City Council Meeting: June 24, 2008

Agenda Item: 1-G

To: Mayor and City Council

From: Lee E. Swain, Director of Environmental and Public Works Management

Subject: Contract for Santa Monica Strategy for a Sustainable Local Economy

Recommended Action

Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a professional services agreement with Earthvoice Strategies to produce the Santa Monica Strategy for a Sustainable Local Economy in an amount not to exceed $135,000.

Executive Summary

On June 20, 2006, City Council allocated $310,000 over two years for implementation of the Sustainable City Task Force Sustainable City Plan Implementation Plan (SCP-IP). This allocation included funding of $135,000 for a Sustainable Economic Development Strategy. Given the economic development analysis being performed as part of the Land Use and Circulation Element update, staff determined that this work should focus on the development of a Strategy for a Sustainable Local Economy. In October 2007, staff released a Request For Proposal (RFP) for the Santa Monica Strategy for a Sustainable Local Economy to help the City meet its sustainability goals.

Staff reviewed the seven proposals received and Earthvoice Strategies is recommended to provide professional services to produce the Santa Monica Strategy for a Sustainable Local Economy. Funds are available in the current adopted fiscal budget.

Background

In September 1994, City Council adopted the Santa Monica Sustainable City Program which set long-term internal and citywide goals for sustainability. On February 11, 2003, City Council unanimously adopted the Santa Monica Sustainable City Plan (SCP), which is a comprehensive update and expansion of the 1994 Sustainable City Program. In March 2004, Council appointed an 11 member Sustainable City Task Force (SCTF) and directed the group to develop an implementation plan to help the community meet the goals of the SCP.

In 2006, the SCTF finalized the Sustainable City Plan – Implementation Plan (SCP-IP) which recommended the development of an Economic Development Strategy to promote sustainable practices and attract sustainable businesses to Santa Monica, the production of Expert Forums to address sustainable practices in the community, and the creation of a Community Sustainability Liaison. Council approved funding for these recommendations in the amount of $310,000 over a two year period on June 20, 2006.

Discussions with staff from Housing and Economic Development, Planning and Community Development, and Environmental and Public Works Management determined that the proposed Sustainable Economic Development Strategy should take the form of the Santa Monica Strategy for a Sustainable Local Economy. The purpose of the Strategy for a Sustainable Local Economy is to ensure the long-term viability and sustainability of our local economy; and to attract and retain businesses to Santa Monica that contribute to the overall environmental, economic and social sustainability of our community. This study will define and develop approaches to enrich the sustainable aspect of the City’s economy; and will complement a strategic economic development study being conducted concurrently as part of the City’s Land Use and Circulation Elements update of the City’s General Plan.

Discussion

The proposed professional services agreement with Earthvoice Strategies to produce the Santa Monica Strategy for a Sustainable Local Economy will provide the City with a comprehensive strategy for a sustainable local economy based on input from City staff and community stakeholders and utilizing the results of several recent and ongoing studies, including 1) the update of the Land Use and Circulation Element of the City’s General Plan, 2) Action Strategies from the Community Workshop on Gang Violence, 3) the recently completed Creative Capital Plan for Santa Monica, and 4) the Sustainable City Plan.

Contractor/Consultant Selection

The Request for Proposals for this work was developed by staff from Housing and Economic Development, Planning and Community Development, and Environmental and Public Works Management. In October 2007, staff released a Request for Proposals for the Santa Monica Strategy for a Sustainable Local Economy and received seven proposals. In November 2007, members of the Sustainable City Task Force and staff from the above-mentioned departments reviewed seven proposals and interviewed six finalists. Based on the proposals and interviews, staff recommends that the contract be awarded to Earthvoice Strategies because they possess the most appropriate professional skills to provide a coordinated, forward-looking local economic development strategy necessary to maintain a strong and diverse economy and meet the City’s economic and sustainability goals. Earthvoice Strategies focuses on the business case for sustainability and has advised both businesses and governments in the United States and Canada on the adoption of profitable sustainable business practices. They have performed work similar to that requested for the Santa Monica Strategy for a Sustainable Local Economy for the University of British Columbia Sustainability Office as well as the City of Vancouver Sustainability Office. Additionally, Earthvoice Strategies’ proposal pricing was competitive with the other finalists.  Two of the six finalists provided proposals that exceeded the allocated budget for this project. All of the other proposals, including Earthvoice Strategies, were priced at the $135,000 available.

Financial Impacts & Budget Actions

Funds in the amount of $135,000 are available in the Fiscal Year 2007-08 budget in account number 31662.578930.

Prepared by: Shannon Parry, Sr. Environmental Analyst

Approved:	Forwarded to Council:
Lee E. Swain Director of Environmental and Public Works Management	P. Lamont Ewell City Manager