07-05-2022 CC RPT 15 - Laserfiche WebLink

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RFP No. 2173PSA for UCR Campus Economic and Fiscal Impact Analysis2 The City and University of California at Riverside (UCR) have been in ongoing discussions regarding cost recovery related to campus growth and its impact on surrounding neighborhoods, and the greater community. City/Campus discussions have included impacts of student rentals on surrounding neighborhoods, provision of electric service to the campus, impacts on fire service provided by Station #4, and partnerships for policing, among other topics. These discussions have been hindered by a lack of objective and verifiable data that can be used to lead intergovernmental discussions. On November 18, 2021, the U.C. Board of Regents approved a Long-Range Development Plan (LRDP) for the UCR campus and a final Environmental Impact Report. The LRDP proposes a net increase in development of approximately 5.5 million gross square feet of additional academic buildings, support facilities; and student housing of approximately 7,489 new on-campus beds to accommodate the anticipated increase of approximately 11,000 students and 2,845 faculty and staff by academic year 2035/36. In the public comment period for the LDRP the City expressed concerns that a wide range of topics had not been addressed properly in the LRDP analysis and that passage of the LRDP potentially violated the California Environmental Quality Act. The City has specific concerns including 1) utilities; 2) infrastructure; 3) transportation/traffic; streets, sidewalks, medians; 4) fire/police/emergency services; 5) housing; 6) neighborhood impacts; 6) parks & recreation and; 7) community engagement/public participation. UCR and Riverside have enjoyed a long term partnership, and have engaged in substantive discussions regarding Campus growth under the LRDP, impacts on the surrounding neighborhoods and larger city, and the need to potentially find service cost offsets, if necessary and justified by objective data. The City and University have chosen to each hire separate consultant teams to obtain objective analysis and data on the economic benefits versus City costs to serve the UCR campus. The parallel studies are governed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Campus and City (Attachment 3). The analysis will better inform long-term discussions between the City and UCR regarding long- range campus growth and development. Based on discussions encapsulated in the MOU, the expectation is that any LRDP analysis would be concluded over a 12-month period, with discussions concluding between the City and UCR within 18 months. The ultimate goal is to ascertain a balanced and informed partnership for cost recovery related to campus growth, if needed, to balance the growth requirements for the campus with direct/indirect impacts on municipal services. DISCUSSION: On April 7, 2022, the City issued Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 2173 seeking a consultant with an economic development cost analysis background, with an emphasis on work in the university/college environment. Two bidders expressed interest in RFP No. 2173. A review panel consisting of staff Department reviewed the proposal from Economic and Planning Systems, Inc. (EPS) and found itto be both responsive and competitively priced. EPS has conducted economic and fiscal studies for numerous UC campuses, the entire UC system (including UCR), as well as for UC host communities. Notable recent projects include a fiscal impact analysis for the City of Berkeley (2019), an economic impact analysis of UC Davis (2021), and land use economics advisory services for UC San Francisco (ongoing). EPS has