Request for Proposals (RFP)

Planning Consulting Services — Technical Zoning Code Update

Release Date: January 9, 2026

Proposal Deadline: February 9, 2026, by 5:00 P.M.

1) Introduction and Purpose

The City of Oakley ("City") invites proposals from qualified individuals and consulting firms ("Respondents") to lead a comprehensive Technical Zoning Code Update. This initiative represents a critical step toward modernizing Oakley's land use regulations to reflect current policy frameworks, state legislation, and emerging development trends. The City intends to award a professional services agreement ("Agreement") based on the requirements outlined in this RFP.

The primary purpose of this update is to create a zoning code that is clear, consistent, and user-friendly, ensuring that applicants, residents, and City staff can navigate regulations efficiently. The revised code will align with the City's adopted policy documents, including the Focused General Plan Update (2022), the Strategic Plan 2022–2027+ (SP27+), and the Housing Element (2023–2031). It will also incorporate recent changes in California land use law and anticipate future development needs.

Oakley's existing Zoning Code was originally adopted in July 1999, coinciding with the City's incorporation. While numerous amendments have been enacted over the years, the code has never undergone a full technical overhaul. With the adoption of the Focused General Plan Update in January 2022, the City Council identified a modern zoning code as a top priority to ensure consistency across plans, ordinances, and day-to-day implementation. The Strategic Plan reinforces this direction, emphasizing community and economic development goals that promote strategic growth and local employment opportunities.

The updated Zoning Code will serve as a cornerstone for implementing General Plan policies, addressing emerging land uses, and supporting Oakley's long-term vision. Additionally, the Housing Element adopted in May 2023 includes programs requiring zoning amendments. Staff has begun implementing these programs and seeks to integrate them seamlessly into the new code. The City anticipates that the overall update process will span 12 to 18 months, culminating in adoption by early 2027.

2) Compensation and Contract Structure

The City will negotiate a time-and-expense contract with the selected Consultant. Compensation will cover labor, equipment, materials, and all related expenses for each defined task or phase. The total not-to-exceed amount for services is $100,000. Respondents must provide a clear breakdown of fees by project phase in their proposals, ensuring transparency and accountability.

3) Project Overview and Goals

The City seeks a forward-looking, internally consistent, and legally defensible Zoning Code that clearly implements the adopted General Plan, Housing Element, SP27+, and applicable state laws. The update should:

• Streamline permitted and conditionally permitted uses to accommodate current and future economic conditions.
• Clarify definitions, tables, and organizational structure to make the code intuitive and accessible.
• Incorporate graphics and illustrations where appropriate to enhance usability.

Collaboration will be essential. The Consultant will work closely with City staff, the Planning Commission, and the City Council. Staff will provide in-house support as needed. All tasks and subtasks identified in this RFP are mandatory.

While the City has outlined priorities, it welcomes methodology refinements and innovative approaches that deliver the requested work products within budget. The ultimate goal is a comprehensive, user-friendly zoning code that reflects Oakley's vision for growth and development.

4) Key Priorities

Priority 1 — Code Cleanup and Internal Consistency

The current Zoning Code contains inconsistencies, missing definitions, and outdated references. The Consultant must identify and correct these issues, update cross-references, and ensure all provisions, tables, and definitions align with the revised structure.

Priority 2 — Comprehensive Land Use Table

The existing code lacks a consolidated Land Use Table. A modern, user-friendly table is a high priority. It should clearly display permitted, conditional, and prohibited uses within each zoning district, enabling quick understanding and efficient decision-making.

Priority 3 — Definitions Overhaul

Definitions must be clear, consistent, and complete. Where land uses are listed without definitions, the Consultant should establish precise, workable definitions to eliminate ambiguity and streamline application review.

Priority 4 — Modernized and New Land Uses

The City expects updates that reflect current market conditions and community needs, including:

• Food trucks and mobile food vendors
• Indoor recreation (e.g., trampoline parks, climbing gyms, axe throwing, VR/AR arenas, escape rooms)
• Commissary-type facilities (ghost kitchens, shared-use commercial kitchens, dark stores, micro-fulfillment centers, meal-prep/subscription packaging)
• Logistics uses (last-mile hubs, returns processing, parcel lockers)
• Tech/energy infrastructure (data centers, battery storage, solar facilities, EV charging hubs, fleet electrification depots, hydrogen fueling stations, high-intensity computing or crypto mining)

The City encourages clear operational standards and performance criteria for these uses.

Priority 5 — Compliance with State Law

The update must ensure compliance with California statutes and regulations, including recent legislative changes affecting land use and housing.

Priority 6 — Incorporation of Past Interpretations

Staff has maintained a matrix of interpretations for unclassified or undefined uses, often relying on Section 9.1.160 ("Unclassified Uses"). These interpretations should be evaluated and codified where appropriate.

Priority 7 — Targeted, Common-Sense Updates

Residents and staff have identified recurring pain points that can be resolved with minor language changes, such as:

• Adding enforcement language where missing
• Clarifying height limits in the Downtown Specific Plan
• Prohibiting accessory structures before primary structures

Approximately two dozen small updates should be bundled to reduce confusion and improve administration.

5) Scope of Work and Tasks

Task 1 — Existing Conditions and Background Review

The Consultant will review relevant City plans, ordinances, and legislation; meet with staff to refine the work plan; and deliver a summary of recommended Zoning Code changes. Foundational documents include:

• Focused General Plan Update (2022)
• SP27+ Strategic Plan
• Zoning Ordinance Title 9
• Housing Element Update (2023–2031)

Task 2 — Community Engagement

The effort should include:

• At least one public workshop
• One Planning Commission hearing
• One City Council hearing

The City will host a project website; the Consultant will prepare outreach materials (including a flyer suitable for web and social media). City staff will issue official notices.

Task 3 — Draft Zoning Code and Supporting Materials

The Consultant will prepare:

• Administrative Draft for internal review
• Screen Check Draft for City review
• Public Draft for Planning Commission and City Council consideration

Drafts must implement priorities outlined under Task 1 and allow time for public comment. The City Manager and Economic Development Analyst will review drafts to ensure adaptability to future economic shifts.

Task 4 — CEQA Review

The Consultant will complete CEQA analysis for the update. The City will pay filing fees and circulate Tribal Consultation notices per AB 52. Consultants should advise whether the update may qualify for a CEQA exemption.

Task 5 — Presentations

The Consultant will assist staff with reports and presentations to the Planning Commission and City Council. Meetings are typically held Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m.

Task 6 — Final Plan

Following City Council direction, the Consultant will prepare the final Technical Zoning Code Update incorporating all modifications.

Task 7 — Project Management

Includes project initiation, schedule confirmation, communication protocols, progress reports, invoicing, and coordination calls.

6) Minimum Qualifications

Respondents must demonstrate substantial experience with:

• Zoning Code updates
• California land use legislation
• Community engagement

Proposals exceeding $100,000 or submitted late may be rejected. The Consultant is responsible for determining whether prevailing wage requirements apply.

7) Submittal Requirements

To be competitive, proposals must include:

• Team Profile (1 page per member)
• Comparable Consulting Experience (1 page per example)
• Project Proposal (≤20 pages)
• Conflicts of Interest (≤2 pages)
• Acknowledgements (1 page)

8) Key Assumptions

• Consultant prepares all outreach materials
• Consultant updates/creates necessary graphics
• Draft deliverables submitted in Word; final in Word and searchable PDF
• Consultant prepares CEQA analysis; City files notices

9) Submission Instructions

Proposals must be submitted electronically to JCortez@ci.oakley.ca.us by February 9, 2026, at 5:00 P.M.
Questions must be submitted by January 16, 2026; responses will be posted by January 22, 2026.

10) Estimated Timeline

• RFP Release: January 9, 2026
• Questions Due: January 16, 2026
• Responses Posted: January 22, 2026
• Proposal Due: February 9, 2026
• Interviews: Week of March 2, 2026
• Selection: Week of March 12, 2026
• Council Award: End of March 2026
• Kick-Off Meeting: Within 30 days of Agreement
• Adoption: Early 2027

11) Selection Process and Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Familiarity with project scope
• Relevant experience of key personnel
• Staff availability and stability
• References and performance history
• Ability to meet service criteria

12) Confidentiality and Public Records

The City will protect proprietary information when clearly marked but is subject to the California Public Records Act.

13) Exhibits and Reference Documents

• Focused General Plan Update (2022)
• Strategic Plan 2022–2027+
• Zoning Ordinance Title 9
• Housing Element Update 2023–2031

14) General Conditions

This RFP does not commit the City to execute an Agreement. Preparation costs are the sole responsibility of the Consultant.

15) Waiver

By submitting a response, each Respondent waives any right to object or protest the process.