Agenda Item Wording:
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Professional Services Agreement for Transportation Impact Fee Update - Approve a professional services agreement for an update to the Transportation Impact Fee program with DTA Consultants for $95,940.
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Prepared by: Adrian Rubalcaba, Sr. Project Manager (559) 713-4507 adrian.rubalcaba@visalia.city; Chris Crawford, City Engineer, (559) 713-4331 chris.crawford@visalia.city; Jason Huckleberry, Engineering and Building Dept. Director, (559) 713-4495, jason.huckleberry@visalia.city
Department Recommendation: Staff recommends that Council approve a professional services agreement for an update to the Transportation Impact Fee program with DTA at a cost of $95,940.
Summary:
Visalia’s Transportation Impact Fee (TIF) Program’s last major update was adopted
by Council in April 2015. A comprehensive update is now needed in order to stay up-to-date with project costs and fee calculations. This program update is required by the State of California Mitigation Fee Act (Government Code, Title 7, Division 1) to identify the purpose of the fee, verify a nexus to new development and confirm that the fees are being used appropriately.
A Request for Proposals (RFP 23-24-23) was issued in October 2024, with proposals being due on November 7, 2024. The City received one proposal from DTA. After reviewing DTA’s written proposal they were selected by staff for the recommendation of Council award. DTA has an office in San Jose, CA and performed similar fee updates for agencies throughout California. The consultant’s cost proposal is an amount not to exceed $95,940.
Background Discussion:
The City’s Transportation Impact Fee Program is designed to help fund many of the City’s new arterial and collector status streets as outlined by the Circulation Element of the General Plan. This program has been an extremely important and necessary funding source for these new street projects. There have been many significant improvements done with this funding including major roadway improvements and expansions of Visalia Parkway, Caldwell Avenue, and Riggin Avenue. Updating the TIF program to current construction costs and land values is essential to ensure the City is capable of planning and delivering these major roadways and relieving traffic congestion, as well as providing multimodal facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.
The staff and consultant will perform extensive outreach to interested groups such as the BIA of Tulare and Kings Counties, Visalia Chamber of Commerce, Visalia Economic Development Corporation, and various active developers within the City. Several stakeholder meetings will be conducted during the course of this project in order to engage, gather input, and address questions and concerns about this update. These meetings will be helpful for the consultants and staff to communicate clearly the reasoning and calculations for the fee program. Under the current proposal, DTA has outlined a minimum of five in-person meetings with stakeholders, staff and City Council through adoption of the updated TIF program.
The consultant’s proposal outlines a six-month update process, thereby bringing a draft TIA to Council in March 2026 with final adoption targeted for April 2026.
Fiscal Impact: The update of the TIF program was budgeted in fiscal year 2024/25 in the amount of $220,000. With Council’s authorization the agreement of $95,940 would be executed with DTA; any remaining funding will be directed toward the upcoming Circulation Element Update as associated with the General Plan Update beginning in this fiscal year.
Prior Council Action:
April 6, 2015 - TIF Program update approved by Council by Resolution 2015-08.
Other: None
Alternatives: Council may elect to decline entering into the contract with the consultant and direct staff to readvertise the Request for Proposals seeking additional consultants to perform the Transportation Impact Fee program update.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I recommend authorizing the City Manager to execute the professional services agreement with DTA for the Transportation Impact Fee program update in the amount of $95,940.
Environmental Assessment Status: Not applicable
CEQA Review: Not applicable
Deadline for Action: 7/21/2025
Attachments:
1. Draft Agreement
2. DTA Cost Proposal