REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
DATE: 04/17/2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Planning and Development Department
SUBJECT:
Title
SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ENPLANNERS, INC. TO PREPARE A SUBSEQUENT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE GREEN RIVER RANCH SPECIFIC PLAN AMENDMENT (REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL 22-052SB)
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks the City Council to approve the Second Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Enplanners Inc. for the preparation of a Subsequent Environmental Impact Report for the Green River Ranch Specific Plan Amendment, which also includes the Green River Ranch Business Park project. The amendment involves an increase in compensation in the amount of $38,100 for a total contract amount of $148,550. The project required additional work by the consultant not originally included in the initial scope of work. The preparation of the SEIR is funded by the project proponent of the Green River Ranch Business Park, which includes the additional compensation associated with this second amendment to the professional services agreement.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommended action
That the City Council:
a. Approve the Second Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Enplanners, Inc., to prepare the Subsequent Environmental Impact Report and increase the total compensation by $38,100 for additional services.
b. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute the Second Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Enplanners, Inc. for a total contract amount of $148,550.
c. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to issue a Change Order to Purchase Order P23593 bringing the new total to $148,550.
d. Authorize an additional appropriation in the amount of $38,100 to the Planning and Development operating budget and increase revenue estimates by the same amount in the General Fund 110 for the preparation of the Subsequent Environmental Impact Report for the Green River Ranch Specific Plan Amendment.
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BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
On June 15, 2022, the City entered into an agreement with Enplanners Inc. (Enplanners) to provide consultant services for the preparation of a Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) for the Green River Ranch Specific Plan Amendment. The contract amount is $110,450.
The Green River Ranch Specific Plan was approved by the City in 2001 and was reviewed and analyzed pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under the Green River Ranch Specific Plan EIR, which was certified by the City.
Western Realco is developing 155 acres within the Green River Ranch Specific Plan located on the south side of Green River Road to include business park industrial land uses and open space. The entitlements associated with the project include rearranging the previously approved land uses within the Specific Plan, slightly expand the Specific Plan boundary, and increase the amount of open space as permanent preservation contributing to the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP).
Due to the amendment being processed to the Green River Ranch Specific Plan and the age of the prior EIR, the preparation of a Subsequent EIR for the Green River Ranch Specific Plan Amendment is necessary.
ANALYSIS:
The existing Professional Services Agreement (PSA) between the City and Enplanners is being amended to increase the original contract amount by $38,100 to accommodate two changes in the original project scope of work that were not originally anticipated by Enplanners. First, the developer removed a 150-room hotel from Planning Area 4 of the Green River Ranch Specific Plan, and the supporting technical studies were revised accordingly. Second, the developer expanded the scope of the SEIR to include the relocation of a MSHCP Proposed Constrained Linkage 1 (PCL-1) that was completed as a related project with the Western Riverside Regional Conservation Authority. The changes have resulted in the duplication of work by the consultant and the inclusion of additional tasks that were not originally approved in the original PSA with Enplanners.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Pursuant to the City’s adopted fee schedule, the developer is responsible for paying all costs associated with the preparation of the project’s SEIR, which includes time required by staff. The additional compensation of $38,100 will be funded by the developer of the project. Approval of the recommended actions will result in an appropriation and estimated revenue increase in the amount of $38,100 from the General Fund 110 to the Planning and Development Department’s operating budget to cover the cost associated with this amendment.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that a project is exempt from CEQA if the activity is covered by the commonsense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. This action is simply to approve a professional services agreement for the preparation of a Subsequent EIR pursuant to CEQA, and there is no possibility that approving this request will have a significant effect on the environment. Therefore, no environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: JOANNE COLETTA, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Attachments:
1. Exhibit 1 - Draft Professional Services Agreement with Enplanners, Inc.