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CC - CONSENT ITEM: (1) Approval of a Professional Services Agreement with Studio One Eleven to Prepare a Fox Hills Specific Plan in an Amount Not to Exceed $800,000; and (2) Approval of a Professional Services Agreement with AECOM to Prepare a Hayden Tract Specific Plan in an Amount Not to Exceed $500,000.
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Meeting Date: October 28, 2024
Contact Person/Dept.: Troy Evangelho/ Planning and Development- Advance
Planning
Phone Number: (310) 253-5744
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [] No [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X]
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (10/23/2024)
Department Approval: Mark Muenzer, Planning and Development Director (9/30/2024)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council (1) approve a professional services agreement with Studio One Eleven to prepare a Fox Hills Specific Plan in an amount not to exceed $800,000; and (2) approve a professional services agreement with AECOM to prepare a Hayden Tract Specific Plan in an amount not to exceed $500,000.
BACKGROUND
The General Plan 2045 was adopted on August 26, 2024 and went into effect on October 9, 2024. The General Plan 2045 Land Use Element includes designated Special Study Areas for closer study beyond the scope of the General Plan. The Fox Hills and Hayden Tract neighborhoods are identified as Special Study Areas.
Fox Hills was largely developed in the 1970s and includes suburban-style office park uses with surface parking, a large indoor shopping mall (Westfield Culver City), medium- and high-density multi-family apartments and condominiums, as well as a large park and cemetery. In the General Plan 2045, the commercial uses in this area are designated Mixed Use Medium and Mixed Use High which include residential uses with a base density of 65 and 100 dwelling units per acre (du/ac).
The Hayden Tract is made up of former industrial warehouses and distribution buildings, many of which have been converted to creative office and technology uses, and has also become known for eclectic, industrial-inspired architecture, such as the Waffle Building and Samitaur Tower. In the General Plan 2045, this area is designated Mixed Use Industrial which will allow residential uses for the first time in the area, with a base density up to 65 du/ac.
The planning process will include significant community input to be received through the utilization of innovative and best practice community engagement models, with extensive outreach focused on reaching community members in innovative ways and facilitating meaningful input to form the final work product. The plans will set land use and development standards for private property, development standards for streets and public right of way, and improvements for City facilities such as parks, recreation centers, bikeways, and roads.
DISCUSSION
Staff prepared a request for proposals (RFP) with two distinct projects.
• Project 1: Fox Hills Specific Plan
• Project 2: Hayden Tract Specific Plan
Staff released the RFP to competing firms and received the following 9 responses:
Note: The project bid amounts listed above do not include the 10% contingency budget, direct costs or optional tasks listed in the proposals.
Firms were not rated solely on cost, but on a combination of factors as determined to be in the best interest of the City.
For Project 1, the Fox Hills Specific Plan, staff selected Studio One Eleven. Their proposal and implementation timeline were consistent with the City’s needs and their price was comparable to the lowest bid. The Studio One Eleven proposal includes strong community engagement in phases throughout the planning process, aerial massing studies and renderings to depict the preferred outcomes of the plan, and a virtual reality walkthrough. The project team is design-focused with additional community planning expertise.
For Project 2, the Hayden Tract Specific Plan, staff selected AECOM. Their proposal and implementation timeline for Project 2 were consistent with the City’s needs and timeline. The AECOM proposal includes a robust outreach plan, as well as 3D visualizations to depict the preferred development outcomes. The firm’s experience also showed an emphasis on industrial land use conversions, which is important for maintaining the Hayden Tract’s current built environment.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The Advance Planning Division has $800,000 budgeted for Project 1 in Account No. 10153300.610400 (Advance Planning - Consulting Services). This amount was approved as an enhancement in the Adopted Budget of Fiscal Year 2023-2024 and can be found on page 40 of that year’s budget book. The funds will be carried over into Fiscal Year 2024-2025. There are sufficient funds to cover the selected proposal bid of $720,835, plus a contingency budget of $79,165. A $505,000 grant was also awarded from the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) through the Programs to Accelerate Transformative Housing (PATH) Housing Infill on Public and Private Lands (HIPP) grant program. Staff continues to work with SCAG on the finalization of the grant funding.
The Advance Planning Division has $500,000 budgeted for Project 2 in Account No. 10153300.610400 (Advance Planning - Consultant Services). This amount was approved as an enhancement in the Adopted Budget of Fiscal Year 2023-2024 and can be found on page 40 of that year’s budget book. The funds will be carried over into Fiscal Year 2024-2025. This amount is sufficient to cover the selected proposal bid of $449,715, plus a 10% contingency budget of $50,000.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION
The awarding of contracts to prepare the Fox Hills and Hayden Tract Specific Plans is covered by the general exemption rule (as provided in California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15061, subsection (b)(3)) that the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) only to applies projects which have potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. The awarding of contracts will have no significant effect on the environment. The projects to be completed under the contracts will include environmental analysis pursuant to CEQA.
ATTACHMENTS
None
MOTIONS
That the City Council:
1. Approve a professional services agreement with Studio One Eleven to prepare a Fox Hills Specific Plan in an amount not to exceed $800,000; and
2. Approve a professional services agreement with AECOM to prepare a Hayden Tract Specific Plan in an amount not to exceed $500,000; and
3. Authorize the City Attorney to review and prepare the necessary documents; and
4. Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the City.