REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
July 31, 2014
FROM: JENNIFER K. CLARK, AICP, Director
Development and Resource Management Department
BY: MIKE SANCHEZ, Assistant Director
Development and Resource Management Department
BONIQUE EMERSON, AICP, Supervising Planner
Development and Resource Management Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to a consultant contract for the High Speed Rail Station Area Master Plan
1. * RESOLUTION- 3rd amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2014-95 appropriating $1,020,000 for High Speed Rail Station Master Plan consulting services and miscellaneous City expenses (Requires 5 affirmative votes)
2. Authorize the Director of the Development and Resource Management (DARM) Department to enter into a professional services agreement with the firm of AECOM Technical Services, (AECOM) in the amount not to exceed $966,068 utilizing funding from the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) and Fresno Council of Governments (Fresno COG)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council take the following actions:
1. Adopt the resolution of the Council of the City of Fresno adopting the 3rd amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2014-95 appropriating $1,020,000 for High Speed Rail Station Master Plan consulting services and miscellaneous City expenses.
2. Authorize the Director of the DARM Department to enter into a professional services agreement with the firm of AECOM in the amount not to exceed $966,068 utilizing funding from the CHSRA and Fresno COG.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On August 25, 2011, the Council adopted a resolution amending the AAR to appropriate $900,000 from the CHSRA in the Public Works Department budget for preparation of the High Speed Rail Station Area Master Plan (Master Plan). On March 29, 2012, the Council adopted a resolution to appropriate $120,000 from Fresno COG for the Master Plan and to transfer the funds from the Public Works Department to the DARM Department. In June of 2012, staff prepared the Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit proposals from teams of professional planners, architects, engineers and municipal finance consultants for preparation of the Master Plan. Eight firms submitted proposals and, after an extensive interview process, AECOM was chosen as the best firm to accomplish all needed tasks.
BACKGROUND
Purpose of the Annual Appropriation Resolution
The Council took action on August 25, 2011, to amend the AAR to appropriate a total of $900,000 from the CHSRA for the preparation of a Master Plan. The $900,000 consists of $700,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) dollars that the CHSRA is receiving from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), as well as $200,000 in Proposition 1A High Speed Rail bond proceeds. The executed agreement between the City and the CHSRA lays out the provisions for City invoicing of eligible Master Plan costs incurred and reimbursement of those expenditures by the CHSRA. The Council took action on March 29, 2012 to amend the AAR to appropriate an additional $120,000 from Fresno COG's Overall Work Program (OWP) for the Master Plan. Thus, the attached resolution would appropriate funds that were budgeted in previous years but were not appropriated in Fiscal Year 2015.
Purpose of the Station Area Master Plan
The Master Plan is intended to provide a vision for the Station Area that builds upon the City's existing (and proposed) plans and policies, while maximizing the long term benefits of this public investment. The Master Plan will identify strategies for future development while supporting the station's urban setting, operations, passenger access, parking and intermodal connectivity. The City desires a complete and inclusive Master Plan that prepares the City to take advantage of all potential benefits associated with the implementation of a major regional multi-modal transportation facility that will link Fresno to the economic centers of Northern and Southern California. This Master Plan will further implement and refine the Fulton Corridor Specific Plan, which anticipates and makes some recommendations for the Station Area, but does not provide the level of needed detail that this Master Plan will provide.
The transportation portion of the Master Plan will include the full range of multi-modal connections to the station, including passenger cars, Fresno Area Express service including Bus Rapid Transit, private charter buses, bicycles and pedestrians. Locations of parking lots and structures will be addressed by the plan as well. In addition, as part of this Master Planning effort, the consultant will prepare a comprehensive Real Estate Development Strategy, an Economic Opportunity Analysis and an Infrastructure and Financing Plan. An extensive community outreach effort will be an overarching theme throughout the entire development of the Master Plan.
Consultant Selection Process
As mentioned above, on June 29, 2012, staff issued an RFP to solicit proposals from teams of professional planners, architects, engineers and municipal finance consultants for preparation of the Master Plan. Eight firms submitted proposals in response to this RFP and after staff review of all proposals, four firms were invited to continue on in the selection process.
A Selection Committee was formed consisting of staff from Public Works, DARM, FAX and Fresno COG. The Selection Committee reviewed the written team proposals based on criteria outlined within the RFP. In addition, each of the four firms was invited to participate in a four hour interview, which included oral presentations and questions and answers from staff. Firms were evaluated based on their ability to convey their project approach to the Selection Committee. Based on the thorough selection process, the Selection Committee has recommended that DARM proceed with contract negotiations with AECOM. The Selection Committee is confident that AECOM was the best qualified of the eight firms to provide the services identified. Two firms with a local presence (Jeffrey Scott Associates and VAST) are part of this team as sub consultants.
AECOM is a national leader in creative place-making and has extensive experience in designing catalytic projects. They also have economic development experience from both public and private sector perspectives and have a strong knowledge of the value rail brings to communities and how to capture and leverage value. They also have extensive knowledge related to station area planning. Examples of their work include Denver Union Station, Alameda District Master Plan and the Downtown Merced High Speed Rail Station Plan.
AECOM estimates that the preparation of the Master Plan will take approximately 11 months. AECOM's Scope of Work and Summary Cost Proposal are included as appendices to the attached Consultant Services Contract. This is a standardized contract which the City Attorney's Office has previously reviewed and approved as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a "project" for the purposes of CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, section 15378(b)(5), as it is an administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes to the environment.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local Preference was not implicated due to State funding.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this request has been appropriated and is sufficient to pay for the scope of services identified by AECOM. Funding for this Consultant Services Contract will come from the CHSRA and Fresno COG. In order to receive this funding, staff has agreed to commit approximately $117,000 of staff time as an in-kind match. The salaries of staff who will contribute to the preparation of the Master Plan are funded by the General Fund.
Attachments: Resolution
Agreement for Consultant Services