10-20-2020 - AGENDA ITEM 07 CONSIDERATION OF ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES CONSULTANT LISTAGENDA ITEM NO. 7
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
City of West Covina I Office of the City Manager
DATE: October 20, 2020
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: David Carmany
City Manager
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES CONSULTANT LIST
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
1. Approve Gynne Pugh Urban Studio and KTGY Architecture + Planning for the architectural services
consultant list.The cost of these services shall be paid by project applicants through a reimbursement
agreement.
2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Professional Services Agreement with Gynne
Pugh Urban Studio and KTGY Architecture + Planning for architectural consulting services for a two-
year period, commencing October 20, 2020 and ending October 19, 2022, with a possible two-year
extension.
BACKGROUND:
The City's Downtown Plan provides a vision for the Downtown area as well as zoning standards for
development within the area. The Downtown Plan is a form -based Code.
The stated intent of the Downtown Code is to achieve the highest standards of urban design, architecture, and
landscaping at the scale of the neighborhood, block, lot, and building according to the zoning area. The vision
for the Downtown is for a compact, walkable, and mixed use form. The urban form is intended to be inviting,
comfortable, safe and ecologically resilient. The Downtown Code allows for a mix of uses with a walkable
environment.
The selected consultant will work with staff to review development projects in the Downtown area to fulfill
policies and actions in the Downtown Plan. When a development project located in the Downtown Plan is
submitted, the project will then be routed to the selected architectural and urban design consultant for review.
In some cases, it may be necessary for the architectural consultant to meet with staff and/or the applicant to
discuss revisions to the submitted plans. Additionally, there may be times when it is necessary for the
architectural consultant to make presentations or be available at Planning Commission and City Council
meetings.
DISCUSSION:
The City released a Request for Proposal (RFP) on July 13, 2020 for Architectural Services.The RFP was
completed with the intention of selecting at least two consultants based on their qualifications, as the selected
consultants would be an extension of staff reviewing a specific development project. The types of projects that
the consultants might be utilized for are unknown as architectural review is only required for submitted projects
located within the Downtown Plan area. On August 5, 2020, the City received proposals from the following 10
consultant firms:
Onyx Architects
Placeworks
RRM Design Group
KTGY Architecture + Planning
Miller Architectural Corporation
Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio
Studioneleven
Interwest Consulting Group
John Kaliski Architects
Gensler
The proposals were reviewed by staff for relevant experience/qualifications, size of firm, and consultant's
proposed schedule of costs. The selected consultants are: a) Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio and b)
KTGY Architecture + Planning.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney's office will review and approve as to form the Professional Services Agreements prior to
execution.
OPTIONS:
The City Council has the following options:
1. Approve staffs recommendation; or
2. Select another firm based on those that submitted proposals; or
3. Select additional firms based on those that submitted proposals creating a list that exceeds two consulting
firms; or
4. Provide alternative direction.
Fiscal Impact
FISCAL IMPACT:
There would be no fiscal impact to the City. The City would contract with the consultant for each development
project as needed. The applicant for the development project would deposit a check with the City to cover the
cost for the architectural consulting services. The consultant would be paid from the amount deposited into the
City's Planning Deposit Trust (Account No. 550.22221).
CITY COUNCIL GOALS & OBJECTIVES: Enhance the City Image and Effectiveness
Engage in Proactive Economic Development