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20. Approve second amendment to an agreement with Dyett and Bhatia for$81,840 for services related <br /> to preparation of the Downtown Specific Plan Update <br /> City Manager Fialho introduced the item, reporting the City Council approved an agreement with <br /> the firm in November 2016 for planning, not including any environmental work. The contract was <br /> amended in January 2018 to have them lead in a CEQA review of the Downtown Plan. The item <br /> before the City Council is an amendment. to that contract, with the same firm, to expand CEQA <br /> review in areas related to traffic, air quality and GHG emissions. <br /> In response to Councilmember Brown regarding the CEQA process, City Manager Fialho reported <br /> there are two scopes of services. The first scope is for planning activities ($275,000), none of which <br /> relates to environmental work. The contract was amended to have them address a new scope of <br /> work, to conduct environmental review on the draft Specific Plan ($258,000). More work than <br /> anticipated was done on the environmental review and staff is asking for ratification of an additional <br /> $81,840 to complete the environmental review. Councilmember Brown listed changes in height and <br /> FAR to the Downtown Specific Plan and asked whether they are included into the environmental <br /> study. City Manager Fialho reported it is not part of this contract but rather was something voted on <br /> by the Task Force. The City does not plan to move ahead with recommendations that came out of <br /> the last Task Force vote, because they are controversial, and the City Council must weigh in on it. <br /> Those items will be presented to the Council for clear direction on April 16th. <br /> Councilmember Brown discussed two parcels of land with residential overlays and asked whether <br /> changing to commercial component would be part of the environmental review. She also inquired <br /> whether taxpayers would pay for that instead of property owners. City Manager Fialho addressed <br /> EIR ranges of options and stated staff must analyze the results of the EIR before making a <br /> determination, depending on Council action. <br /> Discussion followed regarding the City paying for environmental reviews of private properties and <br /> Assistant City Manager Dolan presented examples of projects where this has been done. <br /> Councilmember Brown expressed concern that sometimes the property owner pays for the <br /> environmental review and sometimes the City pays, adding that it seems to be inconsistent. <br /> Councilmember Testa voiced her opposition, noting the City should not be spending money for the <br /> new Civic Center when it still requires a vote by the community. <br /> Councilmember Brown commented on a possible a conflict between the goals of the DSP and <br /> building first floor residential in critical areas Downtown. <br /> MOTION: It was m/s by Pentin/Narum to approve and authorize the City Manager to execute the <br /> second amendment to agreement with Dyett and Bhatia for $81,840, for services related to <br /> preparation of the Downtown Specific Plan Update and allocate funds from the General Fund to <br /> Advance Planning Professional Services. Motion passed by the following vote: <br /> Ayes: Councilmembers Narum, Pentin, Mayor Thorne <br /> Noes: Councilmembers Brown, Testa <br /> Absent: None <br /> MATTERS INITIATED BY COUNCIL - None <br /> COUNCIL REPORTS - None <br /> City Council Minutes Page 10 of 11 March 19, 2019 <br />