COUNTY OF LAKE Community Development Department
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COUNTY OF LAKE
Community Development Department
Request for Proposals
(RFP) # 23-12
for
COMPREHENSIVE GENERAL PLAN AND LOCAL
AREA PLAN UPDATES, CEQA DOCUMENT, AND
CLIMATE VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS
Contact: Mireya G. Turner, Director
255 N Forbes Street
Lakeport, CA 95453
707-263-2221
Proposal Submittal Deadline: March 24, 2023-This Page Intentionally Left Blank-
RFP for County of Lake Comprehensive General Plan Update Due Date: March 24, 2023
/Area Plans Update/CEQA Document/Climate Vulnerability Analysis
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acronyms ............................................................................................................................... iii
1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1
2. BACKGROUND ..................................................................................................................... 1
3. HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE ........................................................................................... 2
a. County Facts and RHNA Allocation ................................................................................... 3
b. Undeveloped Land Constraints ............................................................................................ 4
c. Recent Multi-Housing Approvals ........................................................................................ 4
d. Wildfires History/New CAL FIRE Maps ............................................................................ 5
e. Faults .................................................................................................................................... 5
f. Drought & Groundwater Wells............................................................................................ 5
4. SAFETY ELEMENT .............................................................................................................. 6
a. Local Hazard Mitigation Plan .............................................................................................. 7
b. Environmental Justice .......................................................................................................... 7
a. Wildfires .............................................................................................................................. 7
b. Drought ................................................................................................................................ 8
c. Extreme Weather Events...................................................................................................... 8
5. AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES .......................................................................................... 8
a. Drought ................................................................................................................................ 9
b. Water Use............................................................................................................................. 9
6. COUNTY’S ROLE.................................................................................................................. 9
7. SCOPE OF WORK ............................................................................................................... 10
8. COORDINATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES .................................................................. 14
9. DOCUMENT FORMAT TEXT ............................................................................................ 14
a. Mapping ............................................................................................................................. 14
10. DELIVERABLES ................................................................................................................. 14
11. PROPOSED SCHEDULE ..................................................................................................... 15
12. SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................ 15
13. SELECTION CRITERIA AND PROCESS .......................................................................... 16
14. Protest Procedure ................................................................................................................... 18
a. Appeal Procedure ............................................................................................................... 18
b. Transmittal of Documents.................................................................................................. 19
c. Determination .................................................................................................................... 19
15. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT .................................................................... 19
16. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS ............................................................. 19
a. Inclusion of Proposal ......................................................................................................... 20
b. Accountability .................................................................................................................... 20
c. Project Status Meetings...................................................................................................... 20
Page-iRFP for County of Lake Comprehensive General Plan Update Due Date: March 24, 2023
/Area Plans Update/CEQA Document/Climate Vulnerability Analysis
d. Errors and Omissions ......................................................................................................... 20
e. Insurance ............................................................................................................................ 20
f. Acceptance and Payment Terms ........................................................................................ 20
g. Costs................................................................................................................................... 20
h. Confidentiality of Documents ............................................................................................ 21
i. Supersedes All Previous .................................................................................................... 21
17. DISPOSITION OF PROPOSALS ......................................................................................... 21
18. MODIFICATIONS TO THE RFP ........................................................................................ 21
19. PROPOSAL INFORMATION .............................................................................................. 21
Attachment A: Timeline for Updates .................................................................................... 22
Attachment B: Services Agreement ........................................................................................ 1
Page-iiRFP for County of Lake Comprehensive General Plan Update Due Date: March 24, 2023
/Area Plans Update/CEQA Document/Climate Vulnerability Analysis
Acronyms
AB Assembly Bill
APC Area Planning Council
CDD Community Development Department
CEQA California Environmental Quality Act
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CLERC Clear Lake Environmental Resource Center
DAC disadvantaged communities
FCHAB freshwater cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms
fGDB file geodatabase
HCD Housing and Community Development
GMI gross monthly income
HUD Housing and Urban Development
LHMP Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
NCO North Coast Opportunities
PDF Portable Document Format
RFP Request for Proposal
RHNA Regional Housing Needs Allocation
SB Senate Bill
SHP shapefile
Page-iiiRFP for County of Lake Comprehensive General Plan Update Due Date: March 24, 2023
/Area Plans Update/CEQA Document/Climate Vulnerability Analysis
1. INTRODUCTION
The Lake County Community Development Department (CDD) requests proposals from qualified
consulting firms for a comprehensive update to its General Plan and Local Area Plans, as well as
preparation of a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) document, and development of a
Climate Vulnerability Analysis. Specifically, following a 5-year timeline, updates would occur as
follows: Housing and Safety Elements and Climate Vulnerability Analysis (2023-2024), eight
Area Plans updates (2024-2025), Agriculture Element and Aggregate Resource Management Plan
Element updates (2026), and the remaining General Plan update (2026-2028). In compliance with
the California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3, a CEQA document must be
prepared for the proposed work listed throughout this RFP. The selected consulting firm will be
required to determine the appropriate CEQA document(s) to prepare, in addition to determining
the timeline for completing the document. Please refer to Attachment A of this Request for
Proposals (RFP) for a closer look at the timeline.
