The City of Morro Bay Community Development Department is seeking proposals from qualified consulting firm(s) to prepare an update to the Housing Element of the City's General Plan and associated environmental assessment. Proposals are due by 5pm on August 21, 2019. Questions may be submitted to the City's Community Development Director, Scot Graham, via e-mail at sgraham@morrobayca.gov until August 5, 2019, at 5:00 PM. Responses will be posted on the City's website no later than August 8, 2019.

RFP Background:

The Housing Element is one of the seven State-mandated elements of the City's General Plan. The Housing Element is updated every eight years to identify recent demographic and employment trends that may affect existing and future housing demand and supply. The Housing Element serves as a tool review past performance and make policy and program changes to provide more opportunities to achieve the housing needs of the community. The Housing Element addresses the City's ability to meet the regional housing needs as determined by the State of California. The City has developed a set of objectives and specific policies and programs to produce housing to meet the needs of all Morro Bay citizens.

A Housing Element Update is required by California law to establish policies and programs that will support the provision of an adequate housing supply for citizens of all income levels. State law is more specific about the content of the Housing Element than any other portion of the General Plan. The Housing Element is also the only part of the General Plan that is subject to mandatory deadlines for periodic updates. Except for the Local Coastal Plan, it is the only element that is subject to review and "certification" by the State. While the State reviews the Housing Element to ensure compliance with housing law, each jurisdiction must identify its issues to successfully address its housing needs.

This document provides a detailed assessment of the existing housing stock in Morro Bay, including data on housing types, physical condition, cost, and availability. The report also examines opportunities and challenges related to providing housing for special housing needs populations such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, farmworkers, and the homeless. The report assesses the effectiveness of past housing programs and identifies availability and capacity of land and public services for housing development.

RFP Timeline

RFP Issued — July 22, 2019

Last day for questions/clarifications — August 5, 2019

City Response to questions/clarifications due — August 8, 2019

RFP Submittal Deadline — August 21, 2019

Interviews Week of — August 26,2019

Notification of Intent to Award — August 30, 2019

Proposed City Council Contract Approval — September 10, 2019

Consultant Contract signed — September 20, 2019

Notice to Proceed — September 30, 2019

The complete RFP is available at https://www.morrobayca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/13546/Housing-Element-Update---RFP-final-7-22-19.

The RFP document linked above includes the complete RFP process, timeline, response requirements, response submittal, requests for clarifications, review and selection criteria, terms and conditions, available resources, and the complete scope of work.

The City's existing Housing Element is available online at http://www.morro-bay.ca.us/DocumentCenter/View/6887/8-Housing-Element-VII.