REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director Planning and Development Department BY: SOPHIA PAGOULATOS, Planning Manager Planning and Development Department SUBJECT ..Title Actions pertaining to the Consultant Services Agreement with Precision Civil Engineering, Inc.: 1. Affirm the City Manager's determination that Precision Civil Engineering is uniquely qualified to provide the planning and environmental services related to the Residential in Office Text Amendment. 2. Approve a consultant agreement with Precision Civil Engineering for planning and environmental services related to the Residential in Office Text Amendment in the amount of $83,200. ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council affirm the City Manager or designee to sign the consultant services agreement with Precision Civil Engineering, Inc. for planning and environmental services related to the Residential in Office Text Amendment. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY On March 30, 2023, the City Council unanimously approved Resolution 2023-064, Initiating a Text Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance pursuant to Fresno Municipal Code Section 15-5803-A (1), to permit residential conversions in the Office Zone District, allow ministerial approval of office-to-residential conversions, and allow ministerial approval of housing near bus stops and in zone districts that allow mixed-use. Consideration of this Text Amendment requires professional planning and environmental services, including analysis under the California Environmental Quality Act. Precision Civil Engineering, Inc. is uniquely qualified to provide these services. Depending on the technical studies needed, this project is estimated to be complete in 9-12 months. BACKGROUND The changing dynamics of office work have reduced the demand for office space, leaving many existing offices vacant, while at the same time, the City of Fresno is experiencing a housing shortage. The Residential in Office Text Amendment would address both of these concerns by providing a ministerial pathway to convert vacant office buildings to residential uses, as well as ministerial approval of housing near bus stops and in zone districts that allow mixed use. The California legislature is currently considering similar streamlining, and the One Fresno Housing Strategy also calls for ministerial approval of housing and strategic conversion of office space to affordable housing. Precision Civil Engineering, Inc. is uniquely qualified to provide the planning and environmental consulting services due to their recent experience providing these same services for the Mixed-Use Text Amendment (MUTA), which involved detailed geographic analysis to determine potential housing capacity and development of specific CEQA thresholds for water, wastewater, storm drainage, and transportation. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS This approval is not a project for the purpose of CEQA Guidelines Section 15378. LOCAL PREFERENCE Precision Engineering is a local consulting firm based in Fresno, CA. FISCAL IMPACT Funding source is FY 23-24 General Fund dollars, possibly to be reimbursed by the Local Early Action Planning grant. ATTACHMENTS: Uniquely Qualified Memorandum Consultant Services Agreement