PLUM Motion #07-1534 ref who's interest's are...

MOTION MAY l 5 2001;
PLANNING and LAND USE MGt
The Planning Department is responsible for reviewing an ever-growing number of land
use projects, including extensive analyses of Environmental Impact Reports submitted
by the project applicants and prepared by their private consultants.
To provide more transparency and consistency in the environmental review process,
the City should explore different approaches to the selection of environmental
consultants, such as contracting directly with environmental consultants, rather than
relying on the selections of applicants.
In many other jurisdictions, a list of eligible environmental consultants, selected via a
Request for Proposals (RFP), is provided to project applicants who choose from the list
and reimburse the City for the costs of the environmental consultants.
I THEREFORE MOVE that the Council direct the Planning Department, with the
assistance of the CAD, and in consultation with the City Attorney, to provide
recommendations within 30 days, with an analysis of the merits of the City contracting
directly with environmental consultants, instead of project applicants hiring their own
consultants, and that addresses the following policy issues:
(a) Identify other cities where Planning Departments contract directly with environmental
consultants, instead of project applicants directly hiring their own environmental
consultants, and whether the experience in these jurisdictions is applicable to Los
Angeles.
(b) Analyze the cost and benefits of implementing the proposed environmental review
contracting process, whereby the City through an RFP contracts directly with
environmental consultants, and provides a list of eligible environmental consultants to
project applicants, who subsequently will reimburse the City for the costs of the
environmental consultants.
(c) Provide a cost estimate of any additional Planning Department staff that would be
needed to implement the proposed environmental review contracting process.
PRESENTED BY: Jack WEISS
Councilman, 5th District
Lei,'. SECONDED BY:
May 15, 2007