REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL August 25, 2016 FROM: JENNIFER K. CLARK, AICP, HDFP, Director Development and Resource Management Department THROUGH: DANIEL ZACK, AICP, Assistant Director Development and Resource Management Department BY: SOPHIA PAGOULATOS, Planning Manager Development and Resource Management Department SUBJECT ..Title Approve the third amendment to the contract with Placeworks, Inc., a California Corporation, in an amount not to exceed $5,522 for consulting services to augment the scope of the Southwest Fresno Specific Plan and to authorize the Development and Resource Management Department Director or his or her designee to execute documents. ..Body RECOMMENDATION Approve the third amendment to the contract with Placeworks, Inc., a California Corporation, in an amount not to exceed $5,522 for consulting services to augment the scope of the Southwest Fresno Specific Plan and to authorize the Development and Resource Management Department Director or his or her designee to execute documents. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Placeworks, Inc. is the consulting firm that was approved by the City Council on February 26, 2015 to work with the community and staff in the preparation of the Southwest Fresno Specific Plan. The original contract was in the amount of $789,094 ($750,000 in CDBG funds the remainder in General Fund monies). A contract amendment in the amount of $5,522 is now being requested to allow for two additional steering committee meetings. BACKGROUND The Fresno General Plan was adopted on December 18, 2014. New specific plans are being prepared to help provide geographically specific goals and policies and to assist in implementation. The City Council authorized staff to develop a scope for the Southwest Fresno Specific Plan in 2013, and then took subsequent actions to authorize the funding needed to pay for the planning and environmental work necessary for plan completion. An initial amendment was approved administratively in August of 2015 in order to expand the public participation process. No additional funds were needed, as other tasks were streamlined to balance the budget. A second amendment was approved in June of 2016 for $23,721 in order to finance two additional steering committee meetings and the inclusion of an additional 120-acre site into the environmental analysis. This third amendment is requesting the $5,522 for two final steering committee meetings to finalize the preferred alternative that will be the basis of the specific plan. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378 the amendment of an agreement does not qualify as a "project" for the purposes of CEQA. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference was not implemented because this item is an amendment to an existing contract. FISCAL IMPACT Funding is appropriated in the Fiscal Year 2016 budget. Attachment: Exhibit A: Final Third Amendment to Agreement w/PLACEWORKS