REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, Director Planning and Development Department BY: ADRIENNE ASADOORIAN-GILBERT, Supervising Planner Planning and Development Department SUBJECT ..Title Approve the Consultant Services Agreement between the City of Fresno and FCS International, Inc. (FCS), regarding environmental planning and consulting services for the Southeast Development Area (SEDA) Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR) through June 30, 2025, for an amount not to exceed $153,636 ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Consultant Services Agreement between the City of Fresno and FCS International, Inc. (FCS), regarding environmental planning and consulting services for the Southeast Development Area (SEDA) Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR) through June 30, 2025, with a total amount not to exceed $153,636. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Planning and Development Department proposes a Consultant Services Agreement between the City of Fresno and FCS through June 30, 2025, with a budget of $153,636. This Agreement will allow for the completion of the SEDA Specific Plan EIR by June 2025. BACKGROUND On November 19, 2020, the City entered into an Agreement with FCS to provide environmental planning and consulting services related to the SEDA Specific Plan. Subsequent contract amendments occurred on December 27, 2022, to extend the Agreement to August 31, 2023; and on July 24, 2023 to extend to December 31, 2023. The SEDA Specific Plan Area is generally bounded by the Gould Canal to the north, McCall and Highland Avenues to the east, Jensen and North Avenues to the south and Locan, Temperance and Minnewawa Avenues to the west. As a result of the court challenge to the City of Fresno's General Plan Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR), additional analysis is required to complete the SEDA Specific Plan EIR. This additional analysis requires a Consultant Services Agreement through June 2025 and budget of $153,636. With the approval of this Agreement, a recirculated public draft of the EIR is expected to be released in spring 2025. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS Per California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, this contract does not qualify as a project as defined by CEQA. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local Preference was not implemented because this contract utilizes federal funding. FISCAL IMPACT Project funding has been secured utilizing cost recovery under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Attachment: Consulting Services Agreement - FCS International, Inc.