Report Prepared by: Leah Brown, Senior Planner, Development Services
Title
SUBJECT: Consider Approving the Consulting and Professional Services Contracts for On-Call Consultants for Planning, Environmental, and Project Support Consulting Services
REPORT IN BRIEF
Recommend approving multiple Consulting and Professional Services Contracts for on-call Consultants to assist with Planning, Environmental, and Project Support Consulting Services.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving a Consulting and Professional Services Contract with Cupples Keller Design; and,
B. Approving a Consulting and Professional Services Contract with EMC Planning Group, Inc.; and,
C. Approving a Consulting and Professional Services Contract with Environmental Science Associates; and,
D. Approving a Consulting and Professional Services Contract with GHD, Inc.; and,
E. Approving a Consulting and Professional Services Contract with Helix Environmental Planning; and,
F. Approving a Consulting and Professional Services Contract with JB Anderson; and,
G. Approving a Consulting and Professional Services Contract with BKF, Inc.; and,
H. Approving a Consulting and Professional Services Contract with Page & Turnbull; and,
I. Approving a Consulting and Professional Services Contract with Precision Civil Engineering, Inc.; and,
J. Approving a Consulting and Professional Services Contract with Provost and Pritchard; and,
K. Approving a Consulting and Professional Services Contract with QK, Inc.; and,
L. Approving a Consulting and Professional Services Contract with Rincon; and,
M. Approving a Consulting and Professional Services Contract with Site Lab Urban Studio; and,
N. Authorizing the City Attorney to make minimal administrative changes if necessary; and,
O. Authorizing the City Manager to execute the agreements.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve the contracts, as recommended by staff; or
2. Deny; or
3. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items.
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200, et seq.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2025-2026 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION
In October 2025, the City’s Development Services Department issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to establish an on-call consultant list for planning, environmental, and project support services. Selected consultant firms will assist City staff in carrying out a broad range of planning, environmental review, and project support services, including compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Under the direction of the Development Services Department’s Planning and Housing Divisions, consultants will support the City’s planning, housing, and environmental review functions on an as-needed basis. All services will be performed by qualified professionals possessing the appropriate education, certifications, and/or licenses relevant to their area of expertise.
The consultant firms recommended for Council consideration demonstrated the capacity to provide timely, cost-effective services while maintaining a high level of customer service to both City staff and project applicants. The resulting On-Call Consultant List will serve as a resource for the Development Services Department in implementing a variety of current and long-range planning initiatives, federally funded infrastructure projects, and affordable housing projects.
Once the On-Call Consultant List is established:
• The City will issue a written request for project-specific services outlining the scope of work for a particular project or task.
• Selected consultants will be invited to submit a project-specific proposal, including a detailed scope of work, staffing plan, project schedule, and cost breakdown consistent with Exhibit B of the Consulting and Professional Services Contract.
• Upon review and approval of the proposal, availability of funding will be confirmed and if needed will request Council Action to accept and appropriate funding from Developers.
• Purchase order will be issued for the specific project pursuant to the Consulting and Professional Services Contract.
Environmental review projects may range from tens of thousands of dollars to several hundred thousand dollars depending on the complexity of the project. For example, recent annexation projects required Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) ranging from approximately $300,000 to over $800,000. Environmental review costs associated with annexation projects are reimbursed by the project developer. Funding for these developer-funded reviews will be limited to the amounts specified in the applicable Deposit and Reimbursement Agreements, which will be brought forward to the City Council for approval on an as-needed basis.
Services include but not limited to:
• Current Planning - Conditional Use Permits, Variances, Site Plan Reviews, Parcel Maps, and Subdivision Maps. Analyze projects for consistency with the General Plan, Zoning Code, Subdivision Map Act, Specific Plans, and applicable design guidelines.
• Advanced Planning Services - providing support for long-range planning projects, including General Plan updates, zoning code amendments, and implementation of recent state and federal housing laws and regulations.
