SEPTEMBER 20, 2005 COST PROPOSAL TO CONDUCT 3RD PARTY REVIEW OF GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT, ZONE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (CASE NO. ZON2003-00520).

SEPTEMBER 20, 2005 COST PROPOSAL TO CONDUCT 3RD PARTY REVIEW OF GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT, ZONE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (CASE NO. ZON2003-00520). SEPTEMBER 20, 2005 COST PROPOSAL TO CONDUCT 3RD PARTY REVIEW OF GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT, ZONE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (CASE NO. ZON2003-00520). SEPTEMBER 20, 2005 COST PROPOSAL TO CONDUCT 3RD PARTY REVIEW OF GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT, ZONE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (CASE NO. ZON2003-00520).

TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

FROM: DIRECTOR OF PLANNING, BUILDING AND CODE ENFORCEMENT

DATE: SEPTEMBER 20, 2005

SUBJECT: COST PROPOSAL TO CONDUCT 3^RD PARTY REVIEW OF GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT, ZONE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (CASE NO. ZON2003-00520).

Staff Coordinator: Eduardo Schonborn, aicp, Associate Planner

RECOMMENDATION

Review the cost proposal and, if acceptable, authorize the City Geologist to conduct a 3^rd party review of the geotechnical information for the proposed zone change for the upper San Ramon Canyon area and approve a budget adjustment in an amount of $3,500.00 to pay for the additional review.

BACKGROUND

On June 7, 2005, the City Council was presented with a proposed general plan amendment and a zone change involving the relocation of an Open Space Hazard boundary line in the upper San Ramon Canyon. After hearing public testimony and discussion on the item, the City Council continued the item to the August 16, 2005 meeting and asked that Staff further address certain issues regarding the request. At the August 16^th meeting, the Council heard additional testimony and agreed that the City Geologist should conduct a formal 3^rd party review of the geotechnical data and information that was compiled for the San Ramon Drainage and Landslide Stabilization project and the conclusions for the zone change. As a result, the Council continued the zone change hearing to September 20, 2005 and asked that the City Geologist present a proposal for the 3^rd party review for the Council’s consideration.

DISCUSSION

In accordance with the direction given by the City Council, the City Geologist has submitted a cost proposal to conduct the 3^rd party review of the San Ramon geotechnical information (attached). In summary, the 3^rd party review would involve a review of the documents compiled for the stabilization project and the proposed zone change for consistency with City requirements; a review of calculations and supporting data; and generation of a written opinion of the review. The review is estimated to take a two to three weeks and cost $3,500.00. Staff is recommending that the City Council approve the cost proposal and authorize the City Geologist to conduct a 3^rd party review of the geotechnical information for the proposed zone change for the upper San Ramon Canyon area. The findings of the City Geologist’s review will be presented when the zone change request is brought back to the City Council for further consideration. As a separate agenda item, Staff is recommending that the zone change public hearing be continued to November 15, 2005.

FISCAL IMPACT

At the time the City Council agreed to initiate the General Plan Amendment and Zone Change for the Upper San Ramon Canyon on September 7, 2004, Staff estimated that the cost of the geologic review for the zone change would be $850.00, all of which would be borne from the City’s general fund. To date, the cost of the geotechnical review has been $3,450.00. The increase in cost was mostly to address questions that came out of the June 7, 2005 City Council meeting. The increase in cost was paid from the Department’s fiscal year 2004-2005 budget.

If the City Council authorizes the City Geologist to conduct the 3^rd party review, this would bring the total cost of the San Ramon Zone Change to $6,950.00. Since the City’s fiscal year 2004-2005 budget does not earmark money for the additional expense of $3,500.00 to complete the 3^rd party review, a budget adjustment is necessary to allow the 3^rd party review to proceed.

Therefore, if the City Council authorizes the 3^rd party review, a budget appropriation of $3,500.00 will be required, the cost of which will be borne by the general fund. As presented in Attachment A (FY 05-06 Statement of Estimated General Fund Reserve), the current estimate of general fund reserve is $10,287,580.

ALTERNATIVES

The following alternatives to the Staff recommendation are available for the City Council’s consideration:

Approve the proposal and direct Staff to inquire whether any of the 15 affected property owners are willing to share in the cost of the additional review before authorizing the work; or,

Deny the proposal and direct Staff to take no further action with regards to a 3^rd party review; or,

Identify any issues of concern with the proposed cost proposal, provide Staff with direction, and continue the item to a date certain.

Respectfully submitted:

Joel Rojas, aicp,

Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement

Reviewed:

Les Evans

City Manager

Attachments:

Cost Proposal

Resolution 2005-__, Budget Appropriation

FY 05-06 Statement of Estimated General Fund Reserve

RESOLUTION NO. 2005-__

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 2005-53, THE BUDGET APPROPRIATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005-2006, TO INCREASE THE BUDGET FOR PROFESSIONAL/TECHNICAL SERVICES TO CONDUCT A 3^RD PARTY REVIEW OF THE GEOTECHNICAL INFORMATION FOR THE PROPOSED ZONE CHANGE FOR THE UPPER SAN RAMON CANYON AREA

WHEREAS, Section 3.32 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code provides that all expenditures in excess of budgeted allocations must be by supplemental appropriation of the City Council; and,

WHEREAS, on May 31, 2005, the City Council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes adopted Resolution No. 2005-53, approving a spending plan and authorizing a budget appropriation for FY05-06; and,

WHEREAS, on August 16, 2005 agreed that the City Geologist should conduct a formal 3^rd party review of the geotechnical data and information that was compiled for the San Ramon Drainage and Landslide Stabilization project and the conclusions for the zone change; and,

BE IT, THEREFORE, RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES:

The following adjustments be made to the FY05-06 budget:

Increase the General fund budget as follows:

Building & Safety #101-4002-441-32-00 Professional/Technical $ 3,500

PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED THE 20^th DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2005.

___________________________

MAYOR

ATTEST:

______________________

CITY CLERK

State of California )

County of Los Angeles )ss

City of Rancho Palos Verdes )

I, CAROLYNN PETRU, City Clerk of The City of Rancho Palos Verdes, hereby certify that the above Resolution No. 2005-__ was duly and regularly passed and adopted by the said City Council at regular meeting thereof held on September 20, 2005.

_____________________________

CITY CLERK

CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES