TO:
Honorable Mayor Powell and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
David N. Carmany, City Manager
FROM:
Richard Thompson, Director of Community Development
Gwen Eng, General Services Manager
Nhung Madrid, Management Analyst
SUBJECT:Title
Award of Contract to Iteris, Inc. for the Preparation of the General Plan Mobility Element Update in the Amount of $124,080
APPROVE
Body
_____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council award a contract (RFP #885-13) to Iteris, Inc. in the amount of $124,080 to prepare the City's General Plan Mobility Element update.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The total cost of the contract with Iteris, Inc. is $124,080. Funds totaling $125,000 are budgeted in the fiscal year 2012-2013 Community Development Department budget for this expenditure. Included in the $125,000 budgeted amount is approximately $30,000 from the General Plan Maintenance Revenue Account which is a fee that is collected on all building permit applications equal to three percent of the total cost of the building permit fee. This three percent fee is collected and specifically earmarked for General Plan updates.
BACKGROUND:
The City's General Plan identifies the community's vision for its collective future and establishes the fundamental framework to guide decision-making about development, resource management, public safety, public services, and general community well-being.
The General Plan contains seven components or "elements" including land use, circulation, housing, conservation, open-space, noise and safety. Some elements are required to be updated every so many years, and some elements should be updated when the content no longer reflects the vision of the City.
DISCUSSION:
Since the last Mobility Element update in 2003 (currently referred to as the Circulation Element), the availability of non-motorized transportation options have greatly increased. In addition, major projects and studies have been completed throughout the City that has changed the transportation needs of the community. It is important to understand that the Mobility Element provides the vision for how goods and people move throughout the City, which is based upon established goals and policies. To achieve a balanced transportation system, City policies and goals focus not only on strategies to improve traffic flow but also on ways to encourage use of alternative mobility options such as transit, walking, and bicycling. A balanced transportation system also includes transportation strategies and programs aimed at reducing congestion, in turn allowing for the safe and efficient movement of people, goods, and services throughout the City. A clearly crafted and publicly supported Mobility Element details the image a community has of itself now, and what it hopes this image will be over the life of the document.
Effective January 2011, Assembly Bill 1358, the 2008 California Complete Streets Act, requires that any substantive revision of the Circulation Element requires planning for a balanced, multi-modal transportation network that meets the needs of all users of street roads and highways. The users are defined as including motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, children, person with disabilities, seniors, movers of commercial goods, and riders of public transportation. The State enacted this law to help fulfill the commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through efficient use of urban land and transportation infrastructure.
The General Plan Mobility Element update is consistent with the City's Strategic Plan Goal: "Maintain and Enhance City Facilities, Programs and the Infrastructure." The Mobility Element update will also identify and incorporate other key projects that staff is currently working on such as the Roundabout Feasibility Study and the Veterans Parkway Master Plan.
Based on the City's need to update the Mobility Element, a request for proposal was released and two responses were received. Although staff was concerned that only two responses were received, after further review, each firm that responded proposed a consultant team which resulted in a total of seven firms responding, as shown below:
Vendor & Total Bid
Iteris, Inc. - $124,080
Fehr & Peers
Hogle-Ireland Planning & Development Consulting
IBI Group - $130,000
The Planning Center/DC&E
Alta Planning + Design
Arellano & Associates
Upon review of the proposals, Community Development staff believes that the Iteris, Inc. proposal is superior to the proposal from IBI Group. The proposal's strong points included:
1. A more clearly identified approach in obtaining and evaluating traffic data
2. A comprehensive discussion of what traffic components (vehicle, pedestrian, bicycle, transit) would be reviewed
3. Strong discussion and emphasis of multi-modal level of service analysis, which is the current state of practice for operational analysis
4. A comprehensive evaluation of Complete Streets
5. Well identified deliverables
6. Clear understanding of the issues facing different neighborhoods within the City
As a result, staff recommends that the City Council award a contract to Iteris, Inc. for the preparation of the General Plan Mobility Element update in the amount of $124,080. The City may cancel the contract at any time without cause if necessary.
Attachment:
1. Professional Services Agreement with Iteris, Inc.