Accommodating San Diego's growth requires effort from the public and private sector, often in partnership. To provide affordable housing, for example, public agencies often partner with private developers for redevelopment projects.

Public agencies and developers must be able to rely on private consulting firms' expertise for effective planning and design as well as to navigate the process. To that end, RBF Consulting focuses its organization around building a team that can do just that: effectively support the private and public sectors.

In planning, RBF's priority is to be involved at the community level to fully understand local interests and develop creative, effective concepts. Urban design expertise and extensive regulatory process experience result in concepts that are implemented with consensus.

RBF's planning staff provides leadership in the industry demonstrating their dedication through the development of a number of resources that assist clients. These resources include: "Placemaking on a Budget," which will soon be published as a Planner's Advisory Service Report by the American Planning Association; "Safescape, which was co-authored by staff and focuses on creating safer, more livable communities; and "How to Turn Alleys Into Allies," which focuses on the creation of safe, exciting and unique pedestrian-friendly environments.

RBF has been instrumental in the development of effective best management practices (BMP) for handling and treating storm water runoff. In-house expertise is demonstrated through innovation and a thorough understanding of local, state and federal agencies' requirements.

The result? Designs that blend in with the environment, providing vital protection measures to our waters. RBF staff also customized BMP training programs for private and public clients, focused on compliance with local, state and federal storm water quality regulations.

In technology, the RBF GIS Team has developed LiveMapGIS, a dynamic mapping product that allows clients to access, edit and query GISdata via the Internet using their own standard web browser. This application has been instrumental in facilitating public policy and community outreach by providing interactive tools for the public. RBF recently used Web-based technology to provide community outreach for the city of Coronado's Orange Avenue Corridor Specific Plan.

Pubic and private clients receive a consistently high quality of service and consensus building through RBF's understanding of public and private perspectives. Service to the private sector allows us to effectively plan and design any size land development project.

Recent private projects include campus expansions for Qualcomm and Pfizer; redevelopment plans for the former Naval Training Center; and Rancho Encantada, a 2,600-acre residential community. Public sector clients include a variety of as-needed and public works projects for agencies including Coronado, San Diego, Lemon Grove, Escondido, Carlsbad, San Marcos, Oceanside, the county of San Diego and the Navy.

With more than 35 years of consulting in San Diego County, RBF is organized to respond to the needs and trends in the region. RBF Consulting is ranked 76 in Engineering News Record's Top 500 Engineering Firms and is ranked No. 12 inCivil Engineering News' Top 50 Best Firms to Work For.

Submitted by RBF Consulting.