As required by California law, the Housing Element Update shall include related rezoning
consistent with the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) 6th Cycle (2019-2027) planning
period. Community Development Department staff will work closely with the selected consulting
firm on rezoning. The Housing Element Update will require adoption by the Lake County Board
of Supervisors and will need to be certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD). Submittal of the Housing Element to the HUD must occur by August 15,
2023. Further information is provided on the existing Housing Element in Section 3 of this RFP.
Lake County has received American Rescue Plan Act funding which allows for the update of the
County’s General Plan Safety Element. Funding must be spent by the end of calendar year 2024.
The selected consulting firm will be responsible for meeting this deadline.
2. BACKGROUND
Lake County is located in northern California, approximately 133 miles northeast of San Francisco
and 154 miles southwest of Redding. There are five state highways in Lake County (20, 29, 53,
175, and 281). State Highways 20 and 29 provide most of the access around the lake, with State
Highway 53 connecting the two roadways. Lake County consists of 1,329 square miles of land
that contains 73 square miles of water. The landmass includes mountain ridges and valleys which
surround Clear Lake and expand beyond. Many homes surrounding Clear Lake are built on the
mountainous terrain. The County is historically tied to agriculture including pears and walnuts,
and more recently vineyards, wineries and commercial cannabis.
The Lake County General Plan was adopted September 2008 by the County Board of Supervisors,
and it has 11 elements with goals, policies, and regulations that set the long-term plan (blueprint)
for the county’s development. The General Plan elements, along with the area plans, zoning
ordinance, and other ordinances and resolutions can be found in the links below. The second link
includes the Lake County Aggregate Resource Management Plan which was adopted on
November 19, 1992. The last link includes the Lake County Municipal Code:
Page-1RFP for County of Lake Comprehensive General Plan Update Due Date: March 24, 2023
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General Plan https://www.lakecountyca.gov/554/Lake-County-General-Plan
Aggregate Resource https://www.lakecountyca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1692/Aggregate-
Management Plan Resource-Management-Plan-Part-A-PDF
Area Plans https://www.lakecountyca.gov/555/Lake-County-Plans
Zoning Ordinance https://www.lakecountyca.gov/460/Zoning-Ordinance
Ordinances- https://www.lakecountyca.gov/563/Ordinances-Resolutions
Resolutions
Lake County https://library.municode.com/ca/lake_county/codes/code_of_ordinances
Municipal Code
Climate action plays an integral part of the General Plan Update process. To better understand the
effects of climate change on communities and the environment in Lake County, the selected
consulting firm will prepare a Climate Vulnerability Analysis. This analysis will then be used to
better inform while updating the general plan elements and area plans, especially the housing and
safety elements. The selected consulting firm should have an informed understanding of climate
change and the requirements for addressing this element within the General Plan Update under
new federal and California laws. New General Plan Element goals, policies, and objectives for
climate resiliency should work specifically for Lake County’s people and environment. The
selected consulting firm should avoid simple carried over boilerplate language from other
jurisdictions. Policies should contain measurable results over time.
In addition, the consulting firm should have a clear understanding of wineries and commercial
cannabis, and the effects of these crops on the County’s water supply, prime farmlands, and the
estimated future economic forecast with continuing drought. Other agriculture throughout the
county shall also be included in the analysis.
Later preparation of the remaining general plan elements should consider the overall development
of Lake County and how the communities can be better served. The Land Use Element should
include goals, policies, and objectives for development that serves young families. Currently, Lake
County is fortunate to offer numerous recreational activities with Clear Lake and several beautiful
County maintained parks. Although, there is a need for indoor activities and services that are often
found in larger cities; this includes skating rinks, centers for kids (KidsPark), educational centers,
etc. The consulting firm should look at incentives for bringing these developments into the County
to encourage more young families, with children, to make Lake County their home.
Additional information is provided for the Housing and Safety Elements, and Agricultural Element
in the following sections of this RFP. For the remainder of the General Plan Update, including the
Lake County Aggregate Resource Management Plan Element, the selected consulting firm will
have access to all files as needed, including historical mining files.
3. HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE
According to the U.S. Census Bureau Quickfacts, the population count for Lake County in 2020
was 68,163, with a 0.9% increase to 68,766 in 2021. There are two incorporated cities and nineteen
unincorporated communities in Lake County. The median household income from 2016 to 2020
is $49,254, and the poverty rate is 15.9%. Major industries in the county include agriculture
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(vineyards, orchards, cannabis, etc.), tourism (predominate in the summer), and geothermal power
(geysers and other geothermal companies). Clear Lake is the largest natural lake in the state of
California, and the Geysers is the largest geothermal field complex in the world.
Due to high turnovers and staffing shortages from 2016 to 2022, Lake County did not meet the 5th
Cycle Housing Element Update certification, which resulted in a violation from the HUD. The
County has until August 15, 2023, to address HUD comments, and to get its 6th Cycle (2019-2027)
Housing Element Update submitted for certification. Due to the tight deadline, the Housing
Element Update has been determined to be the highest priority (Attachment 1). Using the existing
6th Cycle (2019-2027) Housing Element Update, the selected consulting firm shall address HUD
comments, as well as revise the document to include additional information covered in this RFP,
and as recommended by the consulting firm upon county approval.
The Lake County/City Area Planning Council (APC) is responsible for delivery of housing need
allocation numbers to local jurisdictions within Lake County. A Methodology Committee
consisting of staff from the County of Lake and Cities of Lakeport and Clearlake, plus a consultant
and member from the APC met to discuss draft allocation of housing needs in 2018. As proposed,
APC’s 6th Cycle Regional Housing Need Assessment (RHNA) total for the county is 1339 units.
As required for the 6th Cycle (2019-2027) Housing Element Update and CEQA document, the
selected consulting firm shall have technical knowledge in several areas including: housing
finance, needs assessment, affordable housing programs/policies, HUD compliant site selection,
and coordination and review with HUD. The selected consulting firm will be expected to take the
lead on technical analyses and preparation of the CEQA document; however, CDD and County
Counsel will be involved in the effort.
All tasks shall be completed by the consulting firm or any partnered sub-consultants including the
following: preparing necessary technical studies, conducting public outreach, producing plan text
and illustrations, as well as related rezonings and/or zoning text amendments (as necessary),
preparing the CEQA document, and coordinating review by stakeholders and the public and
interested agencies. The selected consulting firm will also be expected to take the lead on public
involvement and stakeholder outreach, including working with appropriate community groups,
local agencies, the Planning Commission, and the Board of Supervisors. The following sections
provide county specific information that the selected consulting firm should consider when
preparing not only the Housing Element Update, but also when preparing the General Plan and
Area Plan Updates, as well as the CEQA document, and Climate Vulnerability Analysis. Lake
County looks forward to working closely with the selected consulting firm on this process.
a. County Facts and RHNA Allocation
According to APC’s most recent growth forecasts, the Lake County population is projected to
grow between 0.18% and 0.37% annually between now and the end of this RHNA period in 2027.
This total housing need is somewhat lower than that provided during the 2013 RHNA period. In
addition, the last RHNA allocation was for a period of 5.5 years, while this RHNA period now
covers 8.8 years. The 2013 regional determination would have averaged about 376 housing units
annually, while this longer planning period and the lower determination equate to an annual
average of 216 housing units per year. Lake County’s share of the draft RHNA is a total of 1339
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units categorized as follows:
Low (16.1%): 224 units
Very Low (24.2%): 332 units
Moderate (15.8%): 207 units
Above Moderate (43.9%): 576 units
The table below lists the 2018 Housing and Community Development (HCD) State Income Limits
for which the Lake County/City APC’s RNHA numbers are based on.
2018 HCD Income Levels
County Income Number of Persons in Household
Category
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
4-Person Extremely $12,600 $16,460 $20,780 $25,100 $29,420 $33,740 $37,140 $39,550
Area Low
Median Very Low $21,000 $24,000 $27,000 $29,950 $32,350 $34,750 $37,150 $39,550
Income: Income
$59,900 Low $33,550 $38,350 $43,150 $47,900 $51,750 $55,600 $59,400 $63,250
Income
Median $41,950 $47,900 $53,900 $59,900 $64,700 $69,500 $74,300 $79,050
Income
Moderate $50,350 $57,500 $64,700 $71,900 $77,650 $83,400 $89,150 $94,900
Income
Source: Department of Housing and Community Development, 2018.
On December 31, 2021, an update to the 2021 State Income Limits occurred in response to Chapter
345, Statues of 2021 (Assembly Bill 1043). In addition to other changes, the ‘Acutely Low’ income
category was added. This may be important to note for the next housing element update.
b. Undeveloped Land Constraints
Housing Element Law requires an inventory of land suitable for residential development
[Government Code Section 65583(a)(3)]. Given the rural nature of unincorporated Lake County
there is a significant amount of vacant and underutilized underdeveloped land. Much of this land
is constrained by several factors including hazardous slopes, floodplains, gaps in communications
infrastructure, water supply and sanitation, accessibility and high fire danger. To ensure an
adequate inventory of viable sites, we anticipate the Housing Element Update will necessitate
rezoning and/or zoning text amendments in targeted areas, which presents challenges given HUD
site eligibility criteria (Gov. Code 65580 et. Seq.), and limits on reuse of vacant housing sites. The
selected consulting firm should refer to and have a comprehensive understanding of California’s
new housing laws, as well as the HUDs June 10, 2020, Memorandum, Housing Element Site
Inventory Guidebook Government Code Section 65583.2.
c. Recent Multi-Housing Approvals
Since completion of the existing 6th Cycle (2019-2027) Housing Element Update, a 69-unit
Kelseyville Terrace multi-family apartment building located at 5400 Gaddy Lane in
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unincorporated Kelseyville was approved in 2022 and is ready to begin construction. There is
another major housing project along Collier Avenue in the unincorporated Nice which is currently
going through the ministerially approval process. Lake County continues to get inquires on Senate
Bill 9 (SB9) housing projects, though no applications have been submitted. This Housing Element
Update should identify sites in Lake County which are SB9 eligible on a map. Other new state
laws, including the most recent AB2339 introduced in January 1, 2023, should be addressed in the
updated Housing Element. The selected consulting firm should cover all relevant housing laws
and review Lake County’s current Zoning Ordinance for potential conflicts.
d. Wildfires History/New CAL FIRE Maps
Another major factor for consideration in the Housing Element update is the influence of natural
disasters. A public hearing was held on January 24, 2023, before the Lake County Board of
Supervisors where CAL FIRE presented information on their draft California fire maps (November
21, 2022). Most of the land in Lake County is now proposed to be reclassified as High Fire Severity
Zone. Wildfire in Lake County has historically resulted in the loss of hundreds of homes and other
structures. Since 2015, Lake County has lost more than 1,800 homes to wildfire (Lake County
Community Wildfire Protection Plan).
