Title
Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with David J. Powers and Associates, Inc. to Provide California Environmental Quality Act Environmental Review Consulting Services for the Alameda Aquatic Center and Ongoing Environmental Support for the City in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $200,000 through June 30, 2027, with the Option of Two One-Year Extensions, for a Total Five-Year Expenditure Not-to-Exceed $250,000. (Planning, Building and Transportation 209062710)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff recommends City Council authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with David J. Powers & Associates, Inc. (DJPA) to provide California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) environmental review services. The scope of the agreement includes completing CEQA work for the proposed Alameda Aquatic Center, as well as providing on-going CEQA environmental consulting support for the City of Alameda (City). The draft agreement includes $200,000 through June 30, 2027, with the option of two one-year extensions of $25,000 each for a total five-year term not-to-exceed $250,000.
BACKGROUND
In 2019, the Planning, Building and Transportation Department (Department) released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Environmental Consulting Services. As part of the RFQ, David J. Powers and Associates was added to the Department’s on-call consultant list for CEQA environmental consulting services.
From the Department’s on-call consultant list, staff solicited three proposals for CEQA work on the City Aquatic Center and selected DJPA based on their experience, cost and availability to serve the City’s needs for CEQA review. DJPA is an environmental planning consultancy established in San Jose in 1972. The firm specializes in producing CEQA and NEPA environmental review documents for public agencies and private developers. DJPA has built its reputation on delivering clear, legally defensible environmental analyses across a diverse portfolio of projects, including General Plan updates, residential and non-residential development, infrastructure projects, recreational facilities, and waterfront development throughout the Bay Area. Among its portfolio of projects are CEQA environmental documents for the International Swim Center in Santa Clara, Google Landings in Mountain View, and other specialty environmental analysis involving historical and cultural resources.
DISCUSSION
The scope of the agreement includes two main components. First, it includes completing CEQA environmental analysis for the proposed Aquatic Center in the first year, at a cost of up to $150,000. Second, the scope provides ongoing CEQA environmental consulting services for the City through June 30, 2027, at a cost of $50,000. The City has the option to extend the on-call consulting services for up to two additional years at $25,000 per year. The total term of the agreement, if extended to its full five years, would not exceed $250,000.
Should the term of this Agreement need to be extended beyond June 30, 2027, without changing any other provision of the Agreement as approved by the City Council, staff requests that City Council grant the City Manager the discretion to exercise the extensions by amendment without returning to City Council for further approval.
ALTERNATIVES
• Authorize the agreement with DJPA as recommended.
• Do not authorize the agreement with DJPA. Staff will need to secure these services from another consultant to proceed with environmental clearance work.
• Provide direction and authorize staff to execute a modified agreement with DJPA.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The scope of work assumes up to $150,000 for preparing the environmental document for the City Aquatic Center, for which funds are included in the Capital Improvement Project No. C55400 - New City Aquatic Center. The remaining funds for on-call consulting services are included in the approved Planning, Building and Transportation Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget for professional services (209062710).
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action supports the City’s Aquatic Center project, which is identified as project CS10 in the City’s Strategic Plan under the Priority to Enhance Community Safety and Services. On-call CEQA consulting services support the City’s ongoing compliance with CEQA law. This action is subject to the Levine Act.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action does not constitute a “project” as defined in CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 and therefore no further CEQA analysis is required.
CLIMATE IMPACT
There are no identifiable climate impacts or climate action opportunities associated with the subject of this report.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with DJPA in an amount not-to-exceed $200,000 through June 30, 2027, with the option of two one-year extensions, for a total five-year expenditure not-to-exceed $250,000.
Respectfully submitted,
Allen Tai, Planning, Building and Transportation Director
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Margaret O’Brien, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Agreement