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RESOLUTION of the City of San Leandro City Council Approving a Consulting Services Agreement with Miller Planning Associates to Prepare Objective Residential and Mixed-Use Design and Development Standards and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Consulting Services Agreement with Miller Planning Associates with a Not to Exceed amount of $310,000 Contingent on Receipt and Appropriation of Grant Monies from the State Housing and Community Development Department’s SB 2 Planning Grant Program
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WHEREAS, in 2017, Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 2 (SB 2), titled the “Building Homes and Jobs Act,” which specifically established a permanent, on-going source of funding dedicated to promoting and facilitating affordable housing development; and
WHEREAS, the State of California, Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) dated March 28, 2019, for its Planning Grants Program for approximately $123 million in grant monies earmarked for local government planning grants; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of the Planning Grants Program is to provide financial and technical assistance to local governments to update planning documents to: accelerate housing production; streamline the approval of housing development; facilitate housing affordability; promote the development of housing; and ensure geographic equity in the distribution and expenditure of allocated funds; and
WHEREAS, under this grant program, local governments are provided an eligibility allowance based on community population and the City of San Leandro falls within the “medium localities” category, which is eligible for up to $310,000 in grant funding; and
WHEREAS, in 2017, Senate Bill 35 (SB 35) was also signed by Governor Brown, establishing a mandated, ministerial (streamlined) review process for multi-family residential projects under specific conditions and near transit locations and limits a local government agency’s project review to locally adopted “objective design and development standards;” and
WHEREAS, on September 16, 2019, the City of San Leandro City Council adopted Resolution 2019-154 authorizing the City Manager to apply and execute a grant agreement for SB 2 Planning Grant funding for a potential grant of up to $310,000 to prepare objective design and development standards for multi-family residential and mixed-use projects; and
WHEREAS, on November 8, 2019, City staff submitted a 2019 Planning Grants Program grant application as described in the Planning Grants Program NOFA and SB 2 Planning Grants Program Guidelines released by HCD; and
WHEREAS, HCD sent the City a conditional award letter on December 30, 2019 and a Planning Grants Program Standard Agreement on February 6, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the City requires the professional services of a qualified consultant to prepare objective development standards and Zoning Code amendments; and
WHEREAS, City staff received proposals from three qualified firms and held interviews prior to selecting Miller Planning Associates; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with the California Government Code and other applicable laws, City staff carefully reviewed the qualifications and proposals and determined that Miller Planning Associates and team possess the necessary quality, fitness, capacity, experience and expertise to provide the services sought by the City; and
WHEREAS, City staff negotiated an acceptable and fair price for the consultant’s services; and
WHEREAS, an agreement between the City and Miller Planning Associates, a copy of which is attached and incorporated herein, is presented to the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the City Council is familiar with the contents thereof; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager recommends approval of said agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of San Leandro does RESOLVE as follows:
1. That the City Council does hereby award a consulting services agreement in an amount not to exceed $310,000; and
2. The City Manager (or his designee) is hereby authorized and directed, on behalf of the City Council, to execute the attached consulting services agreement, in substantial form, on behalf of the City of San Leandro upon timely submission by Miller Planning Associates of the signed agreement and upon the condition that the City has received the grant monies and such funds are appropriated; and
3. The City Manager (or his designee) is authorized to make all approvals and take all actions necessary or appropriate to carry out and implement the terms of the consulting services agreement and to administer the City of San Leandro’s obligations, responsibilities and duties to be performed under the agreement.