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Home My WebLink AboutCED Award WRT Consultants Contract to Prepare the Southeast Specific Plan____________________________________________________________________________________ FOR CITY CLERK ONLY Council Meeting: January 20, 2026 Disposition: Resolution 15495 Agenda Item No: 2.c Meeting Date: January 20, 2026 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: Community and Economic Development Prepared by: Margaret Kavanaugh-Lynch Planning Manager City Manager Approval: ______________ TOPIC: AWARD WRT CONSULTANTS CONTRACT TO PREPARE THE SOUTHEAST SPECIFIC PLAN SUBJECT: RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH WRT CONSULTANTS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE SOUTHEAST SAN RAFAEL SPECIFIC PLAN IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $797,000; AND AUTHORIZING A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FUND (207) RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with WRT Consultants for the Preparation of the Southeast San Rafael Specific Plan in an Amount Not to Exceed $797,000; and Authorizing a Supplemental Budget Appropriation within the Development Services Fund (207). BACKGROUND: In January 2022, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) released the third round of One Bay Area Grant (OBAG3) funds for projects and programs that improve safety, spur economic development, and help the Bay Area meet climate change and air quality improvement goals. In this round of funds, the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) was responsible for evaluating projects, establishing initial project prioritization based on a list of criteria, and submitting project nominations for consideration by MTC. On October 17, 2022, the City Council passed Resolution No. 15144 to authorize local support for the filing of applications for funding with the MTC and to provide assurance to complete both the Canal/Southeast Area Priority Development Area (PDA) Study Grant and the Northgate Area PDA Study. On October 21, 2025, City of San Rafael staff received final approval from the MTC to secure the funding to prepare the Southeast San Rafael Specific Plan. On December 1, 2025, the City Council approved a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into Supplement No. 3 to the Master Funding Agreement between the City and MTC to secure the funding for the preparation of this specific plan. SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2 Specific plans serve as standalone planning documents, replacing the General Plan and the citywide zoning ordinance for the Specific Plan area. By law, a Specific Plan is required to include: 1. land use regulations and development standards; 2. a program of implementing measures; 3. planned and needed public works projects to serve the Specific Plan area (essentially a capital improvement program); and 4. financing measures necessary to implement the Plan and its recommendations. On March 7, 2025, staff released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit proposals for consulting services for the preparation of a Specific Plan, including environmental review and technical support services. The original deadline was set for April 17, 2025. Due to its complexity, the staff received requests to extend the deadline. The final deadline was set for April 21, 2025. Staff received five proposals and held interviews with each consultant team. After extensive discussion and deliberation, on July 30, 2025, WRT was selected by staff as the best consulting firm for this project. ANALYSIS: While all of the responses to the Southeast San Rafael Specific Plan RFP had strong responses, WRT’s proposal was exceptional, as this firm brought together a strong team of planners, engineers, and public engagement professionals, including the Canal Alliance. The combination of expertise was well- positioned to address the unique challenges of this part of our city. Moreover, WRT’s approach will advance the following goal from the City Council’s Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2025-2028: Goal A.3.5 Develop an East San Rafael Specific Plan using the City’s inclusive resident engagement philosophy; collaborate with the community and Canal Alliance to ensure alignment with their community vision plan (Nuestro Canal, Nuestro Futuro). Accordingly, staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to enter into a new professional services agreement for consulting services with WRT in an amount not to exceed $797,000, the amount of funding available for each Specific Plan under the OBAG 3 grant. Once the professional services agreement is authorized, the Community and Economic Development Department will ensure the project moves forward and that funds are used appropriately by conditioning consultant payments on meeting key milestones. FISCAL IMPACT: The staff recommendation presented in this staff report would authorize a professional service contract totaling $797,000, all of which will be funded by MTC through the OBAG 3 grant. Council action is requested as part of the staff recommendation to authorize supplemental budget adjustments within the Development Services Fund (207) on a continual basis, not to exceed available funds. OPTIONS: The City Council has the following options to consider on this matter: 1. Authorize the City Manager to enter into the agreement. 3. Direct staff to return with more information. 4. Take no action. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement with WRT Consultants for the Preparation of the Southeast San Rafael Specific Plan in an Amount Not to Exceed $797,000; and Authorizing a Supplemental Budget Appropriation within the Development Services Fund (207). ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3 2. Professional Services Agreement Page 1 of 2 RESOLUTION NO. 15495 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH WRT CONSULTANTS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE SOUTHEAST SAN RAFAEL SPECIFIC PLAN IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $797,000; AND AUTHORIZING A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FUND (207). WHEREAS, on January 2022, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) released the third round of One Bay Area Grant (OBAG3) funds; and. WHEREAS, On October 17, 2022, the City Council passed Resolution No. 15144 to authorize local support for the filing of applications for funding with the MTC and to provide assurance to complete both the Canal/Southeast Area Priority Development Area (PDA) Study Grant and the Northgate Area PDA Study; and WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael’s Community and Economic Development (CED) Department issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) on March 7, 2025 to prepare a Specific Plan for Southeast San Rafael; and WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael’s CED Department closed the RFP bid process on April 21, 2025); and WHEREAS, five qualified consulting firms submitted proposals by the deadline; and WHEREAS, staff reviewed each proposal and interviewed all five consulting firms and selected the best firm for the task, based on their expertise in planning, engineering and public outreach expertise; and WHEREAS, On October 21, 2025, City of San Rafael (City) staff received final approval from the MTC to secure for the funding to prepare the Southeast San Rafael Specific Plan; and WHEREAS, the CED Department will fund the costs of the professional services agreement using $797,000 in funds available from the MTC OBAG 3 grant that the City Council approved at the December 1, 2025 meeting. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of San Rafael finds the foregoing recitals are true and correct, and authorizes the City Manager or their designee to execute a professional services agreement with WRT, for an amount not to exceed $797,000; and FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council authorizes a supplemental budget appropriations within the Development Services Fund (207) in the amount of $797,000, supported by available grant funding. I, LINDSAY LARA, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a special meeting of the City Council of said City held on the 20th day of January 2026, by the following vote, to wit: Page 2 of 2 AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None ABSENT: Councilmembers: None LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk