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File #: 24-0570    Version: 1
Type: Consent - Agreements Status: Passed
File created: 9/20/2024 In control: City Council
On agenda: 10/8/2024 Final action: 10/8/2024
Title: First Amendment to Agreement with CityThinkers, Inc. for urban design services for the West Katella Avenue area.
Attachments: 1. Staff Report, 2. First Amendment to Agreement with CityThinkers, Inc.

TO:                                          Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council

 

FROM:                     Tom Kisela, City Manager                                          

                                          

                     

1.                     Subject

title

First Amendment to Agreement with CityThinkers, Inc. for urban design services for the West Katella Avenue area.

body

2.                     Summary

Amendment to agreement with CityThinkers, Inc. to expand the scope of services to include additional stakeholder outreach, a storymap, and renderings for the vision plan for West Katella Avenue. The amendment would add $43,000 to the original agreement amount of $55,000 for a total not-to-exceed amount of $98,000.

3.                     Recommended Action

recommendation

1.                     Authorize the following budget transfer of $43,000 in NW & SW Merged 2003 Taxable Bonds Fund (952):

From:                     952.9810.56020.20247                     Building and Improvements - SAORA Capital

To:                                           952.9810.51670.20541                     Prof & Consulting - West Katella District

2.                     Approve the amendment to agreement with CityThinkers, Inc. for urban design services and authorize the Mayor and the City Clerk to execute on behalf of the City.

 

end

4.                     Fiscal Impact

The expense for this amendment is $43,000 and will be funded through NW & SW Merged 2003 Taxable Bonds Fund (952):

952.9810.51670.20541                     Prof & Consulting - West Katella District

5.                     Strategic Plan Goals

Goal 2: Be a fiscally healthy community

e: Create an environment to attract, retain, and expand economic opportunities.

6.                     Discussion and Background

The West Katella Avenue area is bounded by the Santa Ana River on the west, the water channel on the south, Batavia Street on the east, and the properties on the northside of Katella Avenue on the north. Although the area is surrounded by industrial development on three sides, its close proximity to the Honda Center, Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC), and Santa Ana River create the potential to develop a visitor serving entertainment and hospitality district. Recognizing this development potential, several years ago the City Council re-zoned many of the properties in the area with an urban mixed-use zoning that provides flexibility for property owners to develop a mix of commercial, hospitality, and residential uses in response to market conditions.

Just across the Santa Ana River in Anaheim, construction has begun on the OC Vibe project which will include the Honda Center and surrounding properties. This multi-billion-dollar development will be phased over several years and is currently slated to include multiple entertainment venues, restaurants, office spaces, public parks and trails, 1,500 housing units, and two hotels. The City of Anaheim is working with several partners including the City of Orange to develop the OC River Walk along the Santa Ana River between Ball Road and Orangewood Avenue. This project would transform the Santa Ana River into a regional destination for recreation and entertainment and include a pedestrian bridge across the river from OC Vibe to West Katella Avenue in Orange.

The City of Orange Economic Development Strategy includes creating a district that is complimentary to OC Vibe and OC River Walk in the West Katella Avenue area. Unlike OC Vibe, where one developer controls all of the properties in the development, the West Katella Avenue area is made up of dozens of properties with various property owners. Creating a vibrant, cohesive district will necessitate working closely with property owners and other stakeholders in a multi-step approach:

1. Visioning Process to develop a design concept and framework for the area.

2. Development Feasibility Analysis to provide an analysis of what types of development are economically feasible in the area.

3. Place Branding to develop a brand and marketing for the area.

4. Place Making to develop signage, street trees, and other aesthetic elements for the area.

The original agreement with CityThinkers, Inc. (CityThinkers) to complete the visioning process was approved by the City Council in January. The City Council subsequently approved agreements for consultants to complete the development feasibility analysis, place branding, and place making components of the project.  As the project has evolved, staff is recommending that the scope of work for CityThinkers be expanded to include additional hours of coordination between the consultant team as well as additional stakeholder outreach. These two elements are essential to ensuring that the vision plan reflects the priorities of the various stakeholders and cohesively incorporates the feasibility analysis, place branding, and place making components.

Additionally, the proposed scope of work includes creating a GIS StoryMap and four renderings. These elements will allow city staff to visually communicate the final vision plan to property owners, investors, and the development community. Existing scopes of work include creating a project website and written report for the vision plan, so these last elements would provide a comprehensive set of marketing materials for the district.

If approved, the amendment would bring the total not to exceed amount for the agreement to $98,000. The amendment is proposed to be funded through redevelopment bond funds and would not impact the General Fund.

7.                     ATTACHMENT

                     First Amendment to Agreement with CityThinkers, Inc.