REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director Planning & Development Department THROUGH: ASHLEY ATKINSON, Assistant Director Planning & Development Department BY: SOPHIA PAGOULATOS, Planning Manager Planning & Development Department SUBJECT ..Title Actions pertaining to the VMT Mitigation Program: 1. Approve the Third Amendment to the consultant services agreement with LSA Associates, Inc, extending contract performance date to June 30, 2025. ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends City Council approve the third amendment to the consultant services agreement with LSA Associates, Inc. to extend the contract performance period to June 30, 2025. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Planning and Development Department proposes to amend the existing consultant services agreement between the City of Fresno and LSA Associates, Inc., extending the contract performance period to June 30, 2025, with no additional funding. BACKGROUND Senate Bill 743, which took effect in 2020, required California jurisdictions to adopt Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) as a new transportation metric for development projects under the California Environmental Quality Act CEQA), replacing the prior metric, Level of Service (LOS). The City Council adopted VMT thresholds in June of 2020, pursuant to state law. A VMT Reduction Program (Program) to provide consistent methods of VMT mitigation is currently under development. The program consists of the following components, which can be used in combination or separately: 1. An Urban Design Calculator (UDC), which estimates potential VMT reductions for development projects through incorporation of various design elements; and 2. A mitigation fee (supported by a nexus study) and mitigation bank, which would be used to fund VMT-reducing projects throughout the City of Fresno. The City Council authorized LSA to conduct an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Program in July 2023. At this time, additional analysis is needed to address the court order regarding the General Plan Program Environmental Impact Report. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS Approval of this amendment is not a project for the purposes of CEQA Guidelines section 15378. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference was not implemented because this item is an amendment to an existing contract. FISCAL IMPACT No additional funding is being requested. Attachment: Third Amendment to Consulting Agreement with LSA Associates, Inc. Original Agreement