Request for Qualifications for On-Call Planning Staffing Services

Location:	California
Posted:	Nov 26, 2025
Due:	Dec 10, 2025
Agency:	City of San Carlos
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	C - Architect and Engineering Services - Construction R - Professional, Administrative and Management Support Services
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

Department: Community Development Department

Category: Call for Proposals – On-Call Planning Staffing Services
Issue Date: Tuesday November 25, 2025
Close Date: Wednesday December 10, 2025, 5:00 p.m.

Question Cut-Off Date: Thursday, December 4, 2025, 5:00 p.m.

Questions and answers to be posted: Monday, December 8, 2025, 5:00 p.m.

The Community Development Department of the City of San Carlos is requesting proposals from qualified individuals or firms to provide on-call planning staffing services. The City intends to enter into contracts with multiple firms based on specific expertise, availability, and cost. Firms may apply even if they can assist in only one or a few specific service areas.

Scope of services includes:

Staffing support for City departments
Development review and long-range planning support
Environmental review and CEQA administration
Strategic advice on ordinance and zoning amendments
Training, oversight, and policy development
Housing and economic development project assistance

We encourage all proposers to thoroughly review the complete RFQ document before submitting.

For any inquiries related to this RFQ, please contact:
Laura Richstone, Senior Planner
lrichstone@cityofsancarlos.org | (650) 802-4263

All questions are due no later than 5:00 p.m. PST on Thursday, December 4, 2025.

All proposals are due no later than 5:00 p.m. PST on Wednesday, December 10, 2025.

Available Attachments:

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REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ):

On-Call Planning Staffing Services for the City of San

Carlos

This RFQ has been reposted to solicit additional proposals. Please

note that submittals received earlier this year will still be

considered, and those applicants do not need to re-apply.

We welcome any new proposals in response to this reposting.

Issue Date: November 25, 2025

Submittals Due: December 10, 2025, by 5:00 PM (PST)

Electronic Submittals shall be submitted to:

lrichstone@cityofsancarlos.org

Attn: Laura Richstone, Senior Planner

Request for Qualifications - On-Call Planning Staff Services

City of San Carlos

INTRODUCTION

The City of San Carlos is seeking proposals from qualified firms or individuals to provide

professional planning staffing services on development applications, long-range planning

initiatives, housing and economic development services, as well as services to other City

departments on an “on-call” basis. The City is requesting proposals from individuals or firms with

the expertise necessary to process development applications for residential, commercial,

industrial, and mixed-use development projects, including design review, application of California

Environmental Quality Act, and conformance with federal, state, and local regulations

Consultant(s) will primarily operate under the Community Development Department with direction

provided by the Principal Planner, Planning Manager, Economic Development and Housing

Manager, Assistant Community Development Director, and/or Community & Economic

Development Director.

The Consultant(s) may also operate under other City department(s) for specific project(s),

receiving guidance from the department Director and/or designee, as required.

Upon authorization by the San Carlos City Council and execution of the contract, the contract

term would begin January 2026 through June 30, 2026 and will continue for a three-year term

through Fiscal Years, 2027/2028, and 2028/2029 with up to two (2) one-year extensions.

BACKGROUND

The City of San Carlos (City) is located on the San Francisco Peninsula in San Mateo County.

Incorporated in 1925 as a General Law city, San Carlos sits halfway between San Francisco and

San Jose, is roughly 5.5 square miles in size, and has a population of slightly more than 30,000

residents.

The western side of the city extends into the Santa Cruz Mountains and is predominantly

characterized by single-family residential development with commercial activity concentrated

along El Camino Real, Laurel Street, and the City’s downtown. The eastern portion of the city,

adjacent to Highway 101, includes an assortment of industrial and commercial uses, including a

small airport and a small neighborhood of single-family homes. This area is poised for significant

growth with over 1.7 million square feet of high-tech research and development space projected

to be developed in the next few years.

Highways 101 and 280, and State Highway 82 (El Camino Real) move vehicle traffic north and

south to the primary access points in San Carlos. Several major east-west spines move traffic

into commercial and residential areas of the City. The City is also served by multiple SamTrans

routes and Caltrain, which operates a commuter train that stops at the historic San Carlos Depot

near downtown. Freight trains operate on the rails overnight.

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Request for Qualifications - On-Call Planning Staff Services

City of San Carlos

For its 2031 Housing Element Update, the City has planned to accommodate over 3,000 new

housing units, many of which will be located along the El Camino Real corridor and around

downtown. To facilitate the growth identified in the Housing Element, the City has adopted

amendments to its Zoning Ordinance to increase building height and allowable densities and has

established Objective Design Standards (ODS) for single-family development projects and

recently adopted Objective Design Standards for multi-family and mixed-use residential

development in October 2025.

The City also has two specific plans underway – the Downtown Specific Plan (DTSP), which

focuses on the public realm along Laurel Street, San Carlos Avenue, El Camino Real and side

streets within the downtown area; and the Northeast Area Specific Plan (NEASP), which will guide

growth in the historically industrial area in the northeast area of the city.

The City is governed by a five-member City Council, with members selecting a Mayor for a one-

year term, and an appointed City Manager. The City consists of various departments and

divisions, encompassing areas such as Community Development, Housing, Administrative

Services, Sustainability, Parks and Recreation, and Risk Management, among others.

