REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director Planning & Development Department THROUGH: SOPHIA PAGOULATOS, Planning Manager Planning & Development Department BY: CASEY LAUDERDALE, Supervising Planner Planning & Development Department SUBJECT ..Title Actions pertaining to the West Area Neighborhoods Specific Plan: 1. Approve the Fourth Amendment to the consultant services agreement with De Novo Planning Group for environmental analysis services for the West Area Neighborhoods Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report, extending the contract performance period to June 30, 2025. ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends approval of the fourth amendment to the consultant services agreement with De Novo Planning Group for environmental analysis services related to the West Area Neighborhoods Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Planning and Development Department proposes to amend the existing consultant services agreement between the City of Fresno and De Novo Planning Group, extending the contract performance period to June 30, 2025, with no additional funding. This amendment will allow for completion of the West Area Neighborhoods Specific Plan Recirculated Environmental Impact Report (REIR). BACKGROUND The City and De Novo Planning Group entered into an agreement, dated March 5, 2019, for professional environmental consulting services for the West Area Neighborhoods Specific Plan EIR. The West Area Neighborhoods Specific Plan ("Plan") project area is generally located west of Highway 99, north of Clinton Avenue and east of Garfield Avenue. The Specific Plan will encourage consistent and compatible land development as this part of the City grows and will identify community recommendations and needs. Prior to the Plan being considered for adoption by the City Council on October 13, 2022, Planning staff was directed to make adjustments to the planned land use map to accommodate a revised housing capacity analysis required by SB 330 and modify the farmland mitigation language in the EIR for consistency with General Plan policy. Staff has solicited feedback from the community on an updated planned land use map, hosting two community workshops and responding to multiple email and phone inquiries. This resulted in the re-initiated planned land use map that then served as a basis for an updated environmental analysis. The new planned land use map created the need to re-conduct environmental analysis in many impacted categories. The availability of subconsultants to perform important technical analyses has impacted the timeframe to complete the Recirculated Draft EIR (RDEIR). The RDEIR is anticipated to be released for a 45-day comment period prior to the end of 2024. To complete the Final EIR and prepare the Plan for consideration by the City Council in 2025, a time extension is necessary. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS Approval of this amendment is not a project for the purposes of CEQA. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference does not apply to this action because this is an amendment to an existing consultant services agreement. FISCAL IMPACT No additional funding is being requested. Attachments: Fourth Amendment Consultant Service Agreement De Novo Planning Group - WANSP Original Agreement