REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
May 19, 2016
FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director
Development and Resource Management
SUBJECT
Title
Approve a consultant services agreement with Wallace Roberts and Todd, LLC for an amount not to exceed $449,995 to lead the Fresno Parks Master Plan Update. (citywide)
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Approve a consultant services agreement with Wallace Roberts and Todd, LLC for an amount not to exceed $449,995 to lead the Fresno Parks Master Plan Update.
2. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to sign the agreement on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Department of Development and Resource Management seeks City Council approval for a professional consultant services agreement with Wallace Roberts and Todd, LLC (WRT) to lead the Fresno Parks Master Plan Update.
BACKGROUND
On December 18, 2014, the City Council adopted the Fresno General Plan. Policy POSS-1-b Parks Implementation Planning, calls for an assessment of the existing parks and parkland, an action plan defining priorities for recreational facilities, and identifying opportunities for strategic partnerships and comprehensive financing. The adoption of the General Plan set the stage for an update of the City’s Parks Master Plan. The funding for the Parks Master Plan update was included in the FY2016 Budget.
The City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) on December 8, 2015. The goal of the Parks Master Plan Update is to provide the City with one concise document for parks and recreation planning that sets forth findings; design, construction and maintenance standards; management policies; and programming and recommendations to address current and future needs. The updated information provided for this task will also be useful in updating other City planning efforts, thereby providing for consistency in the City’s overall parks and recreation planning.
On January, 15, 2016, the City received four proposals, as follows: RJM Design Group; Design Workshop; MIG; and WRT.
After review and evaluation of qualifications, two firms were selected for interview - MIG and WRT. At the conclusion of the interview process, WRT was determined to be the best selection to plan the City’s parks vision and objectives. WRT’s scope of work is broken into two primary phases. First is the Vision phase which includes data collection, community needs assessment, initial capital improvements evaluation and a Vision Plan. The Vision Plan will be presented to the City Council for review in late fall, 2016 and will serve as the foundation for the second phase which is the Master Plan. The second phase will complete the capital improvements evaluation, potential funding sources, and the draft Master Plan. Once adopted in early fall, 2017, the Parks Master Plan will be incorporated into the City’s General Plan.
WRT was selected based upon the technical merits of their proposal and interviews. WRT is a national, award winning practice of planners and landscape architects who bring expertise in the planning of regional open space systems and the creative design of individual parks. They have included PROS Consulting, a leader in park management and financing; Precision Civil Engineering, Inc, a local civil engineering firm; and Urban Diversity Design, a local firm experienced in community engagement for public space planning. Additionally, WRT will hire local translators and specialists to assist the physical assessment teams while conducting community meetings.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Approval of the consultant service agreement amendment is not a “project” within the meaning of Public Resources Code Section 21803 (CEQA Guidelines § 15378) because the organizational and administrative activities as identified in the consultant agreement will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because no local firms responded to the RFQ.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for the Parks Master Plan Update is appropriated in the FY2016 Budget.
Attachments:
Consulting Services Agreement
Fresno Parks Master Plan Scope of Work
Fresno Parks Master Plan Draft Schedule
Fresno Parks Master Plan Fee Spreadsheet