ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT


                                             Date:  July 5, 1996
                                             Dept. File No.  MG


   TO:       Vancouver City Council

   FROM:     Director of Central Area Planning

   SUBJECT:  Selection of Consultant - Downtown Skyline Study

   RECOMMENDATION

        THAT the Spaxman Consulting Group be contracted to undertake the
        Downtown Skyline Study at a cost not to exceed $46,976.

   GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

        The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of
        the foregoing.

   COUNCIL POLICY

   On February 21, 1989, Council approved a policy that requires that the
   selection of consultants for projects of $30,000 or more in value, be
   approved by Council.

   PURPOSE

   This report recommends a consultant for the Downtown Vancouver Skyline
   Study.

   BACKGROUND

   On May 14, 1996, Council approved the terms of reference for the
   Downtown Vancouver Skyline Study to:

   -    model both the downtown skyline we now have and will get with
        existing zoning at potential  build out ;
   -    model prototypical alternative downtown skylines; and
   -    evaluate options against agreed upon criteria and recommend a
        preferred downtown skyline type.

   Council approved funding of $50,000 for the Downtown Vancouver Skyline
   Study. This  amount was to be generally allocated as follows: about
   $40,000 for technical consulting work and about $10,000 for public
   process and polling.




   In accordance with the Terms of Reference, a Steering Committee chaired
   by the Director of Central Area Planning, including the Deputy City
   Manager and the Chair of the Vancouver City Planning Commission, is
   responsible for overseeing the administration of the study.

   The terms of reference call for the establishment of a 12 member
   Advisory Committee to work with the consultants at key points in the
   study. Staff have solicited nominations from the relevant organizations
   and will report back in September with recommended appointments.

   DISCUSSION

   A  Request for Proposals  for the Skyline Study was advertised on May 24
   in the Vancouver Sun and on May 27 in the Journal of Commerce. In
   addition, information on the  Request for Proposals  was sent to 19
   firms and individuals. The following proposals were submitted and each
   included both technical work and public input.

   -    Architectura, M.J. Knoch and Associates;
   -    Catherine Berris Associates, James Hancock Architects and E.V.
        Radvenis;
   -    Paul Merrick Architects; and
   -    The Spaxman Consulting Group and Jankovic Consultants.

   All firms were evaluated by 4 professional planning staff and the
   study s Steering Committee according to the following criteria: relevant
   experience, ability to meet deadlines, cost, involvement of senior
   principals, quality of proposal and methodology, ability to interact
   with the public and familiarity with similar studies and issues. The
   Steering Committee interviewed two consultant teams that had been short
   listed after reviewing their proposals.

   It was the unanimous conclusion of all reviewers that the following
   firm s proposal best satisfied the terms of reference, approved by
   Council:

   Name: The Spaxman Consulting Group
   Principal: Ray Spaxman
   Sub-consultants: Jankovic Consultants

   Cost: $46,976

   This group offered the lowest price, had the best understanding of the
   study s methodology, had the best combination of relevant skills and
   experience and proposed a public process that was most consistent with
   the study s terms of reference.


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