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Planning and Building Department, Planning Division, recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign Amendment VIII to Agreement 447 with Ascent Environmental, Inc., for the provision of as-needed environmental consulting services, increasing the compensation amount by $700,000 for a total not-to-exceed amount of $3,200,000, with no change to the scope of work and contract term expiring on December 31, 2026.
FUNDING: Developer Funded.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and County CEQA Resolution 61-87 allow the County to hire consultants, funded by the applicant, to prepare complex and comprehensive CEQA documents such as Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs).
On October 6, 2016, the County’s Purchasing Agent approved Agreement 447 with Ascent Environmental, Inc. (Ascent) to assist the Planning and Building Department (Department) with providing as-needed planning and environmental services for development projects.
Ascent continues to assist the Department with processing several major development projects, including the Village of Marble Valley Specific Plan, the Lime Rock Valley Specific Plan, the Costco Commercial Center EIR, the Dorado Oaks Subdivision Map Project, and the Serrano Village Green Project. In addition to these major development projects, Ascent assists the Department with as-needed minor CEQA inquiries (General Fund) and preparation of Initial Studies/Negative Declarations for smaller development projects. The proposed Amendment VII would increase the compensation by $700,000 for a new not-to-exceed amount of $3,200,000, with no changes to the term of the agreement or scope of work, to allow the Department to finalize these projects with Ascent’s assistance. Further, the Department could rely on Ascent for additional planning and environmental services for other development projects on an as-needed basis, as budget and time allow. As this is an on-call/as-needed contract, the ...
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