Lake County is currently working with the Clear Lake Environmental Resource Center (CLERC)
on processing CEQA for a variety of fire resiliency projects including fuel reduction, reforestation,
prescribed fire, planning, workforce development, and community involvement. These projects
are grant funded by CAL FIRE. More information on CLERC can be found at:
https://www.clerc.co/. The County recently started working with the North Coast Opportunities
(NCO), who has partnered with California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), the California
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), and the County of Lake on the Lake
County Home Hardening Program. The NCO’s Home Hardening Program addresses the most
vulnerable components of a house with building materials and installation techniques that increase
resistance to heat, flames, and embers that accompany most wildfires.
The selected consulting firm should also consider Attorney General Rob Bonta’s new
recommendations in “Best Practices for Analyzing and Mitigating Wildfire Impacts of
Development Projects under the California Environmental Quality Act”.
e. Faults
Lake County has several fault lines running through the area including the Bartlett Springs Fault
located along the north shore of Clear Lake and beyond, and the Maacama Fault Zone located on
the other side of the lake and beyond. There are several others close to or that run through Clear
Lake which include: Konocti Bay Fault, Hunting Creek Fault, Big Valley Fault, Clover Valley
Fault Zone, Ellis Fault, etc. On June 28, 2022, a 4.2 magnitude earthquake was reported near Cobb
Mountain according to the United States Geological Survey.
f. Drought & Groundwater Wells
Lastly, although Lake County has experienced an abundance of rain as of January 2023, a State of
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Emergency was declared by Governor Newsom in previous years. According to State Water Board
Director Karla Nemeth, despite all this, the majority of the state's key storage reservoirs continue
to be below average even after weeks of torrential rainfall. As of Jan. 8, California's statewide
reservoir storage is at around 78% of average. Prior to 2023, Lake County Department of Water
Resources continued to get complaints from groundwater well uses stating that CEQA document
wells were going dry.
4. SAFETY ELEMENT
Requirements for updating the Safety Element are included in California Government Code
Section 65302(g), and in Senate Bills SB1241, SB379, and SB1035. The Safety Element must be
consistent with the updated Housing Element. This project will result in compliance with
Assembly Bill AB2140, by integrating the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) (currently in
process) into the Safety Element in Lake County’s General Plan. In accordance with SB379,
climate change adaptation and resilience are required to be addressed in the updated Safety
Element. Remaining Lake County General Plan Elements will also need to be reviewed for
consistency to the updated Safety Element.
The last Safety Element Update was approved on September of 2008. The goal of the Safety
Element is to reduce the potential short and long-term risk of death, injuries, property damage, and
economic and social dislocation resulting from the following events: fires, floods, droughts,
earthquakes, landslides, climate change, and other hazards. The Safety Element directly relates to
topics also mandated in the (1) land use, (2) conservation, (3) environmental justice, and (4) open
space elements, as development plans must adequately account for public safety considerations
and open space for public health and ecological benefits often incorporate areas of increased hazard
risk. The Safety Element must identify hazards and hazard abatement provisions to guide local
decisions related to zoning, subdivisions, and entitlement permits, as well as contain general
hazard reduction strategies complimentary with those in the LHMP.
Pursuant to the State’s General Plan Guidelines (2017), the Safety Element must also address
additional, interrelated considerations in the context of fire and geological hazards. These include
evacuation routes, military installations, peak-load water supply water requirements, and
minimum road widths and clearances around structures. The relationship between these
considerations’ interplays throughout the required contents of the Safety Element and should be
analyzed in the context of safety and disasters, including climate change, drought, fire, flood, or
seismic activity, as appropriate. Specifically, the amended Safety Element will be integrated into
Lake County’s General Plan and insert hazard mitigations into areas such as land use,
transportation, climate change, sustainability, natural and cultural resource protection, water shed
management, and economic development.
As stated before, the following sections provide County specific information that the selected
consulting firm should consider when preparing not only the Safety Element Update, but also when
preparing the General Plan and Area Plan Updates, as well as the CEQA document, and Climate
Vulnerability Analysis.
Page-6RFP for County of Lake Comprehensive General Plan Update Due Date: March 24, 2023
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a. Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Currently, the Lake County Office of Emergency Services is in the process of updating its LHMP,
which was last updated January 2018. The primary goal of the county is to incorporate the updated
LHMP into the Safety Element update as part of this scope. The purpose of hazard mitigation is to
reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from hazards. Lake County developed
the LHMP to make the county and its residents less vulnerable to future hazard events. The current
LHMP will expire on September 2023. The plan is being updated in accordance with the Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 44 Part 201.6 Local Mitigation Plans to fulfill the directive of
CFR 44 Part 201.6.c.4.i which requires approved plans to be updated every five years. The plan
will be aligned with the goals, objectives, and priorities of the 2018 State of California Multi-
Hazard Mitigation Plan. The selected consulting firm will need to demonstrate understanding of
applicable regulations, laws, and guidance and considerations as the LHMP relates to the Safety
Element Update.
The General Plan Safety Element component of this project will result in a Safety Element in
compliance with SB379 and AB2140, including integration of the updated LHMP into the Safety
Element. The Safety Element was last updated as part of the County’s General Plan Update in
September of 2008, while the LHMP was last updated in 2018. The 2018 Lake County LHMP can
be downloaded at: https://www.lakecountyca.gov/1383/Hazard-Mitigation-Plan-Update.
b. Environmental Justice
Senate Bill 1000 states that revisions or adoption of two or more elements of a general plan on or
after January 1, 2018, trigger a requirement to “adopt or review the Environmental Justice Element,
or the environmental justice goals, policies, and objectives in other elements”. Environmental
justice goals, policies, and objectives must aim to reduce health risks to disadvantaged
communities (DACs), promote civil engagement, and prioritize the needs of these communities.
