Title
Adopt a Resolution to Approve and Authorize the City Manager to Execute Three Consulting Services Agreements for On-Call Environmental Planning Services with Rincon Consultants, Inc., LSA Associates, Inc., and Lamphier-Gregory, Inc., Each for a Five-Year Term with a Not-to-Exceed Amount of $500,000 per Firm per Fiscal Year
Staffreport
COUNCIL PRIORITY
• Housing and Homelessness
• Economic Development
SUMMARY
This action approves and authorizes the City Manager to execute three separate Consulting Services Agreements (CSAs) with Rincon Consultants, Inc., LSA Associates, Inc., and Lamphier-Gregory, Inc., for on-call environmental planning services, to be provided on an as-needed, project-by-project basis. These services support the City’s review of development applications for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and are funded entirely by development project applicants, with no anticipated cost to the City’s General Fund (see “Financial Impacts” section below). The contracts would authorize the three firms to provide these services on an as-needed basis across a five-year term, with a not-to-exceed amount of $500,000 per firm per fiscal year.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommend the City Council adopt a Resolution to approve and authorize the City Manager to execute three Consulting Services Agreements for on-call environmental planning services between the City of San Leandro and Rincon Consultants, Inc., LSA Associates, Inc., and Lamphier-Gregory, Inc., each for a five-year term with a not-to-exceed amount of $500,000 per firm per fiscal year.
All costs will be borne by development project applicants, with no impact to the City’s General Fund.
BACKGROUND
The City retains qualified consultants to perform environmental planning services as part of its technical review of development applications. These services include environmental review and documentation required pursuant to CEQA and peer review of technical studies submitted by project applicants. All costs are billed to and collected from project applicants as part of the City’s existing development review process.
The City issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on August 26, 2025, requesting Statements of Qualification (SOQ). The submittal period closed on September 19, 2025 and the City received 17 responsive SOQs. After reviewing the SOQs, three firms were determined to successfully meet the City’s evaluation criteria, including:
• Knowledge and familiarity with San Leandro and the East Bay
• Experience in preparing CEQA environmental documents and providing other environmental planning services for development project applications
• Demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality, legally-defensible documents
• Capability to provide services in a timely manner and within budget
Analysis
Executing the CSAs would allow the City to quickly and efficiently request planning services from the three qualified firms, on a project-by-project basis.
When the City needs to request environmental planning services, it will issue a Request for Services to the qualified firms, who will in turn prepare a Scope of Work along with a cost estimate consistent with the attached Scopes of Services and Compensation Schedules (Attachments B-D). The City would then select a firm, and prior to issuing a Notice to Proceed, the City would collect a deposit from the project applicant to secure the fees for the services.
Each of the three firms would be maintained on the City’s official list of qualified consultants for a five-year term. The cost of professional services provided by each firm, which includes time and materials, shall not exceed $500,000 in a fiscal year.
Applicable General Plan Policies
• Action LU-4.1.A: Development Review. Review all development proposals to assess their impacts on the demand for City services and public facilities. Identify mitigation measures as appropriate.
• Policy CSF-6.1 Development Impacts. Permit new development only when infrastructure and utilities can be provided to that development without diminishing the quality of service provided to the rest of the City.
Environmental Review
This activity is not a Project under CEQA as defined in CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, because it is an administrative activity of government that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
Financial Impacts
There will be no fiscal impact to the City’s General Fund. All services provided under these CSAs would be entirely funded by project applicants through deposits collected prior to the commencement of work.
ATTACHMENTS
• Attachment A: Resolution Authorizing CSAs with Rincon Consultants, LSA, and Lamphier-Gregory, each for a five-year term with a not-to-exceed amount of $500,000 per firm per fiscal year
• Attachment B: Rincon Consultants Scope of Services and Compensation Schedule
• Attachment C: LSA Scope of Services and Compensation Schedule
• Attachment D: Lamphier-Gregory Scope of Services and Compensation Schedule
PREPARED BY:
Lourdes Juarez, Associate Planner, Community Development Department