Comprehensive details about each department and current projects are available at the following

link: https://www.cityofsancarlos.org/city_hall/departments_and_divisions/index.php

CONSULTING SERVICES NEEDED

The City of San Carlos is seeking proposals from qualified firms or individuals to provide on-call

Staffing Services for planning, economic development, housing and for other City departments,

to meet the needs of the City. The City is interested in entering into contracts with several qualified

firms, on an as-needed basis, based on expertise, availability, and cost.

Contract staff at the level of Principal Planner, Senior Planner, Associate Planner, Assistant

Planner, Planning Tech, and other, as needed, shall each be available on either a part-time basis

or full-time basis in response to workflow demands to support the Community Development

Department, especially the Current Planning and Advance Planning Divisions. Contract staff may

also be required to support City department(s) other than Community Development Department,

as needed. Staff will work during regular business hours and occasionally after hours as required

for specific projects. Since the City’s workflow fluctuates, additional staffing (at various experience

levels) may be needed at times, with prior authorization from the Community & Economic

Development Director or other department Director for which the work is to be performed. Costs

for personnel services are required to remain within the limits of the adopted City budget and this

contract, unless adjustments are approved by the City Manager or City Council.

Contract staff members will provide and possess sufficient qualifications, education, experience,

and expertise to accomplish the assigned tasks in an efficient and accurate manner. Contract

staff may be required to perform duties onsite at the City of San Carlos, as an extension of full-

time department staff to assist with overall workload and to fill-in for staff on leave. Contract staff

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Request for Qualifications - On-Call Planning Staff Services

City of San Carlos

may also work remotely, if approved in advance; however, this may change based on the needs

of the City.

SCOPE OF SERVICES

Tasks may be assigned or directed by the Principal Planner, Planning Manager, Economic

Development and Housing Manager, Assistant Community Development Director, Community

and Economic Development Director, or other City department Director, as needed. The City

currently contracts with several on-call CEQA consultants; however, additional consultant support

may be utilized depending on workload or project needs. Potential scope of services could

include, but is not limited to:

1. Assist with Development Review Process for Current Planning and Advance Planning’s

Long Range Planning Initiatives

• Assist the public at the Development Services Counter and answer inquiries regarding

land use regulations and the development review process

• Process a variety of permits including: Objective Design Standards Compliance

Review, Design Review, Use Permits, Sign Permits, Tree Removal Permits, and land

use verification for business registrations

• Prepare staff reports and presentations, and present before but not limited to the

Zoning Hearing Administrator, Planning and Transportation Commission and City

Council.

• Perform long-range planning tasks and support existing long-range planning initiatives

including: Downtown Specific Plan, Northeast Area Specific Plan, Open Space and

Conservation Element Update, and Eastside Streetscape Master Plan

2. Assist with Housing and Economic Development Projects, Including Key Development

• Support implementation of the General Plan, Below Market Rate Housing Ordinance,

affordable housing development projects and Economic Development Plan

• Assist with management of business retention and attraction programs

• Facilitate public and private development opportunities (conceptual review, site plan

review, permit processing, etc.)

• Serve as Project Manager for key development projects and initiatives

3. Assist with Environmental Review

• Administer the CEQA process under the direction of the Assistant Community

Development Director and Principal Planner

• Review discretionary applications for environmental impact determination

4. Staff Various Committees

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Request for Qualifications - On-Call Planning Staff Services

City of San Carlos

• Support City staff in presenting to commissions, committees and associated groups

as needed. These groups include but are not limited to: City Council, City Council

Subcommittees, Planning and Transportation Commission, Economic Development

Advisory Commission, Zoning Administrator, Downtown Advisory Committee, and

various other businesses, associations, and regional meetings and committees

• Assistant with meeting preparation and facilitation, preparation of agendas, staff

reports, minutes, or meeting notes, and attendance at meetings as required

5. Advise on Strategic Initiatives

• Provide assistance and expert advice on ordinance/resolution amendments to the

City’s Municipal Code in response to new legislation and judicial decisions of

community importance

6. Assist with Periodic Municipal Code and Zoning Amendments

• Analyze and propose Zoning Ordinance and other Municipal Code Amendments

• May include guiding proposals through the Planning and Transportation Commission

and ultimately the City Council review process for adoption

7. Perform Training, Oversight and Other Duties

• Under direction from the Principal Planner, provide training and oversight on projects

using a team-based approach with other planners

• Assist with staff report writing and editing, and developing consistent policies and

procedures and other duties as needed

8. Staff and support other City Department(s), as needed

• On an on-needed basis, assist other City departments with project specific needs

• Conduct research, site visits, and writing and editing of staff reports and/or

memorandums

• Develop and recommend consistent policies and other duties as needed to facilitate

responsibilities within that department

SUBMITTAL OF QUALIFICATIONS

Submittal Content

To be deemed complete, submittals must include all of the following:

• Cover Letter: Indicate interest and commitment to perform the above services for the City

of San Carlos. Include contact information (physical address, telephone, and email

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Request for Qualifications for On-Call Planning Staffing Services

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See also