Lake County currently does not have an Environmental Justice Element, so all the requirements
listed in SB1000 will need to be incorporated into the updated Safety Element.
Lake County continues to experience wildfires, drought, and extreme weather events that effect
every community throughout the county. The following sections provide county specific
information that the selected consulting firm should consider when preparing not only the Safety
Element Update, but also when preparing the General Plan and Area Plan Updates, as well as the
CEQA document, and Climate Vulnerability Analysis.
a. Wildfires
From July 2015 to September 2018 seven major wildfires (Rocky Fire, Jerusalem Fire, Valley
Fire, Clayton Fire, Sulphur Fire, Pawnee Fire, and Mendocino Complex Fires) occurred
throughout the County burning 60% of the landmass. During this time, according to county records
1,825 single-family homes and 125 multi-family homes were lost
(5.5% of the housing stock was lost). Since then, two more major wildfires occurred in 2020
(LNU Lightning Complex Fire and the August Complex). Wildfire costs to communities and the
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county in lost revenue is in the millions. Impacts to air quality from fires in Lake County and
throughout California and nearby states continue to affect the county.
b. Drought
Approximately 98.99% of Lake County is classified by the National Integrated Drought
Information System as D3-Extreme Drought. Conditions under D3 are as follows:
Livestock need expensive supplemental feed; cattle and horses are sold; little pasture
remains; fruit trees bud early; producers begin irrigating in the winter
Fire season lasts year-round; fires occur in typically wet parts of state; burn bans are
implemented
Water is inadequate for agriculture, wildlife, and urban needs; reservoirs are extremely
low; hydropower is restricted
The Governor of California proclaimed states of emergency to exist throughout California due to
severe drought conditions. The proclamation stated, “the increasing frequency of multiyear
droughts presents a significant risk to California’s ability to ensure adequate water supplies for
communities”. The proclamation goes on to state that “the extreme drought conditions through
most of the State present urgent challenges, including greatly increased wildfire activity” and it is
“necessary to expeditiously mitigate the effects of the drought conditions to ensure the protection
of health, safety and the environment”. On March 28, 2022, Executive Order N-7-22 was enacted
for conservation of water.
Reports of groundwater wells going dry throughout Lake County continue to be received by the
County. In addition, Clear Lake has experienced extreme lows over the last few years. Jurisdiction
Water Districts and Private Water Companies are having to extend water intake lines further into
Clear Lake, and some are drilling new groundwater wells due to surface water lows or wells not
producing enough water.
c. Extreme Weather Events
As the climate continues to change, Lake County is experiencing hotter and longer periods of heat
in the summer months. With more heat comes the threat of rolling blackouts by PG&E. In addition,
some rain events are becoming extreme with flash flooding occurring. Stormwater runoff in hilly
areas is increasing, and driving conditions are becoming unsafe.
5. AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES
Lake County is historically tied to agriculture consisting of walnuts and pears. Over the past few
decades, several large and small wineries have been permitted throughout the county. Following
legalization of commercial cannabis in California, several permits for large cannabis grow sites
have been approved, while currently over 100 applications are waiting to be processed.
Historically, most agriculture was in the valley areas of the county, but over the years both
vineyards and commercial cannabis continue to be developed on the hillsides. Due to the
community’s long-standing commitment to agricultural preservation, Lake County still retains
much of its rural character and agricultural productivity.
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Again, the following sections provide county specific information that the selected consulting firm
should consider when preparing not only the Agricultural Element Update, but also when
preparing the General Plan and Area Plan Updates, as well as the CEQA document, and Climate
Vulnerability Analysis.
a. Drought
Drought conditions continue to put a strain on ground and surface waters throughout Lake County.
On July 27, 2021, due to severe drought conditions, the Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance
3106, which requires a Hydrology Report with a Drought Management Plan for all projects
requiring a CEQA analysis; however, prior to the January 2023 rains, the county continued to
receive reports on private groundwater wells going dry.
b. Water Use
Several communities around Lake County are serviced by different water districts that draw water
from Clear Lake. During the drought conditions of 2022, as waters continued to recede intake
pipes had to be extended further into the lake. During this time, expansive blue-green algae blooms
in the lake raised toxin to the highest levels ever seen. Communities around Clearlake Oaks and
Clearlake were advised not to drink the water and were supplied with bottled water. According to
the Blue Ribbon Committee for the Rehabilitation of Clear Lake which was completed on May
11, 2022:
Seventeen drinking water systems draw raw water from Clear Lake to provide over 60%
of the county’s drinking water needs. To date, it is the only drinking water reservoir in
California with toxin producing freshwater cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms
(FCHABs). Further, climate change is shown to exacerbate FCHABs. The treatment
processes for FCHABs increase costs for capital improvements and for the operation and
maintenance. The increased cost of treating FCHABs disproportionally affects Lake
County partly because it is the poorest county in California.
Surface water utilities in Lake County cost an average of 3.0% of resident’s gross monthly
income (GMI), which is double the state recommended level of 1.5%. Figure 12 shows the
distribution of results comparing Clear Lake, groundwater, other surface water treatment
and their relation to the recommended GMI contribution. Comparable groundwater
systems were the most stable and ranged from 1.0%-2.4% with the largest cluster below
the recommended GMI contribution.
