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CC - CONSENT ITEM: Approval of an Amendment to the Existing Professional Services Agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc., Modifying the Scope of Services for the Objective Design Standards, to Incorporate Single-Family, Duplex, and Triplex Residential Development Types, in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $72,085.
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Meeting Date: October 23, 2023
Contact Person/Dept: Gabriela Silva, Associate Planner;
Susan Herbertson, Senior Planner
Phone Number: (310) 253-5736 / (310) 253-5755
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [ ] General Fund: Yes [X] No [ ]
Attachments: Yes [ ] No [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [ ] No [X]
Public Notification: (Email) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (10/17/2023)
Department Approval: Mark E. Muenzer, Planning and Development Director (10/03/2023)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve an amendment to the existing professional services agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc., for continuation of services for the development of Objective Design Standards for single-family, duplex, and triplex residential development types, in an amount not-to-exceed $72,085.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The development of Objective Design Standards (ODS) for multi-family residential (i.e., four or more attached dwelling units) and mixed-use development types are currently underway in accordance with the Current Planning Division Work Plan. The ODS are one component of strategies intended to streamline the review and approval process for residential and mixed-use development, consistent with the City’s goals and objectives related to housing development, while addressing compatibility and maintaining high-quality design.
As the City continues to implement State Laws requiring ministerial review of certain qualifying housing projects, the ODS will ensure compatible, well-designed housing developments where the City no longer has discretionary review authority. Further, under the current discretionary process, staff works with applicants to refine project design, bulk and mass, privacy, articulation, and materials and color palettes, to achieve a compatible and high-quality project; the ODS document will reduce this component of the process by providing clear and concrete requirements pertaining to these standards. A second phase to develop ODS for single family, duplex and triplex residential types was included in the Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 as a budget enhancement approved by the City Council.
In order to create one comprehensive document for all residential development types, rather than in phases, and appropriately coordinate with parallel efforts to update the General Plan and Zoning Code, the planned second phase of the ODS project is recommended to move forward. By completing the development and adoption of both ODS components together, rather than in two (2) phases, the overall timeline is shortened, allowing the comprehensive ODS document to be effective sooner for application on all development types containing residential uses. In addition to developing the objective design standards for single family, duplex and triplex residential types, the scope for this second phase will also include the development of a review flowchart and checklist for implementation, as well as analysis of existing development types under the ODS to demonstrate applicability and feasibility of ODS.
Below is a summary of the scope and costs associated with the second phase of the ODS. The existing contract for the first phase of the ODS currently in progress was approved December 6, 2022, for $49,866; with the proposed amendment, the aggregate contract amount will be $121,951.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 includes sufficient funding in Account # 10153200.610400 (Current Planning Division - Consulting Services) for the requested contract amendment in an amount not-to-exceed $72,085 for the planned second phase of the Objective Design Standards.
MOTION
That the City Council:
1. Approve an amendment to the existing professional services agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc., to prepare Objective Design Standards to incorporate single family, duplex and triplex residential types and prepare associated Zoning Code Amendment and materials to codify and implement the ODS in an amount not to exceed $72,085; and
2. Authorize the City Attorney to review/prepare the necessary documents; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the City.