AB 691 requires the local trustee to inventory natural and built resources within public trust lands that are vulnerable to the impacts of sea-level rise itself and other dynamic coastal processes and climatic events that are projected to be exacerbated by sea-level rise such as coastal erosion, storms, and high tides on the vulnerable assets identified. Climate change impacts are to be projected out to 2030, 2050, and 2100.
AB 691 also requires consideration of the financial costs associated with the impacts of sea-level rise. Cost should include the replacement or repair of existing facilities, as well as the quantification of non-market asset values such as recreation and ecosystem services. In addition to a tally of losses, the cost of adaptation and mitigation strategies should be estimated, along with the potential economic benefits of those strategies.
And lastly, AB 691 requires local trustees to propose sea-level rise adaptation and mitigation strategies to address the coastal asset vulnerabilities identified and the time frame for implementation of such measures. Plans to monitor the impacts of sea-level rise and the effectiveness of implemented adaptation and mitigation strategies are also required.
In 2013, ERG developed a guidance report, “What Will Adaptation Cost? An Economic Framework for Coastal Community Infrastructure,” under a contract with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The State Lands Commission includes this report on its list of resources for AB 691 compliance. The proposed ERG contract amendment will implement the framework outlined in this report. The work already done as part of the vulnerability assessment and strategy development will be used as the basis for this work. The Climate Action and Resiliency Plan is progressing on time and is anticipated for the City Council’s consideration in July 2019.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The Tidelands Fund (Fund 216) will fund $50,000 of this additional work. The remaining $28,542 will come from previously appropriated expenditures in project 91852.
|
Fund/Account |
Amount |
|
Tidelands Fund (216) Transfer Out |
$50,000 |
|
Climate Action (91852) Transfer In |
$50,000 |
|
Contractual Services |
$50,000 |
The City Council previously approved the original contract with ERG as presented below:
|
Contract Phase |
Authorized Amount |
Expended to Date |
|
Original Contract |
$299,895.00 |
$229,510.19 |
|
Contract Amendment |
$ 78,542.00 |
$ 0.00 |
|
Total |
$378,437.00 |
$229,510.19 |
There is no impact to the General Fund.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
Undertaking the Climate Action and Resiliency Plan is consistent with the General Plan, which states:
• Transportation Element Livability Goal (4.2): “Balance the mobility needs of the community with the overall community objective of creating a livable human and natural environment…”
• Land Use Element Policy (2.5.zz): “Establish Green Building and/or Sustainable Design standards to be applied to all new retail developments and major retail additions and remodels.”
• Open Space and Conservation Element (5.1): “Protection of water resources and fragile habitat recognizes the interdependent relationship between human and other living communities.”
• Safety and Noise Element Objective (8.3): “Minimize risks of loss of life, personal injury, property damage and environmental degradation posed by sea-level rise, flooding and storm water runoff.”
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
In accordance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this action is exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15306 because it consists of data collection and planning studies. Individual projects identified within the Climate Plan Update will be reviewed in accordance with CEQA requirements prior to their approval or implementation.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to execute a first amendment of the service provider agreement with Eastern Research Group for continued climate action and resiliency plan services by extending the term five months and increasing the compensation in an amount not to exceed $78,542, including contingency, for a total agreement expenditure of $378,437; and
Adopt a resolution increasing the fiscal year 2018-19 Capital Projects Fund Budget for the Climate Action Plan Project by $50,000 from the Tidelands Fund.
Respectfully submitted,
Liam Garland, Public Works Director
By,
Erin Smith, Deputy Public Works Director
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. Original Contract
2. First Amendment