REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JERRY DYER, Mayor
Office of Mayor & City Manager
BY: PHILIP SKEI, Assistant Director
Planning & Development Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Consultant Services Agreement with eProperty Innovations, LLC:
1. Affirm the City Manager’s determination that eProperty Innovations, LLC, is uniquely qualified to provide professional consultant services for the planning and development of the City of Fresno’s Land Bank operational framework.
2. Approve the Consultant Services Agreement between the City of Fresno and eProperty Innovations, LLC, in the amount of $79,580 for professional consultant services.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council affirm the City Manager’s determination that eProperty Innovations, LLC, is uniquely qualified to provide professional consultant services for the planning and development of the City of Fresno’s Land Bank operational framework; approve the Consultant Services Agreement between the City of Fresno and eProperty Innovations, LLC, in the amount of $79,580 for professional consultant services; and authorize the City Manager, or her designee, to sign all documents necessary to effectuate the Consultant Services Agreement.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno (City) is evaluating the viability and potential positive impact of establishing a Land Bank to purposefully acquire real property and underutilized land that can be positioned for near- and intermediate-term reuse as affordable housing, green space, transit-oriented development, and/or to advance community and economic development in targeted areas throughout Fresno. The Land Bank, if viable, will provide the City with the opportunity to repurpose abandoned, vacant, and neglected properties in a manner consistent with the values and needs of the communities it serves, as well as the chance to hold the land in careful stewardship, if necessary, until a new purpose can be determined. The City’s Land Bank would be intended to create long-term, quality affordable housing, support community goals, stabilize neighborhoods where vacancies are concentrated, and support equitable development. Recognized for its’ domain expertise on land banks and land banking, eProperty Innovations, LLC, has been approved by the City Manager as a Uniquely Qualified Vendor to evaluate the viability and potential positive impact of a Land Bank, including an operational framework. The Consultant Services Agreement, if approved, would allow for up to $79,580 to be spent to obtain the necessary professional consultant services for this evaluation.
BACKGROUND
Published on April 18, 2022, the City’s One Fresno Housing Strategy endorses the establishment of a Land Bank as one of the priority recommendations to produce housing in the city. During the fiscal year 2023 budget cycle, the City Council approved an allocation of $40,000,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to support the affordable housing development priorities of the One Fresno Housing Strategy, which includes a land bank. If established, the City’s Land Bank would potentially add hundreds of units of affordable housing over the coming years, as well as be strategically utilized to acquire other parcels that serve the community’s benefit. The Land Bank strategy aligns with HUD’s National Housing Objective, the Statewide Housing Objectives, and the City’s local Housing Element.
If deemed viable and ultimately funded, the City’s Land Bank would identify and accumulate underutilized land and vacant properties for reuse and future development in the near- and intermediate-term as affordable housing, green space, transit-oriented development, and/or to advance community and economic growth throughout the City, particularly in targeted areas as outlined in the local Housing Element and One Fresno Housing Strategy. The Land Bank would allow the City to acquire, hold, and distribute property for the purpose of creating more affordable housing stock and other community-focused objectives. The Land Bank would provide the City with the opportunity to repurpose abandoned, vacant, and neglected properties in a manner consistent with the values and needs of the communities it serves, as well as the chance to hold the land in careful stewardship, if necessary, until a new purpose can be determined. The outcome of the Land Bank strategy is intended to reduce blight, improve neighborhood quality, increase socio-economic diversity, provide access to affordable housing, and improve overall well-being within the city. The Land Bank would support neighborhood goals, stabilize neighborhoods where vacancies are concentrated, and sustain equitable development. If ultimately deemed viable and funded, the City’s Land Bank would be the first municipal land bank in California and would help achieve the City’s goals to add new affordable housing units into the development pipeline, produce more affordable and climate-smart housing, and continue adding units to the affordable housing pipeline for many years ahead.
The City Manager has approved eProperty Innovations, LLC (Consultant), as a Uniquely Qualified Vendor to evaluate the viability and potential positive impact of a Land Bank, including an operational framework. Recognized for its’ domain expertise on land banks and land banking, and currently working with 37 land banks across the U.S., the Consultant is an experienced and qualified resource for these services. With over 20 years of experience, General Manager, Brian White, is recognized as a national expert on land banks and land banking and has the relevant knowledge and proven experience in the planning and development of land bank operational frameworks. In response to a request from staff, the Consultant has agreed to provide consultant services for a potential future Land Bank in the City of Fresno.
The Consultant’s team recently visited the City of Fresno and met with City staff, City officials, and other stakeholders, which resulted in the development of a planned scope of services, timetables, and schedule of fees, needed for the Consultant to complete the proposed analysis and operational framework.
The creation of the proposed analysis and operational framework will take place in two phases, with each phase lasting 8 to 10 weeks. Phase 1 will be devoted to performing additional research, data gathering and analysis, further stakeholder engagement, and prioritization. The cap stone deliverable of Phase 1 will be a presentation of the findings and recommendations. Phase 2 will consist of the development of the operational framework for the City’s Land Bank, building on outputs of Phase 1. This phase will include developing policies and procedures, a staffing plan and budget, and other elements to support the activation of the Land Bank. The cap stone deliverables will include documents, plans, and operational guidance that the City would use in the future to launch and stand up a Land Bank.
The schedule of fees and costs for each Phase of the project include Consultant Team staff time, incidental expenses, and travel costs for six (6) 2-day site visits to the City by the Consultant Team. The estimated costs for Phase 1 are $46,620; and include the analysis of the local real estate market, eligible uses for land bank property, capacity of inventory, and feasibility. Phase 1 will also include community interviews, focus groups, and community involvement. The estimated costs for Phase 2 are $32,960; and include the development of the governance structure, resource development, community outreach and engagement planning, and plans for leveraging technology. The Consultant Services Agreement, if approved, would allow for up to $79,580 to be spent to obtain the necessary professional consultant services for the analysis of the viability and potential positive impact of a City Land Bank, including an operational framework.
This Agreement has been reviewed and approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office. The City’s Risk Management Division has reviewed and approved insurance and indemnity provisions.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a “project” pursuant to Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
This grant agreement is not subject to local preference.
FISCAL IMPACT
The source of funding for the agreement is American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funding. The General Fund is not impacted.
Attachments:
- Uniquely Qualified Memorandum
- Consultant Services Agreement