HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/01/2005, C3 - USE OF CONSULTANTS TO EXPEDITE PERMIT PROCESSING council
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CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
FROM: John Mandeville, Community Development Director
Prepared By: Michael Draze, Deputy Director
SUBJECT: USE OF CONSULTANTS TO EXPEDITE PERMIT PROCESSING
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Approve an expedited planning application review process that authorizes the CAO to enter into
agreements on a case-by-case basis with:
1. Applicants for augmented City resources in order to more quickly process planning
applications, contingent upon: the applicant paying for the full cost of the augmented
services in addition to all other development review fees that would otherwise be
required, and approval of the agreement form by the City Attorney.
2. Consultants or limited-term employees to provide augmented resources, contingent upon
the added cost being fully paid by the applicant before the consultant or limited-term
employee is authorized to begin work.
DISCUSSION
The Council has previously discussed and informally endorsed the concept of using contract
resources (either consultants or limited-term employees), to augment City staff on larger projects
for expediting application processing when the applicants agree to reimburse the City for the
costs of doing so. The owners of projects in the Margarita Area most recently brought this
concept forward when it became clear that the time required for processing their subdivisions
could be reduced by use of augmented resources. While we recommend doing so in this case,
we believe it makes sense to do so in the context of a broader policy that covers using this
approach in all similar situations in the future.
In the case of the Margarita Area, the City has requested proposals from consultants who do the
kind of planning and engineering work needed for processing subdivisions. We have received
three proposals that could coverall or parts of the work needed in this case. It is anticipated that
other consultants will become available if the demand exists for these services. Also, the added
work may be more efficiently performed by a consultant or by a limited-term City employee,
depending on the project specifics.
The CAO is typically limited to entering into these types of agreements when the amount is
$25,000 or less. In addressing similar requests that may arise in the future, the
proposed approach would allow the CAO to enter into contracts for any amount, subject to the
applicant agreeing to fully pay for the cost in advance of the City committing to the cost../1 2
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Expedited Permit Processing Page 2
The decision to allow use of this process as well as the selection of the consultants (through a
negotiated contract versus the request for proposal process or outside recruitment of a limited-
term City employee) would be made by the CAO based on what makes the most sense given the
circumstances in each case. In all cases, while the applicant would pay the cost, the consultants
would work solely under the direct supervision of City staff.
CONCURRENCES
This process has been a joint effort of the Community Development Department, Public Works
Department, City Administration, and the City Attorney.
FISCAL IMPACT
There will be no net fiscal impact on the City because normal application fees will be collected
and the project proponents will cover the cost of the expedited processing..
ALTERNATIVES
Do not approve this concept. The effect of not approving the proposal will be that no expedited
processing will be available to applicants.
L:\Specific Plans\MASP\CAR for Map process fees2-05.DOC
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