TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Masa Alkire, Community Development Director
Adam Finestone, Planning Manager
Tari Kuvhenguhwa, Associate Planner
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of Awarding RFP No. 1347-26 and Adopting a Resolution Approving an Agreement with M. Arthur Gensler, Jr. & Associates, Inc. for Architectural and Public Engagement Services for Project Pulse: Downtown Manhattan Beach Redevelopment Projects for an Amount Not-to-Exceed $160,000 (Budgeted) (Community Development Director Alkire).
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 26-0029
Body
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council award RFP No. 1347-26 and adopt Resolution No. 26-0029 approving a Professional Services Agreement with M. Arthur Gensler, Jr. & Associates, Inc. (Gensler) for an amount not-to-exceed $160,000.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The proposed agreement with M. Arthur Gensler, Jr. & Associates, Inc. (Gensler) to provide architectural and public engagement services for Project Pulse redevelopment projects is for a total not-to-exceed amount of $160,000 (inclusive of a not-to-exceed amount of $10,000 for potential additional reimbursables).City Council approval of the agreement is required, as the total agreement amount exceeds the City Manager’s awarding authority per the City’s purchasing policy. Sufficient funds for this agreement are available within the project budgets for Parking Lot 3 and 400 Manhattan Beach Boulevard.
BACKGROUND:
During a routine inspection of Parking Lot 3 (1155 Morningside Drive) in the summer of 2024, the Public Works department identified structural issues that resulted in the immediate closure of the top floor of the parking structure, and ultimately the entire structure. In November 2024, the Parking Lot 3 parking structure was demolished and an interim surface parking lot was subsequently constructed at the property at the direction of the City Council.
On April 15, 2025, the City of Manhattan Beach closed escrow on a property located at 400 Manhattan Beach Boulevard. The property is occupied by a vacant commercial building (formerly U.S. Bank) with a surface parking lot.
Due to the close proximity of the two properties, similar site characteristics (such as size and zoning), and for the purposes of building synergy between the two sites, the City has chosen not to consider the redevelopment of each property in isolation of the other. In the spring of 2025, City staff established “Project Pulse” as a coordinated approach for the redevelopment of these two City-owned properties in downtown Manhattan Beach. The name Project Pulse represents a commitment on behalf of the City to keep its collective finger on the pulse of the community with regard to the future of development in downtown Manhattan Beach.
In August 2025, City Council refined the potential list of redevelopment options for both properties. They also approved an associated public engagement program that outlined the community outreach and engagement methods that City staff would use to collect input on the redevelopment of both properties over the next year. City staff conducted the first phase of this public engagement program during Fall 2025.
At its January 20, 2026, meeting, the City Council received a report outlining the results of the first phase of the public engagement program. Through the ensuing discussion, the City Council narrowed down the list of potential redevelopment options to continue exploring and directed staff continue implementing the public engagement program and to return with additional information.
Conducting design workshops with the community and generating conceptual plans are central to the upcoming Spring/Summer 2026 phase of the public engagement program. In order to implement this next phase, City staff sought professional assistance by releasing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for architectural and public engagement services for these two City-owned downtown properties.
DISCUSSION:
The Community Development Department issued a RFP on January 29, 2026, for architectural and community engagement services to facilitate design charettes, produce conceptual designs, conduct a community workshop/open house to present the conceptual designs, and produce preliminary design packages for both City-owned properties. Thirteen proposals were received on February 24, 2026, which were evaluated by City staff according to the following selection criteria:
• Understanding scope of work;
• Firm qualifications and experience performing similar work;
• Qualifications and experience of key personnel;
• Experience with stakeholder engagement;
• Proposed methodology for completing the work;
• References; and
• Costs
Based on the selection criteria, M. Arthur Gensler, Jr. & Associates, Inc. (Gensler) submitted a proposal which demonstrated their extensive experience in architectural and urban design, conducting creative community outreach and engagement in collaboration with government agencies, and translating the community input collected into conceptual project designs. After the review and selection criteria scoring of all submitted proposals, Gensler has been identified as the best-qualified firm to complete the specified scope of work in the RFP.
The scope of work, the methodology and a four to five month timeline for the project are clearly outlined in the Gensler proposal. Gensler’s proposed scope of services includes:
• Project management and coordination, including meetings
• Design charettes for Parking Lot 3 and 400 Manhattan Beach Boulevard
• Up to two conceptual designs for Parking Lot 3
• Up to two conceptual designs for 400 Manhattan Beach Boulevard
• Community workshop/open house to present and received additional community input on the conceptual designs
• Summary report for the charettes and community workshop/open house
• One schematic design package for Parking Lot 3
• One schematic design package for 400 Manhattan Beach Boulevard
• City Council meeting(s) to present schematic design packages for consideration
Once awarded, staff will onboard the consultant and get them up to speed with the City’s current efforts and begin planning and preparation for the first design charette.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
This request for proposals was advertised on the City’s website and OpenGov Procurement, a public bid notification board.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has approved the agreement as to form.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution No. 26-0029
2. Agreement - M. Arthur Gensler, Jr. & Associates, Inc.
3. Location Map