To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Permit Sonoma
Staff Name and Phone Number: Eric Gage, Planner III (707) 565-1391
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): First
Title:
Title
Permit Sonoma Project File No. PLP23-0021, Hanna Mixed-Use Project - Contract Award for County Consultant for Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report and Project Management Tasks; 810 West Agua Caliente Road and 17000 Arnold Drive, Sonoma (APN 133-220-003, 133-220-001, and 133-112-020)
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize the Director of Permit Sonoma, or designee, to execute an agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc., in a form acceptable to County Counsel, to prepare an Environmental Impact Report and conduct project management tasks for the Hanna Mixed-Use Project for a term of three years commencing on the date of the last required signature to the agreement, and in an amount not to exceed $529,688.27.
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Executive Summary:
On October 10, 2023, Permit Sonoma received an application from Hanna Boys Center for a Major Subdivision and Design Review to establish a mixed-use project including 142 for sale townhomes, 120 rental apartments, a 244-unit residential community care facility, a hotel with 119 rooms and 20 branded residences, 10,000 square feet of retail and office space, 9,600 square feet of child and adult day care, and 10,000 square feet for a vocational training center.
Permit Sonoma staff determined that the proposed project will require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). As the lead agency, Permit Sonoma will manage the environmental review process and the County’s consultant will prepare the required environmental document. Technical studies prepared on behalf of the applicant and submitted to Permit Sonoma will be reviewed by the County’s consultant and used by the County provided that the final environmental document reflects the lead agency’s independent judgment in accordance with Public Resources Code § 21082.
Permit Sonoma recommends that the Board authorize the Director of Permit Sonoma, or designee, to execute an agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc. to conduct peer review of the applicant-prepared technical studies, prepare the EIR and conduct project management tasks for the Hanna Mixed-Use Project. The proposed agreement is for a term of three years and in an amount not to exceed $529,688.27.
Discussion:
Background
On October 10, 2023, Permit Sonoma received an application from Hanna Boys Center for a Major Subdivision and Design Review to establish a mixed-use project including 142 for sale townhomes, 120 rental apartments, a 244-unit residential community care facility, a hotel with 119 rooms, 20 branded residences maintained by the hotel and rented on a short-term basis, 10,000 square feet of retail and office space, 9,600 square feet of child and adult day care, and 10,000 square feet for a vocational training center at 810 West Agua Caliente Road and 17000 Arnold Drive in Sonoma (APNs 133-220-003, 133-220-001, and 133-112-020).
Permit Sonoma determined that the scope and intensity of development proposed under the project has the potential to result in significant environmental impacts that cannot be fully mitigated, and therefore an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is required.
Environmental Review
Public Resources Code Section 21082.1 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15084(d)(3) gives discretion to the County regarding whether to allow an applicant to prepare its own Environmental Impact Report (EIR) or Initial Study Checklist (IS) for a private project or to prepare the analysis internally. It is the standard practice of Permit Sonoma to self-prepare necessary environmental impact reports, typically through a contract the County enters into with an EIR consultant to evaluate the environmental impacts of a project.
Request for Proposals
On June 13, 2022, Permit Sonoma released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Professional Planning Services to solicit firms qualified to assist with a scope of planning permit processing services and policy development, including preparation of Environmental Impact Reports. The RFQ was posted through Sonoma County’s Purchasing Department as a Supplier Portal Solicitation, under Bid Solicitation No. SC001-0000001522. In July 2022, Permit Sonoma evaluated qualifications using the following criteria:
• Demonstrated ability to perform the services described
• Experience, qualifications, and expertise relating to Sonoma County
• Quality of work as verified by references
• Willingness to accept the County’s contract and insurance terms
• The locality of the Proposer
Permit Sonoma selected six proposals from the following firms: Brelje & Race Consulting Engineers; Rincon Consultants, Inc.; WRT, LLC; Interwest Consulting Group; MIG, Inc.; and 4Leaf, Inc.
On January 3, 2024, Permit Sonoma released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to the 2022 RFQ Professional Planning Services consultant list to solicit proposals to conduct peer review of the applicant’s technical studies, prepare the EIR document, develop hearing and public meeting materials related to the EIR, and complete related administrative tasks. Two firms responded with proposals for the requested scope of work: Rincon Consultants, Inc. and 4Leaf, Inc.
Permit Sonoma staff evaluated the proposals and Rincon Consultants, Inc. was scored as the preferred bidder for the Hanna Mixed-Use Project because their proposal included the highest level of in-house technical expertise and experience. Rincon has successfully worked on multiple projects with Sonoma County and has over 17 years of experience in environmental planning and permitting.
The cost of the proposed contract is for a not-to-exceed amount of $529,688.27. Itemized costs are provided in Exhibit B of Attachment 1, Budget. The County and applicant have signed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining that the applicant will pay the cost incurred by the County for the preparation of the EIR and administrative management of the project. No additional costs would be incurred by Permit Sonoma for the project.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
N/A
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY24-25 Adopted |
FY25-26 Projected |
FY26-27 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$250,000.00 |
$250,000.00 |
$29,688.27 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$250,000.00 |
$250,000.00 |
$29,688.27 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$250,000.00 |
$250,000.00 |
$29,688.27 |
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$250,000.00 |
$250,000.00 |
$29,688.27 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The County has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the applicant, Hanna Boys Center, which requires that the applicant is responsible for the cost of the preparation of the EIR and administrative project management of the project. No additional costs would be incurred by Permit Sonoma for the project.
The applicant is required to provide a good faith deposit for the processing of the application and payment of the CEQA review cost under Permit Sonoma's standard At-Cost Agreement required for discretionary applications and by the MOU signed by the applicant. The County will bill time and consultants costs against the available deposit. When costs exceed the available deposit, an additional deposit will be required.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
There will be no impact on staffing. With support from Rincon Consultants for project management tasks, existing staff are sufficient to complete the review of the consultant’s work.
Attachments:
Attachment 1: PLP23-0021 Rincon Professional Services Agreement
Exhibit A: Rincon Scope of Work
Exhibit B: Rincon Budget
Exhibit C: Rincon Insurance Certificate
Attachment 2: PLP23-0021 Executed MOU, dated July 12, 2024
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None