REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director Planning and Development Department ASHLEY ATKINSON, Assistant Director Planning and Development Department BY: SOPHIA PAGOULATOS, Planning Manager Planning and Development Department YAMILEX NAVA, Planner II Planning and Development Department SUBJECT ..Title Approve a consultant services agreement with Toole Design Group, LLC for project services related to the West Shaw Transit Oriented Development Corridor and Town Center Study in an amount not to exceed $400,000, for a term through December 31, 2027, with an optional one year extension. ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends approval to enter into a consultant services agreement with Toole Design for project services related to the West Shaw Transit Oriented Development (WSTOD) Corridor and Town Center Study in an amount not to exceed $400,000. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 2023, the Department of Public Works was awarded $400,000 in Measure C Grant funding to create the WSTOD Corridor and Town Center Study (Study). The three primary deliverables for the Study are as follows: (1) Streetscape designs that include multimodal infrastructure; and (2) Bike and pedestrian Class I trail design plans; and (3) Renderings of development potential and a Town Center design for diverse mixed-use housing types. BACKGROUND The WSTOD Corridor and Town Center Study emerged from the West Area Neighborhoods Specific Plan (WANSP) community engagement process, during which many residents in the West Area voiced their concerns regarding the current state of West Shaw Avenue and the lack of infrastructure and development. The Study area includes 2.15 miles of West Shaw Avenue between North Grantland Avenue and North Golden State Boulevard. The area is largely undeveloped except for the historic community of Highway City. The Fresno General Plan and draft West Area Neighborhoods Specific Plan both identify this area as a future TOD Town Center and Corridor, with Mixed-Use zoning intended to support the area designation. Additionally, the 2023-2031 Housing Element identifies areas along the West Shaw corridor for housing. Residents expressed support for bringing focused planning efforts to the eastern half of Highway City, as reflected in WANSP Policy LUH 1.4: "Create a Small Area Plan for the West Shaw Avenue Town Center, which shall incorporate the Highway City Neighborhood Specific Plan Area, to further refine and support orderly, transit-oriented urban design and development." Procurement Process The City issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on April 14, 2025. Seven proposals were submitted by the deadline of May 5. After review and evaluation of the proposals by a panel of City Staff, the Toole Design consultant group was determined to provide the best value to the City. Toole Design is well qualified to lead the West Shaw TOD Corridor and Town Center Study, with more than 20 years of experience in urban design and transportation planning. The firm takes a multidisciplinary approach that integrates planners, urban designers, and engineers to connect transportation elements with urban design. Toole has contributed to several local projects, including the Fresno Safe Routes to School Action Plan, Fresno Engineering On-Call, the Francher Creek Trail Plan, the Fresno Council of Governments Blackstone-Shaw Activity Center, and most recently, the Fresno Vision Zero Action Plan. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS This approval of this contract does not qualify as a project for purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines �15378. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local Preference was not implemented because there are few local businesses who can perform this type of specialized transportation and planning project according to FMC 4-109(b)(3). The City will work with a local organization to assist with outreach efforts for the Study. FISCAL IMPACT This project is funded through a Measure C TOD Planning Grant and will therefore not impact the General Fund. The funds were appropriated under resolution 2023-041. ATTACHMENTS: Consultant Services Agreement Presentation