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Report regarding a resolution authorizing a Consulting Services Agreement with Moore, Iacofano and Goltsman, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $406,755 for the preparation of the City’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan. (Greg Mediati, Director of Parks and Recreation)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute a Consulting Services Agreement with Moore, Iacofano and Goltsman, Inc. (MIG) in an amount of $396,755, plus $10,000 in contingency, for a total authorized amount not to exceed $406,755 for the preparation of the City’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
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BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The City of South San Francisco Parks and Recreation Department is undertaking an update of its Parks and Recreation Master Plan to establish a long-range framework for the planning, development, improvement, operation, and maintenance of the City’s parks, recreation facilities, programs, and services. The Master Plan was last updated in 2015.
The updated Master Plan will evaluate the City’s existing parks and recreation system, identify current and future community needs, establish service priorities, and develop recommendations to guide City investments over the next 10 to 15 years. The planning process will evaluate changes that have occurred since the previous Master Plan and align future recommendations with the Shape SSF 2040 General Plan and other relevant City plans and studies. The Master Plan also informs the General Plan’s Parks and Open Space element.
Request for Proposals and Consultant Selection
On June 12, 2026, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking qualified consulting firms to prepare the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Proposals were due July 15, 2026.
The City received proposals from five qualified consultant teams: Berry, Dunn, McNeil & Parker, LLC (BerryDunn); David L. Gates and Associates, Inc. (Gates Studio); Moore, Iacofano and Goltsman, Inc. (MIG); Royston Hanamoto Alley and Abbey (RHAA); and WRT.
A seven-member evaluation panel consisting of staff from the Parks and Recreation Department, City Manager Department, and Economic and Community Development Department reviewed the proposals and held consultant interviews.
Consultants were evaluated based on project approach, project team, past experience and client references, project schedule, fee and cost estimate, and proposal presentation.
A summary of final scores for each consultant is included below.
|
Consultant |
Average Score |
|
MIG |
91.21 |
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WRT |
85.21 |
|
Gates Studio |
81.86 |
|
RHAA |
77.71 |
|
BerryDunn |
72.21 |
Based on the thorough evaluation process, staff recommends the selection of MIG for the project. MIG’s proposal demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of the City’s objectives and identified several major areas of focus, including aligning the parks and recreation system with anticipated community growth and the Shape SSF 2040 General Plan; addressing deferred maintenance, system capacity, and program opportunities; evaluating funding tools and partnerships; and engaging South San Francisco’s diverse community of residents, employees, and visitors.
MIG also had the strongest outreach plan, which includes multi-lingual communications (English and Spanish at minimum), a statistically valid resident survey, and numerous checkpoints with community members, key stakeholders, and decision makers, including boards, commissions, and the City Council.
MIG also brings significant parks and recreation planning experience in California and the Bay Area. Recent nearby work identified in its proposal includes the City of Campbell Parks and Recreation Master Plan, the City of San Bruno Park Master Plan, and work in Cupertino, Bakersfield, Sacramento, and other California jurisdictions. MIG proposes a multidisciplinary team led by Principal-in-Charge and Project Director Jon Pheanis, AICP, and Project Manager Lauren Ivey-Thomas, PLA, AICP, with Economic & Planning Systems, Inc. (EPS) supporting financial and impact fee analysis and EMC Research supporting a bi-lingual (English and Spanish) statistically valid community survey.
Proposed Scope of Work
MIG proposes a four-phase planning process anticipated to occur from fall 2026 through fall/winter 2027. The process includes extensive community and stakeholder engagement, technical analysis of the City’s parks and recreation system, development of recommendations and an implementation strategy, preparation of the Master Plan, and the associated public review and adoption process. This includes, but is not limited to, the following actions:
• Review of existing City plans, policies, data, and background information;
• Inventory and assessment of the City’s existing parks and recreation system;
• Review and synthesis of the facility condition assessment, now underway as part of a separate but parallel project;
• Community engagement through community events, stakeholder interviews, focus groups, surveys, advisory committee meetings, and meetings with the Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council;
• Demographic, level-of-service, access, equity, and recreation program analyses;
• Evaluation of community needs and future recreation demand;
• Development of updated vision, goals, policies, and service standards;
• Analysis of existing and potential funding streams, including impact fees;
• Development of a prioritized action plan addressing capital improvements, operations, programming, staffing, maintenance, partnerships, and funding;
• Review and update of the City’s park development and acquisition impact fee methodology and ordinance;
• Recommended updates to Parks and Recreation-related General Plan goals, policies, maps, and performance measures; and
• Preparation of appropriate environmental review documentation pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
The planning effort will be coordinated with the City’s facility condition/deferred maintenance assessment so that identified capital and maintenance needs can be considered alongside community priorities and available funding. The final phase will include preparation of administrative and public draft documents, public review, consideration by the Parks and Recreation Commission and Planning Commission, and presentations before the City Council.
MIG proposes to complete the scope of work for a total amount of $396,755, inclusive of professional services, subconsultant services, direct costs, and reimbursables. Staff recommend an additional $10,000 in contingency contract authority to address unforeseen work that may arise during the planning process, for a total authorized amount not to exceed $406,755.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed Consulting Services Agreement is $396,755. An additional $10,000 in contingency contract authority is requested, resulting in a total authorized amount not to exceed $406,755. $400,000 is presently budgeted for this endeavor, funded by the General Plan Maintenance Fund. Any funding required beyond that budgeted by the General Plan Maintenance Fund for the contingency will be absorbed by the Department’s Operating Budget.
RELATIONSHIP TO CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES ACTION PLAN
The Parks and Recreation Master Plan is a specific activity/initiative within the Long-Term Fiscal Sustainability Plan key strategy of the Modern and Sustainable major focus area. In addition, the Master Plan will support the Quality of Life and Infrastructure and the Environment major focus areas by providing a long-range framework for maintaining and improving the City’s parks, recreation facilities, programs, and services, and will support informed capital planning, equitable access to recreation opportunities, and quality of life.
ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS
1. Moore, Iacofano and Goltsman, Inc. Proposal
2. Consultant Evaluation Score Summary
3. Parks and Recreation Master Plan Request for Proposals