• Environmental Services
o CEQA Services - preparing, draft and/or peer review CEQA documents, decisions, notices or agreements, Categorical Exemptions, Initial Studies, Mitigated Negative Declarations, and Environmental Impact Reports.
o NEPA Services - prepare, draft and/or peer review NEPA documents, decisions, notices or agreements, including but not limited to Environmental Assessments, and Environmental Impact Statements. Coordination with regional, state and federal agencies such as but is not limited to HUD, Caltrans, EPA, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
o Technical Studies and Specialized Environmental Support - Prepare supporting technical studies and analysis, including but not limited to:
§ Air Quality and GHG modeling
§ Noise and vibration studies
§ Traffic studies, including SB 743
§ Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) analysis
§ Biological, soil and wetland assessments
§ Cultural and historic resource surveys and studies
§ Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs)
§ Pedestrian/on-site survey, as needed
• Tribal Consultation Provide CEQA/NEPA support in fulfilling Tribal Consultation requirements
• Marketing and Graphic Support for Planning Functions
• Transportation Planning Support and Parking and Mobility Analysis
• Traffic and Circulation Analysis
• Architectural and Landscape Design Services
• Architectural Design Support
• Landscape Architecture Support
• Client Directed Services
Staff received twenty proposals in response to the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the various planning, environmental, and project support services identified by the City. The RFQ allowed consultants to submit proposals for some or all of the requested service categories. Some firms proposed specialized services for specific tasks, while others demonstrated the capacity and expertise to provide a comprehensive range of services across multiple disciplines.
A selection committee comprised of Planning and Housing Division staff evaluated the proposals based on overall value, relevant experience, technical expertise, and demonstrated knowledge. While many firms were qualified, staff recommends the following thirteen consultants for inclusion on the City’s On-Call Consultant List for planning, environmental, and project support services:
o CUPPLES KELLER Design - Planning and Landscape Architecture Support
o EMC PLANNING GROUP, INC. - Full-Service Planning, Marketing and Environmental Services
o ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATES - Full-Service Landscape Architecture, Planning and Environmental Services
o GHD, INC. - Full-service Landscape Architecture, Environmental, and Planning Services
o HELIX ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING - Environmental, Marketing, and Landscape Architecture Support
o JB ANDERSON - Full-service Planning and Environmental Services
o BKF, INC. (Formerly MNS) - Full-service Planning and Environmental Services
o PAGE & TURNBULL - Full-service Planning, Environmental, and Historic Preservation
o PRECISION ENGINEERING - Full-service Planning, Environmental, and Historic Preservation
o PROVOST AND PRITCHARD - Full-service Planning, Environmental, and Historic Preservation
o QK, INC. - Full-Service Planning and Environmental Services
o RINCON - Full-Service Planning and Environmental Services
o SITE LAB Urban Studio - Planning, Marketing, and Landscape Architecture Support
All agreements include a term date of June 30, 2028 with an option to extend for two (1) year terms.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
Expenditures for staff augmentation services will not exceed $100,000 and will be limited to funding available in Professional Services within the approved budget.
For large‑scale environmental projects, costs associated with environmental review will be fully reimbursed by the project developers. Funding for these developer‑funded reviews will be limited to the amounts specified in the applicable Deposit and Reimbursement Agreements, which will be brought forward to the City Council for approval on an as‑needed basis.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Request for Qualifications
2. Consulting and Professional Services Contract with Cupples Keller Design
3. Consulting and Professional Services Contract with EMC Planning Group, Inc.
4. Consulting and Professional Services Contract with Environmental Science Associates
5. Consulting and Professional Services Contract with GHD, Inc.
6. Consulting and Professional Services Contract with Helix Environmental Planning
7. Consulting and Professional Services Contract with JB Anderson
8. Consulting and Professional Services Contract with BKF, Inc.
9. Consulting and Professional Services Contract with Page & Turnbull
10. Consulting and Professional Services Contract with Precision Civil Engineering, Inc.
11. Consulting and Professional Services Contract with Provost and Pritchard
12. Consulting and Professional Services Contract with QK, Inc.
13. Consulting and Professional Services Contract with Rincon
14. Consulting and Professional Services Contract with Site Lab Urban Studio