REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director
Planning and Development Department
BY: DAVID DENSLEY, Projects Administrator
Planning and Development Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to Rincon Consultants, Inc., a California corporation, to provide On-Call Historic Preservation Services for the Planning and Development Department.
1. Approve a Consultant Services Agreement between the City of Fresno and Rincon Consultants, Inc. for on-call Historic Preservation consulting in an amount not to exceed $120,000, effective through July 31, 2027, with the option of three one-year extensions for a total amount not to exceed $480,000
2. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the agreement on behalf of the City.
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Consultant Services Agreement between the City of Fresno and Rincon Consultants, Inc. for On-Call Historic Preservation consulting services. The agreement authorizes services in an amount not to exceed $480,000 over the optional four-year term and authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the agreement on behalf of the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Planning and Development Department seeks approval of a new Consultant Services Agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc. to provide specialized historic preservation consulting services on an as-needed basis, in lieu of filling two vacant Historic Preservation Specialist positions. These services will support the City’s ongoing compliance with local, state, and federal historic preservation requirements, as well as assist with project review, technical evaluations, and regulatory documentation. The agreement will be effective through July 31, 2027, with up to three optional one-year extensions at the Department’s discretion to ensure continuity of service and operational flexibility.
The contract includes a not-to-exceed amount of $480,000, representing $120,000 per year for the optional four-year term. Rincon was selected through a competitive qualifications-based process under Request for Qualifications (RFQ) No. 12601838 by a department review committee for their demonstrated strong expertise and qualifications.
BACKGROUND
The Department of Planning and Development staffs the historic preservation function with a Historic Preservation Specialist. The position requires specialized expertise and qualifications to meet the requirements of the City’s Certified Local Government agreement with the State Historic Preservation Office. After two rounds of recruitment with extensive outreach throughout 2024 and 2025, the department was unable to fill the Historic Preservation Specialist position and now recommends retention of on-call historic preservation consultants to support its Certified Local Government (CLG) responsibilities, development project review, and long-range preservation planning. The Department will continue to seek qualified applicants with the required expertise. However until a qualified candidate is selected and trained, the City must retain consultant services with the required expertise.
In response to RFQ No. 12601838 - 2026 On-Call Historic Preservation Services, the City received multiple Statements of Qualifications (SOQs). A Department review committee evaluated the submissions and ranked Rincon Consultants, Inc. as the top qualified firm based on:
• Demonstrated expertise in historic resource evaluation, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)/National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and Section 106 reviews for Federal Housing and Urban Development grant funding
• Strong experience preparing DPR 523 forms, historic context statements, and technical studies
• Familiarity with Fresno’s historic resources, including downtown and neighborhood-scale assets
• Capacity to provide timely, on-call support across multiple project types
The CSA establishes Rincon as the City’s on-call provider for tasks including, but not limited to:
• Historic resource evaluations for planning and development applications
• Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) form preparation
• CEQA and Section 106 technical studies
• Survey updates and digital field documentation
• Mills Act evaluations and monitoring
• Preservation planning and policy support
• Technical assistance to City staff and community partners
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Approval of this professional services agreement does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, as it does not result in a direct physical change to the environment.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local Preference does not apply because this procurement was conducted as a qualifications-based selection under Fresno Municipal Code Section 4-107 and Administrative Order (AO) 6-19.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund as a result of this action. Funding for this agreement is available within the Planning and Development Department’s existing budget and/or programmed across future fiscal years. No additional appropriations are required.
Attachments:
Consultant Services Agreement and SOQ - Rincon Consultants, Inc.
RFQ Bid File No. 12601838