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COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: OCTOBER 6, 2015
MEETING DATE: 10 /06/15
ITEM NO. 1
DESK ITEM
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL ��Z��'� �GIG� ///
FROM: LAUREL R. PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE THE TOWN MANAGER TO EXECUTE AGREEMENTS WITH
EMC PLANNING GROUP, INC., GEIER & GEIER CONSULTING, INC., AND
KIMLEY -HORN AND ASSOCIATES, INC. TO PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTAL
REVIEW SERVICES TO THE TOWN.
REMARKS:
In response to a Town Council Member's questions, the following information is being provided to
the full Council:
1. Who provided environmental review services for the Linda Avenue /Ross Creek
development and the Town Terraces expansion projects?
Geier & Geier handled Linda Avenue /Ross Creek, and EMC prepared Town Terraces.
2. Has the Town been challenged legally for any environmental documents besides Linda
Avenue/Ross Creek? If so, who prepared those environmental review services
Albright was the other California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) challenge and the
case was settled. Geier & Geier was the lead consultant. Given the controversy of the
Albright project, it was likely that a CEQA lawsuit would have been filed regardless of the
consultant. The Town had determined that an Initial Study and Negative Declaration would
be adequate environmental clearance for the Linda Avenue /Ross Creek project. The Town
was sued and the Court required the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report.
Reviewed by: u ae a'own Attorney ssistant Town Manager zq04inance
N:\DEV\TC REPORTS\2015\Env Consultant Council Report Desk Item.doc Reformatted: 5/30/02
PAGE
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT CONTRACTS
OCTOBER 6, 2015
REMARKS (cont'd):
3. Is there other information or metrics for Council consideration?
The Town is accountable for legally adequate and complete documents under CEQA. The
Town uses outside legal counsel to identify and anticipate potential legal issues with
environmental documents. In other words, the consultants are part of a larger team under the
guidance of Town staff. CEQA suits are common in California and are typically an
expression of dislike of the project or the deciding body's action.
Distribution:
EMC Planning Group, Inc., 301 Lighthouse Avenue, Suite C, Monterey, CA 93940
Geier & Geier Consulting, Inc., P. O. Box 5054, Berkeley, CA 94705 -5054
Kimley -Horn and Associates, Inc., 100 W. San Fernando Street, Suite 250, San Jose, CA 95113