6. COUNTY’S ROLE
Direction and oversight of all work in process will be provided by Director Mireya G. Turner, and
the Senior Planner (here after referred to as CDD staff) as needed. The documents must ultimately
be approved by the county Board of Supervisors, following a recommendation by the Planning
Commission. The Housing Element Update will need to be submitted to HUD by August 15, 2023.
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CDD staff shall provide the selected consulting firm with a list of contact names and information
for public outreach. Public outreach will include, but is not limited to, workshops, media, county
website, etc. Staff will also provide other information as requested by the consulting firm.
The scope of work must set aside sufficient time for meetings and work sessions with staff. It is
generally not desired that the consulting firm prepares large increments of work product
independently for presentation to the county, unless specifically directed by the CDD staff to do
so. The proposal should clearly describe the approach to working with CDD staff and the amount
of coordination/response time anticipated.
Lake County CDD staff will review and refine draft written materials generated by the consulting
firm. During the draft stage, Microsoft Word should be used so track changes can be utilized.
County CDD staff will actively assist and participate if needed with the consulting firm in
presentation of material in all public forums, workshops, meetings and hearings.
7. SCOPE OF WORK
The scope of work for the General Plan and Area Plan Updates, CEQA document, and Climate
Vulnerability Analysis shall include the following tasks. Proposals should briefly describe the
respondent’s understanding and approach to this scope of work. Consulting firms are encouraged
to provide alternative ideas, programs, formats, and suggestions throughout the proposal, based on
experience with other projects.
Task 1 – Project Management and Coordination: This task includes communication and
coordination between the consulting firm and CDD staff, including meetings, phone conferences,
email exchanges, and other communications to ensure timely delivery and adoption of Lake
County’s updated General Plan and Climate Vulnerability Analysis. The Housing Element shall
take priority due to the submittal deadline of August 15, 2023. Proposal should identify the number
of meetings anticipated and expectations for jurisdictional staff. Strategies or practices to ensure
clear and timely communication and effective project coordination should be described. Strategies
for ensuring coordination with HUD over the course of the project should also be addressed, as
needed.
Task 2 – Community Outreach and Engagement: The consulting firm shall develop a program
that effectively reaches, educates and engages the community throughout the update of the General
Plan. This should include strategies to ensure broad inclusion, particularly of hard-to-reach groups
and special needs populations, with special attention given to communicating information so it is
accessible and easy to understand. Outreach is expected to begin early in the process and continue
throughout for feedback on important topics such as draft ideas, site options, the Draft General
Plan and Area Plan Updates, Climate Vulnerability Analysis and environmental reviews. Please
discuss options for virtual as well as in person meetings, depending on changing safety
considerations. The consulting firm shall lead the engagement as well as a summary of the work.
At a minimum outreach should consist of:
Initial presentation to Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission
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Two community meetings
One stakeholder focus group
Online/virtual participation opportunities
Specific outreach and engagement of environmental justice communities as defined by the
consulting firm and the county
Media/radio/newspaper
Task 3 – Environmental Analysis (CEQA document): The selected consulting firm will be
required to determine the appropriate CEQA document to prepare. In addition, the consulting firm
will be required to determine the timeline for completing the document. The consulting firm shall
prepare all required documents for CEQA review and submittal, and final noticing. This should
include public posting and noticing for comment. For budget purposes, consulting firm may list
different prices depending on the level of analysis that may ultimately be needed.
Task 4 – Update to the Existing Housing Element (6th Cycle)
Task 4.1 Housing and Special Housing Needs: Provide jurisdiction-specific graphs and write-
ups with supporting data, including population, demographic, housing, market conditions and
regional comparisons.
Task 4.2 Housing Constraints: The selected consulting firm shall identify potential and actual
governmental and nongovernmental constraints for the preservation, protection, or production of
housing across income levels within the county. Provide all cross-jurisdictional comparisons to
support this task (e.g., comparison of fees and processing time). Additionally, provide write ups
of typical countywide non-governmental constraints, including community opposition to housing,
cost of construction, limited availability of land and other topics.
Task 4.3 Review of the Existing Housing Element: The selected consulting firm shall review
the current Housing Element and identify the county’s success in accomplishing/implementing the
identified goals, policies, and programs; and provide explanations and updates where goals,
policies or programs are in progress, have been abandoned or have not proven effective.
Task 4.4 Sites Inventory: The selected consulting firm shall prepare the sites inventory section
of the Housing Element, demonstrating how the county will satisfy its RHNA in each income
category. This includes identifying safe assumptions, evaluating sites, and analyzing potential
policy strategies to increase site capacity, demonstrating development viability (per State law),
and inputting the information into State HUD’s electronic form for submittal with the updated
element. It is anticipated that this will be the most significant area of work for the update process
and will need to start early to ensure adequate time for consideration of potential areas for rezoning
or other changes to development standards needed to achieve the RHNA.
Task 4.5 Goals, Policies, Programs and Quantified Objectives: The selected consulting firm
shall identify goals, policies, programs and quantified objectives to include in the Housing Element
to ensure compliance with State law and effective response to the housing needs, constraints and
key priorities identified through the update process. This task includes ensuring responsiveness to
priorities articulated through the community engagement process as well as ensuring internal
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consistency with other Elements of the General Plan. This task will include identification of other
general plan policy updates or revisions needed to ensure consistency.
