To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Permit Sonoma
Staff Name and Phone Number: Claudette Diaz, Planner III (707) 565-7387
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Fourth
Title:
Title
Airport Area Specific Plan and Environmental Impact Report Contract Amendment and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission Grant Award.
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a resolution authorizing the Director of Permit Sonoma to accept an $800,000 grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to update the existing 1984 Airport Industrial Area Specific Plan; delegating authority to the Director of Permit Sonoma to execute the grant agreement; and authorizing the Director of Permit Sonoma to execute a new contract, and any amendments thereto, with Metropolitan Planning Group for preparation of the Airport Area Specific Plan and a programmatic Environmental Impact Report for a total cost of $671,153 (Fourth District).
end
Executive Summary:
In 2015, the Director of Permit Sonoma executed an agreement with Metropolitan Planning Group (M-Group) to provide planning and environmental consulting services for the Airport Area Specific Plan project funded by $350,000 in grant funds from the Sonoma County Transportation Authority and a County match of $70,000 from the Planning Administrative fund. In 2018, the Board authorized the first amendment to expand the contract scope and budget to $513,935. In 2021, the Board authorized the second amendment to extend the agreement end date to September 30, 2021, without change in total costs. Staff recommends the Board authorize a new contract with M-Group since the contract expired on September 30, 2021.
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) has awarded a Priority Development Area (PDA) planning grant of $800,000 to the County of Sonoma to complete the update to the existing 1984 Airport Industrial Area Specific Plan and prepare a programmatic Environmental Impact Report. This work is expected to be completed by January 2025.
Staff recommends that the Board adopt a resolution authorizing the Director of Permit Sonoma to accept the $800,000 grant from MTC and execute the grant agreement; and execute a contract with Metropolitan Planning Group (M-Group) to complete the Airport Area Specific Plan and a programmatic Environmental Impact Report. A primary goal of this Specific Plan is to consider changes in land use to increase housing and economic opportunities in the Plan Area.
Discussion:
The goal of this project is to prepare an update of the existing 1984 Airport Industrial Area Specific Plan, and a programmatic Environmental Impact Report. The update will include changes to land use, goals and strategies to address climate adaptation and community health, and address changes in traffic patterns surrounding the airport and the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) station. The project will assess existing conditions, opportunities, and constraints and establish a vision for development based on a collaborative planning process. The resulting plan will be a comprehensive product that addresses land use, circulation, design standards, infrastructure planning, and implementation strategies to guide growth within the Specific Plan area. The resulting plan will inform the strategy and policies during the Sonoma County General Plan Update to begin this year.
Background/History:
The airport area is a designated Priority Development Area (PDA). PDAs are areas near public transit identified by local governments and planned for new homes, jobs, and community amenities. Cities and counties nominate areas to the Association of Bay Area Governments for adoption. In November 2013, the Board approved Resolution No. 13-0467 authorizing Permit Sonoma to apply for Priority Development Area (PDA) grant funds from the Sonoma County Transportation Authority to complete an update to the existing Airport Industrial Area Specific Plan.
A Request for Proposals (RFP) was prepared and issued on July 21, 2015. Four proposals were received; one proposal was for the CEQA services only. The proposals were evaluated and ranked in accordance with County procedures and the Metropolitan Planning Group (M-Group) was selected to perform the work. The contract with M-Group was originally executed on December 8, 2015, for a total contract amount of $420,000. The project was primarily funded by a $350,000 planning grant from the Sonoma County Transportation Authority using funds from the One Bay Area Grant program, as administered by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and approximately $70,000 from the Planning Administrative Fund. In 2018, the Board authorized the first amendment to extend the contract scope and budget to $513,935. In 2021, the Board authorized the second amendment to extend the agreement to September 30, 2021, without a change in total costs.
First Amendment:
The first amendment to the agreement in 2018 expanded the scope of the project and planned for additional outreach to the general public, employees, business owners, and property owners within the Plan Area. The scope of the Specific Plan originally focused on the area around the current northern terminus of the SMART line but was expanded to look at opportunities for flexible zoning, housing opportunities, and additional circulation improvements outside of the immediate station area. Additionally, the revised scope allowed staff to work with the Town of Windsor to complete the Water Supply Assessment process which was ultimately approved by the Town of Windsor in November 2019.
Second Amendment:
The second amendment extended the agreement to September 30, 2021, with no changes in funding or project scope. This extension was necessary because work was delayed due to the County fires and the COVID-19 pandemic, which diverted staff hours and hindered opportunities for public engagement. Due to these factors, the project faced further delays and was not completed before the contract with M-Group expired on September 30, 2021. However, on June 9, 2023, Permit Sonoma was awarded an $800,000 Priority Development Area (PDA) Planning Grant by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to complete the planning process for the Airport Area Specific Plan. To complete this work, a new contract will be required.
New Contract and MTC Grant:
Due to the lapse in time since the contract ended, a new contract is required. The Sonoma County Department of General Services, Purchasing Division approved a Single Source Waiver for the new contract with M-Group. The Single Source Waiver waives the competitive procurement process typically required for the contract because there is a legitimate justification to proceed with procuring services from M-Group. Attained from the six years providing services under the initial agreement, M-Group already has familiarity with the project, understands the department's needs and desires for the project, and has established an effective working relationship with staff.
The contract with M-Group will be for $671,153 to complete the Specific Plan Update, support outreach activities, and prepare the necessary programmatic Environmental Impact Report. The MTC grant will cover the full cost of the contract with M-Group, with the remaining $128, 847 to support Permit Sonoma and County Counsel staff time spent on the project. Preparation of the grant agreement is underway with MTC and the agreement is expected to be provided to Permit Sonoma for execution in January before finalization by MTC. Staff will not authorize any work under the M-Group contract until Permit Sonoma has a final grant agreement.
The scope of work for the new contract with M-Group will comply with the outreach and planning requirements of the Priority Development Area (PDA) grant and MTC’s regional Transit Oriented Community Policy (TOC). MTC’s regional TOC policy applies to locations within one half-mile of existing and planned stops and stations served by rail, light-rail, bus rapid transit, or ferries, within a designated PDA, including the SMART station in the airport area. The TOC policy seeks to support the region’s transit investments by creating communities around transit stations and along transit corridors that not only support transit ridership, but that are places where residents of all abilities, income levels, and racial and ethnic backgrounds can live, work and access services, such as education, childcare, and healthcare. The MTC grant awarded for this project requires the Specific Plan to provide housing opportunities within the TOC (1/2 mile buffer from the SMART station). The Specific Plan effort will include a full exploration of housing opportunities within the TOC and the Plan Area and robust public outreach to the community at large, and airport area property and business owners to meet MTC grant requirements.
The Airport Area Specific Plan will build upon the foundation set by the existing Airport Industrial Area Specific Plan to develop an updated plan that supports a balanced and inclusive land use, urban design, and circulation pattern. The resulting plan will be a comprehensive product that addresses land use, circulation, design standards, infrastructure planning, and implementation strategies to guide the growth within the Specific Plan area.
Project Schedule:
January - July 2024
• Updates to the administrative draft Plan and EIR
• Community outreach and engagement with property and business owners in the Plan Area
August 2024
• Draft Plan Publication and Draft Environmental Impact Report Circulation (45 days)
October 2024
• Planning Commission consideration
January 2025
• Board of Supervisors’ consideration
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
January 26, 2021 - The Board authorized the second amendment to extend the agreement to September 30, 2021, with no change in scope and budget.
January 9, 2018 - The Board authorized the first amendment to the agreement to allow the Director of Permit Sonoma to extend the contract scope and budget to $513,935.
December 8, 2015 - The Board authorized the Director of the Permit and Resource Management Department to execute an agreement with the Metropolitan Planning Group to provide planning and environmental consulting services for the Airport Area Specific Plan project for the period of December 8, 2015 to December 8, 2018, to be funded by $350,000.00 in Grant funds from the Sonoma County Transportation Authority and a County match of $70,000.00 funded by the Planning Administrative Fund.
February 25, 2014 - The Board approved a Resolution of Local Support (No. 14-0064) authorizing the filing of an application for funding, committing the necessary matching funds, and offering assurance to complete the project.
November 12, 2013 - The Board approved Resolution No. 13-0467 authorizing PRMD to apply for Priority Development Area (PDA) grant funds from the Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA).
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY23-24 Projected |
FY24-25 Projected |
FY25-26 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$800,000 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$800,000 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
General Plan Administrative Fund |
|
|
|
|
Planning Administrative Fund |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
MTC PDA Grant |
$800,000 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
Total Sources |
$800,000 |
$0 |
$0 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
This grant does not request local match funding. The contract expenses, including the additional funding needed to complete the Airport Area Specific Plan project, are included in the Fiscal Summary table above.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
There will be no impact on staffing. Existing staff are sufficient to complete this project under the existing Comprehensive Planning Work Plan.
Attachments:
Attachment A: Resolution
Attachment B: Draft MTC Master Funding Agreement Supplement
Attachment C: Draft Professional Services Agreement with Exhibits for the Metropolitan Planning Group (M-Group)
Attachment D: Single Source Waiver
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A