Item 6-E
COUNCIL MEETING: June 8, 1999 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Contract with PCR Services Corporation to Prepare a Historic Preservation Element and Environmental Documentation.
INTRODUCTION
This report recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract with PCR Services Corporation (PCR) to prepare a Historic Preservation Element (HPE) for the City
=s General Plan. The project cost is $121,120.BACKGROUND
In the 1998/99 City budget, the City Council appropriated funds to initiate a Historic Preservation Element for the City
=s General Plan. This two-year, two-phase project would begin with preparation of the HPE (Phase I). The environmental review will be completed in the second year (Phase II) in accordance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).During Phase I, the Draft HPE will be developed by experts in historic preservation working in conjunction with City Staff, the Landmarks and Planning Commissions, and the City Council. Public participation will be a key component of this process. Like other General Plan Elements, the HPE will include goals and policies intended to protect the scale and character of existing neighborhoods. Issues to be addressed include preservation and rehabilitation of historic and potentially historic properties; integration of preservation into the planning and environmental review process; identification of incentives for owners of historic properties; education and public information; economic development and tourism; and development of an annual strategic plan for preservation. The HPE will include an Implementation Plan which translates the policies into actions, sets a time frame for these actions to occur, and discusses financing opportunities and incentives. The consultant team includes a planning consulting firm which will be responsible for preparing the environmental documentation for the HPE during Phase II of the project in FY 2000/2001.
CONSULTANT SELECTION PROCESS
A Request for Proposal was issued in April, 1999 to 11 firms. Proposals were submitted by two consulting teams who were then interviewed by City staff. The first team, Environmental Science Associates (ESA), included Greenwood and Associates for the historical analysis portion of the project. The second team, PCR Consultant Services, included Historic Resources Group (HRG) for historical analysis. After the interviews, the PCR Consultant Services team was chosen for the following reasons:
The PCR team, located in Santa Monica, has significant experience in preparing General Plan documents and updates.
The PCR team has knowledge of the wide range of policy decisions facing the City, and has the technical expertise needed to prepare the environmental documentation for the HPE.
PCR has an architectural historian on staff who previously prepared the first three phases of the City=s Historic Resources Inventory. HRG has also worked on various projects with the City, including MERL programs and the rehabilitation of the Casa del Mar (a/k/a the Pritikin Building). Therefore, team members are familiar with the City=s built environment and historical context.
HRG has substantial experience in preparing preservation documents, including the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Master Plan, the City of Anaheim Colony Historic District Preservation Plan and Guidelines, the City of West Hollywood Historic Preservation Plan, the City of Glendora Historic Preservation Development Handbook, and the City of Oakland Regulatory Compliance Plan.
The PCR team has a good understanding of the public participation requirements for this project.
The PCR team understands the environmental review requirements for the HPE.
The PCR team=s proposal cost was competitive.
PUBLIC PROCESS
Public process will be an integral component of the HPE. The Planning Commission and Landmarks Commission will serve in an advisory capacity on the project. These groups will hold the public scoping forum and other public meetings during the preparation of the Draft HPE. The recommendations developed during these meetings will be incorporated in the HPE and forwarded to City Council for consideration as part of the approval process. City staff and PCR will organize the public process, which will include public outreach to encourage the participation of residents, neighborhood organizations, and others interested in the HPE process.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT
This staff report recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract with PCR Services Corporation for an amount up to $121,120, which includes a 10% contingency. The contract will be executed in two phases - one for the Historic Preservation Element and one for the environmental document. Funds for the first phase (Historic Preservation Element) amounting to $66,710 are appropriated in the FY 1998/1999 budget in account #01-210-266-00000-5506-00000. Funds for preparation of the CEQA document ($54,410) are included in the proposed FY 1999/2000 budget.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract with PCR Services Corporation in the amount of $121,120, contingent upon authorization of additional appropriation in the FY 1999/2000 budget.
Prepared By:
Suzanne Frick, Director
Jay M. Trevino, AICP, Planning Manager
Amanda Schachter, Senior Planner
Donna Jerex, Associate Planner
Planning and Community Development Department
City Planning Division