REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director
Planning and Development Department
BY: DAVID DENSLEY, Projects Administrator
Planning and Development Department
SUBJECT
Title
Approve 11 Consultant Services Agreements for on-call California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) professional services for Planning and Development Department CEQA projects, each not to exceed $2,000,000:
1. SWCA, Inc. of San Luis Obispo, California
2. CSG Consultants, Inc. of Orange, California
3. Impact Sciences, Inc. of Los Angeles, California
4. WSP USA, Inc. of San Diego, California
5. Helix Environmental Planning, Inc. of La Mesa, California
6. FCS International, Inc. of Walnut Creek, California
7. LSA Associates, Inc. of Clovis, California
8. Precision Civil Engineering, Inc. of Fresno, California
9. 4 Creeks, Inc. of Visalia, California
10. Crawford and Bowen Planning, Inc. of Visalia, California
11. Dudek of Encinitas, California
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve eleven (11) On-Call Professional Environmental Services Agreements between the City of Fresno (City) and 1) SWCA, Inc., 2) CSG Consultants, Inc., 3) Impact Sciences, Inc., 4) WSP Global, Inc., 5) Helix Environmental Planning, Inc., 6) FCS International, Inc., DBA First Carbon Solutions, 7) LSA Associates, Inc., 8) Precision Civil Engineering, Inc., 9) 4 Creeks, Inc., 10) Crawford and Bowen Planning, Inc., and 11) Dudek (Consultants), to provide on-call professional environmental services pursuant to CEQA for the Planning and Development Department for projects located citywide, for a three-year term with the option of two one-year extensions, at the hourly rates specified in the Schedule of Fees included in each Consultant’s respective agreement, not to exceed $2,000,000 per agreement, with no guarantee expressed or implied that the $2,000,000 amount will be authorized under any of the eleven respective agreements, and authorize the Planning and Development Director or designee to execute all eleven Agreements on behalf of the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
To accelerate environmental review and support Fresno’s growing development needs, the Planning and Development Department recommends entering into agreements with eleven pre-qualified firms to provide on-call California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) services for projects located citywide. This model offers developers access to a vetted pool of environmental consultants while maintaining full City oversight and ensuring environmental compliance.
These firms were selected through a formal Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process completed in late 2024. Under this framework, developers may choose from the pre-qualified pool while the Planning and Development Department, together with the designated CEQA Coordinator, will oversee all environmental review activities. The proposed structure draws on proven protocols and best practices successfully implemented in other municipalities.
BACKGROUND
The Planning and Development Department is pursuing an on-call model for CEQA services designed to enhance efficiency, improve environmental compliance, and support Fresno’s growing development needs. As the City continues to experience increased investment and project activity, timely CEQA review has become essential to advancing housing, infrastructure, and economic development goals.
This model establishes a pre-qualified bench of CEQA consultants, selected through a formal RFQ and interview process. Developers will collaborate directly with these consultants to prepare a project description and Scope of Work, which will then be reviewed by City staff. Once it is approved, City staff will take steps to initiate preparation of the environmental document.
Currently, developers and consultants must execute a three-party contract prior to initiating CEQA document preparation, which can result in entitlement processing delays. By allowing developers to select from an on-call list of pre-approved consultants, the need for project-specific contracting is eliminated. This streamlines the process, allowing environmental services to be coordinated earlier in the project lifecycle while City staff focus on technical review, legal coordination, and oversight. The City retains full authority over scope, quality, and performance through a multi-year Agreement.
All CEQA work remains under the direction of the Planning and Development Department and the CEQA Coordinator, with clear protocols to preserve the administrative record and ensure accountability. Consultants are subject to defined performance standards and may be removed from the On-Call list for non-compliance. To promote consistency and high-quality deliverables, the Department plans to conduct training sessions with consultants, led by Planning staff and the City Attorney’s Office.
Services provided under this model include preparation of CEQA documents (e.g., Initial Studies, Mitigated Negative Declarations), environmental determinations and notices, and a broad range of technical studies. These may include assessments of Aesthetics, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Geology and Soils, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, Hydrology and Water Quality, Noise, Transportation, Utilities and Service Systems, Community Impacts, and Energy Use. Consultants may also conduct mitigation monitoring and field surveys before or during construction.
This streamlined approach reflects best practices from peer jurisdictions and positions Fresno to deliver faster, more predictable environmental review while maintaining strong institutional safeguards.
In accordance with Administrative Order (A.O.) 6-19, staff sent out RFQ bid file number 12501022 for professional environmental services in October 2024 via Planet Bids, email, and publication in the Business Journal. At the closing of the advertisement period the City received thirteen responses. City staff evaluated each Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) and determined one submittal was non-responsive; another firm elected to remove themselves for the competition. The remaining eleven SOQs were evaluated and ranked, and each consultant team provided detailed cost breakdowns before interviewing with City staff. At the conclusion of the evaluation period, SWCA, Inc., CSG Consultants, Inc., Impact Sciences, Inc., WSP Global, Inc., Helix Environmental Planning, Inc., FCS International, Inc., DBA First Carbon Solutions, LSA Associates, Inc., Precision Civil Engineering, Inc., 4 Creeks, Inc., Crawford and Bowen Planning, Inc., and Dudek were selected as the most qualified consultants for on-call CEQA related services.
Staff recommends the City Council approve eleven On-Call Professional Environmental Services Agreements between the City of Fresno (City) and 1) SWCA, Inc., 2) CSG Consultants, Inc., 3) Impact Sciences, Inc., 4) WSP Global, Inc., 5) Helix Environmental Planning, Inc., 6) FCS International, Inc., DBA First Carbon Solutions, 7) LSA Associates, Inc., 8) Precision Civil Engineering, Inc., 9) 4 Creeks, Inc., 10) Crawford and Bowen Planning, Inc., and 11) Dudek to provide on-call professional environmental services pursuant to CEQA for the Planning and Development Department for citywide projects, for a three-year term with the option of two one-year extensions, to be reimbursed for hours worked at the hourly rates specified in the Schedule of Fees included in each Consultant’s respective agreement, not to exceed $2,000,000 per agreement, with no guarantee expressed or implied that the $2,000,000 amount will be authorized under any of the eleven respective agreements, and authorize the Planning and Development Director or designee to execute all eleven Agreements on behalf of the City.
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a project for the purposes of CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Not applicable due to Developers selecting consultants from the on-call list.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund. All funding necessary for each project will be deposited within a trust account maintained by the Department and these agreements are not for appropriations as the City will only act as a pass-through for these contracts.
Attachments:
Consultant Service Agreement On Call CEQA - SWCA, Inc.
Consultant Service Agreement On Call CEQA - CSG Consultants, Inc.
Consultant Service Agreement On Call CEQA - Impact Sciences, Inc.
Consultant Service Agreement On Call CEQA - WSP USA, Inc.
Consultant Service Agreement On Call CEQA - Helix Environmental Planning, Inc.
Consultant Service Agreement On Call CEQA - FCS International, Inc., DBA First Carbon Solutions
Consultant Service Agreement On Call CEQA - LSA Associates, Inc.
Consultant Service Agreement On Call CEQA - Precision Civil Engineering, Inc.
Consultant Service Agreement On Call CEQA - 4 Creeks, Inc.
Consultant Service Agreement On Call CEQA - Crawford and Bowen Planning, Inc.
Consultant Service Agreement On Call CEQA - Dudek