HomeMy WebLinkAbout10. Sustainable Community Funds
AGENDA MEMO
DATE:
September 28, 2010
TO:
Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Office of the City Manager
By: Brian Saeki, Director of Community Development
SUBJECT: CITY OF DOWNEY’S ASSESSMENT FOR THE PREPARATION OF
THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES STRATEGY
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council approve the City of Downey’s fair share assessment for the
preparation of the Sustainable Communities Strategy and appropriate $13,700 from
available Measure R funds.
BACKGROUND
In January 2010, the Gateway Cities Council of Governments (GCCOG) Board elected
to prepare a sub regional Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) under Senate Bill
375 (SB 375). SB 375 requires that regions across the state of California show that
their future planning scenarios will result in a reduction of greenhouse gases emissions.
The GCCOG City Managers Steering Committee formed a subcommittee of managers,
community development directors, and public works officials from local cities including
Downey, to assist GCCOG staff in developing a request for proposal (RFP) to prepare
the SCS, reviewing consultant proposals, interviewing consultants, and in negotiating
the work plan. The RFP was completed and distributed to approximately 40 firms
during the week of May 24, 2010. Responses were due June 25, 2010 and a total of
three teams submitted proposals. The following chart illustrates the firms that
responded, their project teams, and cost:
CITY OF DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA
On July 15, 2010 the SCS Subcommittee interviewed each of these firms. Based on
those interviewed, the Committee felt that Cambridge Systematics offered the best
combination of approach and capabilities to assist the COG. Cambridge proposed a
bottom-up approach involving meetings with each of the member cities’ planning staffs.
The GCCOG staff and the SCS Subcommittee met on July 23rd and July 27th with the
Cambridge team to revise the proposed work plan. The final negotiated project budget
was $373,246 which is a reduction of $166,028 from the original proposal of $539,274
making Cambridge the most qualified low bidder. Substantial savings were achieved by
consolidation of workshops for the GCCOG planning directors/public works officials,
better tailoring the public outreach meetings to fit the GCCOG’s needs, limiting
consultant team travel and by eliminating redundant tasks. The SCS Subcommittee
also recommended adding a 10% standard contingency, for a total project budget of
$410,000.
The bidders were also asked to provide a cost for additional items including an analysis
of the economic impacts of the SCS and an inventory of the greenhouse gas reductions
that the region has implemented. The SCS Subcommittee felt that these analyses
would be somewhat premature at this point and decided that they could be prepared at
later date and therefore not be included in this phase of the project.
The GCCOG Board approved the selection of Cambridge Systematics and a budget of
$410,000 on August 4, 2010.
FISCAL IMPACT
When the GCCOG Board created the SCS Subcommittee, they also approved a city
assessment formula to provide the funding necessary to pay for consultant support
needed to carry out this effort. This formula was based upon population plus a flat rate
of $7,864.62. The assessment calculation by city has been attached to this report
(Exhibit A).
Based upon the approved formula, the City of Downey’s assessment is $21,099.96.
Staff is proposing to fund this project with redevelopment housing set-aside funds (35%
- $7,400) and Measure R Local Return funds (65% - $13,700). There are sufficient
Measure R funds available to pay for the City’s assessment.
Attachment: Exhibit A: SB 375 Assessment
EXHIBIT A