Task 4.6 Rezoning: Based on site analysis, consulting firms shall work with CDD staff to identify
potential areas for rezoning, if necessary. This must include consideration of the California
requirement for maintaining an adequate housing sites inventory throughout the eight-year
planning period.
Task 4.7 Draft Housing Element: The consulting firm shall prepare and submit an administrative
draft Housing Element for CDD staff review. County CDD staff will provide a comprehensive set
of desired changes, and will provide final edits and will coordinate dates of public hearings:
Administrative draft and draft housing element (Microsoft Word)
PowerPoint
Task 5 – Preparation of a Climate Vulnerability Analysis
Task 5.1 Recommendations: Provide recommendations for the content of the Climate
Vulnerability Analysis while keeping in mind information provided in Sections 1 through 5.
Climate Vulnerability Analysis resiliency measures should be specific to Lake County’s
communities and environment.
Task 5.2 Draft/Prepare a Climate Vulnerability Analysis: The selected consulting firm shall
work with CDD staff to draft Climate Vulnerability Analysis and ensure it is aligned with other
general plan Elements and planning documents. Prepare a Climate Vulnerability Analysis that
complies with the goals, policies, and objectives of the Lake County General Plan and State law.
Task 6 – Update to the Safety Element
Task 6.1 Review of the Existing Safety Element: Review and evaluate the current Safety
Element to determine its compliance with State law.
Task 6.2 Provide Recommendations: Provide a list of any corrections that must be made to text
and/or exhibits in the Safety Element to bring it into compliance with State law.
Task 6.3 Draft Safety Element Update: Consulting firm shall work with CDD staff to update the
Safety Element to ensure consistency with other General Plan Elements and other planning
documents, and to ensure compliance with State law. This task is intended to focus the scope of
work to update portions of the Safety Element, as necessary, for compliance with State law and
consistency with other Elements in the General Plan.
Task 7 – Update to Lake County’s Local Area Plans
Task 7.1 Area Plans: Review and evaluate the current Area Plans as follows: Lower Lake Area
Plan and Cobb Area Plan first, and then the following other Plans: Kelseyville Area Plan, Lakeport
Area Plan, Shoreline Communities Area Plan, Upper Lake-Nice Area Plan, Rivieras Area Plan,
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and Middletown Area Plan. The consulting firm will need to work with townhalls members to
collect data.
Task 7.2 Provide Recommendations: Provide a list of any corrections that must be made to text
and/or exhibits in the Area Plans to bring it into compliance with State law.
Task 7.3 Area Plans: The consulting firm shall work with CDD staff to update the Area Plans to
ensure consistency with other General Plan Elements and other planning documents, and to ensure
compliance with State law. This task is intended to focus the scope of work to update portions of
the Area Plans, as necessary, for compliance with State law and consistency with other Elements
in the General Plan. The consulting firm will need to attend 2 meetings per community.
Task 8 – Public Hearings: The consulting firm shall coordinate with CDD staff on presenting the
drafted General Plan Elements to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors at public
hearings. Based on Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors input, prepare a State HUD
review draft and submit to State HUD for the mandated review:
Minimum of five (5) public hearings
Task 9 – Final Draft Hearings, Final Adoption and Certification: The consulting firm shall
work closely with State HUD and CDD staff to respond to any comments and produce a final draft
Housing Element for adoption. Present to the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors at
public hearings. Prepare the final General Plan Elements, including any changes from the public
hearings, and submit to State HUD for final certification as well as the California Office of
Planning and Research:
Draft final General Plan Elements [Microsoft Word and Portable Document Format (PDF)]
PowerPoint
Five public hearings
Task 10 – Implementation Measures/Monitoring Program
As part of the update, the consulting firm shall develop implementation strategies, and shall
identify methods for monitoring or measuring success. Where implementation strategies are the
outgrowth of mitigation measures included in the CEQA document, the required mitigation
monitoring program shall also be integrated into the General Plan Elements as appropriate.
Task 11 – Remaining Work: General Plan Update, Agriculture Element Update, and
Aggregate Resource Management Plan Element Update.
Task 11.1 Meet with CDD Staff: Meet with CDD staff prior to January 2026 to regroup and
discuss the remaining work.
Task 11.2 Implement Previous Tasks: The consulting firm should implement previous tasks and
review any new laws taking affect following the date of posting this RFP.
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8. COORDINATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES
The consulting firm will be expected to consult and coordinate with and file all necessary
documentation with the appropriate governmental agencies at federal and state, regional, and local
levels as deemed pertinent.
9. DOCUMENT FORMAT TEXT
There will need to be an emphasis on providing information visually through the use of graphics,
tables, and matrices. Innovative and creative approaches are encouraged that will integrate all
sections of the General Plan Update in a useful fashion. A technically accurate document is
essential; however, the document should be interesting, user-friendly and creatively prepared.
Boilerplate text is not desirable.
All draft documentation submitted to the County shall be formatted in Microsoft Word and
provided electronically. Final editions of the General Plan and Area Plan Updates, and CEQA
document, and Climate Vulnerability Analysis shall be provided in a Accessible PDF. All
documents produced should be designed to accommodate future updates and amendments.
a. Mapping
Mapping of shall be completed in the following manner and shall meet the specifications outlined
below:
Mapping and feature layer ("layer","layers") development shall be done in Esri's ArcMap
and/or ArcGIS Pro. Esri software versions used in the project shall not be older than two
versions beyond the most recent version released by Esri at the time of project completion.
