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San Gabriel approves $59,750 contract for three‑year economic development action plan
Summary
The City Council authorized the city manager to execute a professional services agreement with Hinderliter de Lamas & Associates (HDL) for $59,750 to produce a two‑phase, three‑year economic development action plan; council approved the contract 5-0.
The San Gabriel City Council on Tuesday authorized a $59,750 professional services agreement with Hinderliter de Lamas & Associates (HDL) to develop a three‑year economic development action plan, approving the contract on a 5-0 vote.
Staff said HDL will deliver a two‑phase project: an initial phase of data collection, market analysis and community engagement to formulate strategic recommendations, followed by a second‑phase implementation plan. The project is budgeted within the Economic Development Division; approximately half the contract is funded in the current fiscal year and the remainder is budgeted in the following fiscal year.
Acting Community Development Director Samantha Tewasark said the city issued a request for proposals in July and received six proposals; HDL was among the three firms interviewed and was selected based on relevant experience. HDL staff clarified the firm’s full name as Hinderliter de Lamas & Associates and noted the division providing services is sometimes referred to as HDL Econ Solutions.
Barry Foster, principal and managing director with HDL, told council the firm has completed more than 20 economic development action plans and has experience with Southern California cities and downtown revitalization efforts. “We don’t do cookie‑cutter plans,” Foster said, and described a stakeholder‑driven outreach approach tailored to San Gabriel’s characteristics.
Council members asked whether the study could assess the city’s development process and barriers affecting long‑standing projects; staff said the planned scope focuses on market analysis, community engagement and a strategic roadmap but staff will review status and obstacles for existing projects in parallel and may gather developer feedback as part of outreach. Council also discussed how the plan could help attract tenants and address vacancies in retail spaces.
There were no public comments on the item. A motion to authorize the city manager to execute the contract with Hinderliter de Lamas & Associates for $59,750 was approved on a roll‑call vote of 5-0 (Council Members Chan, Ding, Herrera Avila, Vice Mayor Menchaca and Mayor Wu voting yes).
