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Community Development Agency, Long Range Planning, recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign the First Amendment to Agreement 236-S1710 with Ascent Environmental, Inc., changing the Contract Administrator, increasing the compensation amount by $234,600 for a total contract amount not to exceed $300,000, with no change to the existing rates or the term, and expanding the scope of the work to include planning and environmental services for future development projects.
FUNDING: Applicant Funded.
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
Community Development Agency, Long Range Planning, recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign the First Amendment to Agreement 236-S1710 with Ascent Environmental, Inc., changing the Contract Administrator, increasing the compensation amount by $234,600 for a total contract amount not to exceed $300,000, with no change to the existing rates or the term, and expanding the scope of the work to include planning and environmental services for future development projects.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On November 13, 2012 (Items 7 and 8), the Board approved Agreements for Services with ICF Jones and Stokes, Inc. (ICF) and Michael Baker International (MBI), formerly Pacific Municipal Consultants, to provide direct consultant services to the County for preparation of Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) and as-needed planning consultation services for three major Specific Plan projects - Central El Dorado Hills, Village of Marble Valley, and Lime Rock Valley Specific Plan Project Applications (Projects). Services have been and will continue to be provided by ICF and MBI, including project management and application processing; participation in public outreach meetings and hearings; and technical review of complex project studies, administrative draft EIRs, and draft Specific Plan documents.
In 2016, Patrick Angell, MBI’s project manager for the County’s three major development Projects, left MBI and began working for Ascent. In his new position at Ascent, Mr. Angell was available to continue his work as project manager for the three Projects. In order to capitalize on Mr. Angell’s working knowledge and expertise on these Projects, and to prevent schedule delays, Long Range Planning contracted with Ascent on October 6, 2016. This contract provided a seamless transition in project management for the three complex Projects.
The County is continuing to work on the three major Projects with MBI and Ascent. Additional compensation is needed to assist Long Range Planning staff in processing the Projects. In addition, due to position vacancies in Long Range Planning and Development Services Division, an expanded Scope of Services with Ascent is needed to assist with current and anticipated development projects.
This Amendment 1 will change the Contract Administrator from former CDA Director, Steven Pedretti, to Interim Director Roger Niello, or successor.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board decide not to approve Amendment 1, Ascent’s services would be limited to those in the original Agreement. Limiting Ascent’s involvement at this point in the application review process would require existing staff to accommodate the additional work needed to complete the processing of the proposed Projects. This would increase staff workload, likely causing delays to other applications currently being processed, future development projects as they arise, and other priorities.
In addition, since the County has not processed a Specific Plan Application in nearly 20 years, most County staff does not have direct expertise processing such complex applications. Ascent’s experience processing Specific Plan Applications helps to ensure that the public, the Board, County staff, and others have the information necessary to evaluate and make informed decisions regarding the proposed Projects.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Concurrence by County Counsel and Risk Management.
CAO RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to the Net County Cost associated with this item. Appropriations for Amendment I are included in the adopted Fiscal Year 2016/17 budget and will be included in future proposed budgets. All costs are paid for by Project applicants.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair’s signature on two (2) original copies of Amendment 1; and
2) The Clerk of the Board to return one (1) fully executed original copy of Amendment 1 to the Community Development Agency, Contracts and Procurement Unit, for transmittal to the Consultant.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Good Governance
CONTACT
Tiffany Schmid, Principal Administrative Analyst
County Chief Administrative Office, for
Community Development Agency, Long Range Planning Division