☒ City Council
☐ Redevelopment Successor Agency
☐ Community Services District
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☐ Housing Authority
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Subject: |
Second Amendment to an Agreement with Architerra Design Group for On-Call, As-Needed Landscape Plan Check, and Inspection Services Increasing the Contract Amount by $35,000. |
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Date: |
June 18, 2024 |
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Prepared by: |
Valerie Mendoza, Management Analyst |
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Reviewed by: |
Jarrett Ramaiya, Deputy Director |
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Approved by: |
Jarrett Ramaiya, Deputy Director |
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends the following: 1) Approve a Second Amendment to the Agreement with Architerra Design Group for the Development Services Department As-Needed Landscape Plan Check and Inspection Services; and 2) Amend the FY 2023/24 Operating Budget for an amount not to exceed $35,000; and 3) Authorize the City Manager to execute the Amendment to the Agreement. |
PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
The City of Murrieta has had an agreement for various on-call, as-needed landscape consulting services with Architerra Design Group since May 30, 2019.
On August 3, 2021, the City approved Resolution No. 21-4456 authorizing the City of Murrieta to enter into a new agreement for as-needed landscape plan review and inspection services with Architerra Design Group in an amount not to exceed $100,000 per fiscal year. (VOTE: 5-0) The term of the agreement is three (3) years.
On June 06, 2023, the City Council approved Resolution No. 23-4670 authorizing the City of Murrieta to enter into new agreement for as-needed landscape plan review and inspection services with Architerra Design Group in an amount not to exceed $135,000 per fiscal year. (VOTE: 5-0) The term of the agreement is three (3) years.
CITY COUNCIL GOAL-
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Coordinate and deliver responsive, effective community services. |
BACKGROUND
In May 2019, the Development Services Department entered into an agreement with Architerra Design Group (ADG) to provide on-call, as-needed landscape plan review, and inspection services. Until August 2021, ADG was the sole firm providing these services to the City. To ensure the City received competitive pricing, and to allow for more service flexibility to ensure customer and City needs were met, the Planning Division of the Development Services Department issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for various landscape inspection and plan check services. The RFP requested written proposals from qualified consultants or consulting firms to provide landscape review and inspection services for new development.
Two firms responded to the solicitation:
• Architerra Design Group (ADG)
• Van Dyke Landscape Architects, Inc. (VDLA)
On May 09, 2019, the City and Architerra amended the Agreement as the “First Amendment” to increase the compensation for as-needed landscape plan review services in an amount not to exceed $15,000 per fiscal year.
On January 21, 2020, the City and Architerra amended the Agreement as the “Second Amendment” to increase the compensation for as-needed landscape plan review services in an amount not to exceed $100,000 per fiscal year.
On June 16, 2020, the City and Architerra amended the Agreement as the “Third Amendment” to increase the compensation for as-needed landscape plan review services in an amount not to exceed $144,000 per fiscal year.
The City entered into two agreements in August 2021 with ADG and VDLA, each for up to $100,000 per fiscal year (FY) for FYs 2021/22 through FY 2023/24 to provide landscape plan check and inspection services. ADG expenditures in FY2022/23 will exceed $100,000 ADG due to the high level of development activity the City is experiencing. The proposed amendment would add $35,000 to the agreement with ADG for FY2022/23, increasing the total ADG contract amount for FY 22/23 to $135,000. Staff intakes landscape plans with fees and subsequently invoices the applicant against the cost of review submitted by the on-call contract as a reimbursement. With the commencement of FY 2023/24 on July 1st, an additional $100,000 will be available to the Planning Division for landscape consultant services with the approval of the City’s new biennial budget. The proposed amendment would add $35,000 to the agreement with ADG for FY2023/24.
On June 06, 2023, the City and Architerra amended the Agreement as the “First Amendment” to increase the compensation for as-needed landscape plan review services in an amount not to exceed $35,000 per fiscal year.
CEQA DETERMINATION
The proposed action is not a "project" as defined in CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 because it involves the execution of an agreement that, on its own, will not cause a significant environmental impact. As such, this activity is not subject to CEQA pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3). This determination is predicated on Section 15004 of the guidelines, which provides direction to lead agencies on the appropriate timing for environmental review. The project(s) for which this agreement is intended may require preparation of an environmental document in accordance with State CEQA Guidelines.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed amendment will add $35,000.00 in expenditure appropriation for FY 2023/24 under Account No. 1104400-60480, necessary to assist with the current and anticipated Planning Division landscape review and inspection services workload. This is a pass-through cost that is ultimately reimbursed by developers such that the proposed amendment will also result in $35,000 in revenue budget in account 1104400-43301.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution
2. Second Amendment to Agreement with Architerra Design Group
3. Agreement