Title
Consideration and Approval of April 5, 2014 Urban Design Workshop and Community Renewal Area Planning Process
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
The Community and Economic Revitalization Committee (CERC) recommends that City Council approve the process for the April 5, 2014 Urban Design Workshop and authorize staff to continue with the Community Renewal Area (CRA) Planning Process until June as described in Attachment 1.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to accept the proposed Urban Design Workshop process for April 5, 2014 by City Council and authorize staff and the consultant to proceed with the CRA planning process as described below and in Attachment 1.
Report
Issue:
Approve the process for the April 5, 2014 Urban Design Workshop and authorize staff and the consultant to proceed with the CRA planning process until June.
Staff Contact:
Keith Stahley, Director Community Planning and Development Department 360.753.8227
Presenter(s):
Keith Stahley, Director Community Planning and Development Department
Background and Analysis:
The Community and Economic Revitalization Committee reviewed the outline of the workshop process (Attachment 1) at its March 6, 2014 meeting and recommends that the City move forward with the Workshop as proposed Following the CERC meeting the Committee met with the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) and property owners from the area. The CERC, CAC and property owners from the area had an engaging and highly productive meeting and set the stage for the April workshop. The CAC and property owners provided feedback to the consultant team about the process and the meeting on April 5, 2014. Some participants indicated that they will not be available to participate in the meeting on April 5, 2014. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for May 1, 2014 to review the results of the Workshop with the CERC, the CAC and the property owners. This meeting may be able to be expanded in scope to accommodate those who will be unable to attend the April 5, 2014 Workshop. The CERC will consider this issue at their March 17, 2014.
The CERC also reviewed the CRA planning process included in Attachment 1.The CERC recommends that the Community Renewal Area planning process continue until June 10th as proposed in Attachment 1, The consulting team estimates that the total cost of the CRA planning process is $50,00 based on the scope described in Attachment 1 and they estimate that it would cost approximately $35,000 to complete the work scheduled until June 10th. This work would include Task 2B in the scope and a portion of the additional outreach in Task 2A. (prep for open house, additional outreach to stakeholders on other projects, etc). They also think it would be advisable to start work on some of the visualizations in Task 2D.
The CERC will meet May 29, 2014 to consider results of the April 5th Workshop and the May 1st CAC meeting and will make a final recommendation to City Council regarding the scope and budget for the remainder of the CRA process. On March 6th the CERC expressed some concerns about the limited amount of public participation included in the proposal. The Committee and the consultant agreed that they would be able to better judge the need for additional outreach following the April 5th Workshop and May 1st CAC meeting. This recommendation can be presented to City Council at the June 10, 2014 City Council Meeting.
The CERC Committee recommends that staff and the consultant be allowed to continue the CRA planning process until June 10th to stay on track to finish the CRA Plan by the end of 2014.
Options:
1. Approve the plans for the Urban Design Workshop and direct staff and the consultant team to proceed with the CRA Planning process until June 10, 2014.
2. Approve the plans for the Urban Design Workshop and direct staff to put work on the CRA Plan on hold until the June 10, 2014 Council Meeting.
3. Review the plans for the Urban Design Workshop and provide staff with feedback and direction regarding that process and provide feedback and direction on the CRA Planning process.
Financial Impact:
The proposed workshop is within the overall project budget, however, additional work to move towards the establishment of a Community Renewal Area will require additional project budget estimated at $50,000 as included in the Attachment 1.