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Council authorizes negotiation with Plan West Partners for 7th‑cycle housing‑element work
Summary
Staff recommended Plan West Partners for the update to the city's 7th‑cycle housing element based on senior staff commitment and outreach plans; council authorized the city manager to negotiate a professional services agreement and directed staff to complete protest period and negotiations before March contract deadline.
Council considered awarding a consultant contract for the 7th‑cycle housing element. Staff explained the RFP process, the required state timeline (housing element completion by July 2027 and contract under negotiation by end of March), and the review criteria used to evaluate three proposals. Gary provided context and explained the recommendation: "Staff is recommending that the city go with Plan West Partners," noting Plan West proposed a larger commitment of senior staff and a more robust public‑stakeholder participation process.
Vanessa Blodgett, a representative for Plan West (identified herself as a principal), said her firm is familiar with local conditions and with HCD requirements. Staff also reported current planning expenses to date ($26,000) and a $40,000 line in the FY 25–26 budget for the near term; staff estimated an additional roughly $74,000 will be needed to complete the fiscal‑year portion of the work and said they had not identified grant funding to cover the full cost. Council member Scafani moved that the city manager negotiate a professional services agreement with Plan West Partners; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Why this matters: selecting a consultant begins a legally constrained process and triggers negotiation and a short protest/standstill period; the housing element has statutory deadlines and will guide local housing and zoning work through the next cycle.