Feature layers shall be created using either the file geodatabase (fGDB) or shapefile (SHP)
standard. The fGDB standard is preferred.
Maps and layers shall use Lake County's standard projection: NAD83 / California zone 2
(feet,US), also known as EPSG:2226
All layers created for this project shall meet ISO 19139 metadata standards.
10. DELIVERABLES
The proposal shall include a list of deliverables including status reports to be provided to the
County. For budgeting purposes, the following general items are to be provided. All transmitted
materials shall include one unbound original:
Preliminary draft and revised draft of each document following the finalized schedule
discussed in the next section.
Finalized documents following the schedule discussed in the next section.
Responses to comments, draft and revised text, diagrams, and maps for inclusion in the
General Plan Update.
Final documents in both Microsoft Word and Accessible PDF
All spatial files used in the creation of the final maps shall be delivered in the CEQA
document native GIS format, including all file geodatabases and/or shapefiles, and all map
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files, including ArcMap (.MXD) and/or ArcGIS Pro (.aprx). Map files shall store relative
path names so map item sources will not require re-mapping.
Documents will be provided primarily in electronic formatting as noted above.
Determination on the number of hard copies of finalized documents will occur after the
consulting firm is selected.
11. PROPOSED SCHEDULE
Please refer to Attachment A for a timeline for completion of work. Using the timeline in
Attachment A, proposals must contain a refined timeline schedule of actions covering the entire
process for all work, including public outreach sessions, review periods and noticing periods. Each
action item must identify the applicable document, its action dates and responsible parties. The
Planning Commission meets two to three times a month on Thursday of each month. The Board
of Supervisors meets on Tuesdays generally three to four times each month. While many factors
exist that may result in modifications to the overall schedule, staff is targeting the July 2023 for
release of the draft Housing Element Update, final adoption, and submittal to California for
certification.
12. SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS
Proposals may be mailed through the United States Postal Service or any other courier service and
they may be delivered in person to the office listed below. Faxed or emailed proposals will NOT
be accepted. Three hard copies of the proposal and an electronic copy on a storage devise must be
received by Lake County no later than 5:00 p.m. on March 27 2023. The consulting firm shall
contact CDD staff 48 hours prior to submittal. Late proposals will not be accepted. All proposals
and documents submitted become the property of Lake County. Information considered
proprietary shall be identified as such when the proposal is submitted. Proposals may be submitted
by mail or dropped off in person to the address shown below:
County of Lake
Community Development Department
CONFIDENTIAL
Attn: Mireya G. Turner, Director
255 N. Forbes Street
Lakeport, California 95453
Mailed submittals of hard copies are preferred. However, no appointment is required to submit
hard copies in person. Our counter is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The proposal and pricing shall be submitted separately. Evaluation of the proposals and interviews
of the consulting firms is expected to be completed within 30 days after receipt of proposals (see
tentative schedule in Section 11). Upon receipt of proposals, each consulting firm shall be
presumed to be thoroughly familiar with all specifications and requirements of this proposal. The
failure or omission to examine any form, instrument or document shall in no way relieve consulting
firm from any obligation in respect to this proposal.
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The following requirements must be met in all proposals submitted to the county:
Three copies and one electronic copy (submitted via storage device) of the proposal.
The proposal must be submitted in an envelope clearly marked with the consulting firm’s
name and “Comprehensive General Plan Update and Associated Updates”
Cover letter signed by an individual authorized to bind the proposing entity to the proposal
for a period of 90 days.
A statement of understanding and project approach which outlines the consulting firm’s
understanding of the relevant issues which are to be addressed in the preparation of all
work, and recommendations for the overall program.
Detailed Scope of Services, providing information on all of the work tasks you propose to
complete as part of the program and are identified in this RFP, including timeline. Also
include any additional or optimal tasks, which you recommend. This should include the
detailed public participation program to ensure communication and input through all
phases of the program.
A detailed budget showing costs per each discrete task shown in the Scope of Services,
plus the cost of any reimbursable items. The costs shall be in a “menu” format to permit
each item’s cost to be identified. The costs should be represented in a format that permits
identification of the total cost of all work, as well as its subcomponents or phases.
A recent example of General Plan Update and Mitigated Negative Declaration or
Environmental Impact Report prepared by your firm and/or team.
A statement of qualifications, including any additional information that would reflect on
your firm’s ability to provide the services described in this RFP and at least three references
from previous work that can speak to the skills and experience of proposed staff. The
statement of qualifications should provide a matrix showing applicable projects performed
by the consulting firm and which personnel identified in the proposal participated in each
of those projects, and what role those personnel had in the subject projects. Also identify
all key personnel who would be working in Lake County, and a schedule of applicable
billing rates.
13. SELECTION CRITERIA AND PROCESS
The county anticipates the following schedule for consulting firm selection:
February 27, 2023 Issuance of RFP
March 27, 2023 Deadline for submittal of Proposals
April 10, 2023 Finalists Selected for Interviews
April 17-21, 2023 Finalist Interviews (Scheduled via Zoom)
May 9, 2023 Contract awarded by Board of Supervisors
Proposals shall be opened and checked to ensure that each complies with the requirements of the
RFP. The absence of required information may render the proposal non-responsive and may be
cause for rejection.
Lake County is looking for consulting firms who are experienced and flexible. The consulting firm
should demonstrate technical expertise and ability in problem solving and producing results.
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