TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: David Chantarangsu, AICP, Development Services Director
PREPARED BY: Jarrett Ramaiya, Deputy Development Director
SUBJECT:
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Approval of Agreements for Environmental Work for Los Alamos Sports Park Soccer Project
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RECOMMENDATION
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Amend the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Operating Budget by establishing an appropriation of $347,230 for contract services;
Approve an Amendment to the Agreement with Glenn Lukos Associates, Inc. in the amount of $163,120 for environmental analysis and permitting;
Approve an Agreement with RICK in the amount of $184,110 for environmental analysis and permitting;
Authorize the exemption from bidding requirements; and
Authorize the City Manager to execute both Agreements.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
On April 6, 2021, the City Council passed Resolution No. 21-4376 authorizing an agreement with Harris & Associates to provide a project manager for the Los Alamos Sports Park Soccer Project (Vote: 5-0).
On December 7, 2021, City Council conceptually approved the plan to move forward with seeking the entitlement for the proposed Los Alamos Sports Park Soccer Project (Vote: 5-0).
On March 20, 2024, the City Manager approved an Agreement with Glenn Lukos Associates, Inc., for biological surveying and permitting with the Agencies.
On September 3, 2024, the City Council asked staff to bring back the item to the next City Council hearing to review the status of the soccer project (Vote: 5-0).
On September 17, 2024, the City Council formed an Ad-Hoc Subcommittee to review the status of the soccer project and discuss the expenditure of funds (Vote: 5-0).
CITY COUNCIL GOAL
Coordinate and deliver responsive, effective community services.
BACKGROUND
Since 2018, the City of Murrieta (City) has been working with the Murrieta Youth Soccer League (MYSL), pursuing development of additional soccer fields at Los Alamos Hills Sports Park (Park), located at 37000 Ruth Ellen Way. The Park is generally bounded by Whitewood Road on the north, Los Alamos Road to the south, and Ruth Ellen Way to the west.
The goal of developing the Park is to expand recreational opportunities for residents, as well as to create a regional recreational venue for competitive youth soccer. The Park includes football, soccer, and other recreational sports fields. The current concept for expanding the Park (Project) includes six soccer fields, a building for bathrooms, lighting, and on-site parking areas. The fields will provide expanded recreational amenities, which the City hopes will draw visitors to the area annually, boosting the local economy as visitors patronize local stores, restaurants, and hotels. The development of additional soccer fields at the Park is currently unfunded but MYSL has expressed interest is a partnership whereby the City would finance improvements and MYSL would pay the associated debt service. The City is currently reviewing a proforma submitted by MYSL that further explores the potential for such a partnership.
At the September 3, 2024, City Council hearing, staff presented a similar request for project and environmental permitting. City Council voted to form an Ad-Hoc Subcommittee to look closely at the project and cost. Council Members Ron Holliday and Jon Levell volunteered to be Ad-Hoc Subcommittee members and held meetings with staff to discuss the proposal. The Ad Hoc Subcommittee focused on several issues, including:
• Whether to pursue environmental permitting now or to wait until plans for the park’s development were solidified between the City and MYSL.
• The scope of environmental permitting and whether or not a criteria refinement would be necessary or some lower standard of environmental review.
• Issues relating to land conservation to satisfy the Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) and the Regional Conservation Authority (RCA).
The Ad Hoc Subcommittee ultimately reached the conclusion that the City should pursue environmental permitting regardless of any specific proposed park development because the permitting must be completed for any future development of the land. The City does not own any other large properties appropriate for the location of sports fields and costs to permit the property will only increase over time. The Subcommittee also reached the conclusion that a Criteria Refinement is likely beyond what is required for environmental permitting. However, that issue remains a conversation between the City, RCA and state and federal wildlife agencies.
Project Consistency with MSHCP
Land development, including the further development of the Park, is subject to the MSHCP, which is a master plan for the conservation of sensitive habitat areas and species within western Riverside County. The City is a permittee of the MSHCP and is bound by its procedures and conservation objectives. Los Alamos Park is included within an area of the MSHCP known as Core 2. This area of the MSHCP includes over 8,800 acres, nearly half of which may include habitat for rare, threatened, or endangered plants and animal species. The RCA administers the MSHCP. In the image below, Core 2 is shown east of Interstate 215, over the Los Alamos area, and goes farther to the northeast into the County of Riverside.
MSHCP CORE 2 VICINITY MAP
After meeting with State, federal, and regional agencies involved in the Project’s environmental review process, the City was informed that implementation of Phase 2 for the Park would require a complex environmental review process under the MSHCP referred to as Criteria Refinement, which would allow the City to deviate from the stated habitat conservation objectives for land Core 2.
Staff and the Ad Hoc Subcommittee disagree with the RCA’s position that the City is subject to a Criteria Refinement process, as City records indicate that mitigation for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Park was completed. As such, the recommended contract amendments do not include work to process a Criteria Refinement but include the other necessary environmental permitting due to the verified presence within the Project area of plants, avian, and other species that are considered “candidate,” “rare,” “threatened,” and “endangered” under regional requirements (MSHCP), and State and federal law.
City Consultant Status
In searching for the most effective consultant for the environmental permitting requirements, staff previously identified Glenn Lukos Associates, Inc. (GLA) as the consulting firm that has successfully completed complex environmental permitting processes with the RCA, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). In addition, GLA has specialized experience with agency permit processes that will be critical in surveying for other protected species that are not included in the MSHCP but are protected by the state. The City will need to obtain permits from the State to undertake the Project, and GLA has specialized experience in the surveying and permitting processes that will be required.
In addition to GLA, staff are requesting to onboard RICK (formerly Rick Engineering Company) to provide planning, engineering, and design services related to processing the necessary permits from the State. To provide more supporting information that cannot be accomplished by GLA, RICK will provide additional technical studies and information, such as a conceptual grading plan, stormwater management plan, drainage study, stormwater plan, surveying, and the preparation of an environmental document. Contract amendments and scopes of work for GLA and RICK are attached for the City Council’s reference.
City Competitive Bidding Process
The City’s purchasing regulations in Murrieta Municipal Code Chapter 3.08, as well as administrative purchasing procedures, govern the acquisition of contract services. Contracts for services that exceed $75,000 are typically obtained through a formal bidding process. However, exceptions can be made in accordance with the provisions of Murrieta Municipal Code Section 3.08.280.
The Development Services Department (DSD) is currently working with GLA for the preparation of the State and federal permit applications. To prepare and submit the necessary applications to the agencies, DSD would need to expand the services provided by GLA and retain the services of RICK. These two firms have been selected due to their experience and proven track record.
The proposed Amendment for GLA will increase the amount to $163,120, expand the scope of work, and extend the term to June 30, 2027.
The proposed Agreement with RICK will allocate $184,110, expand the scope of work, and extend the term to June 30, 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT
If the City Council approves staff’s recommendations, the total amount for both GLA and RICK contract amendments totals $347,230. Staff recommends that the City Council direct staff to amend the operating budget in FY 2025/26 and increase appropriation using General Fund Unassigned Fund Balance in the amount of $347,230 in the Planning Division operating budget for Contract Services account number 1104400-60480 ($163,120 for Glenn Lukos, Inc.) and 1101600-60320 ($184,110 for Rick) to enter into an agreement for the Los Alamos Sports Park Soccer Project. The succeeding fiscal year of this amended agreement will be budgeted as part of the biennial budget process.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement with Glenn Lukos Associates, Inc.
2. Agreement with Rick