Title
Agenda Item:
Approval of Professional Services Contract with ECONorthwest to Provide Planning Services related to a Community Renewal Area (CRA)
Body
Issue:
Should the City contract with ECONorthwest?
Committee Recommendation:
The Ad Hoc CRA Committee selected ECONorthwest - an economics, planning and land use consulting firm from Portland, Oregon - to provide consulting services for development of a CRA in Olympia. The Committee has worked with the consultant to develop a scope of services for this work. The Committee recommends approval of the professional services contract and scope of work.
City Manager's Recommendation:
Move to approve and authorize the City Manger or his designee to sign the contract for professional services and a project scope of work, as recommended by the City's AD Hoc CRA Committee.
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 Ad Hoc Community Renewal Area Committe met with the consultant on Friday March 29, 2013 to discuss the scope of services for the project. The committee agreed that the work should proceed based on the attached scope of work and that it would consist of two distinct compenents.
Component A: Redevelopmet Opportunities and Implementation Options would take a broader look at economic development opportunities in the community by examing several areas that are presently undeveloped or underdeveloped and assess the applicability of a number of economic development tools to those area. This would be a very general and high level review and would be useful in setting the stage for future redevelopment projects and creation of a long-term commuity vitalitity plan for the community.
Component B: Community Renewal Area Downtown would focus on downtown and the consideration of a Community Renewal Area within downtown. This work would include significant market analysis, outreach to property owners, stakeholders and the public through one-on-one meetings and public meetings, evaluation of blight,consideration of potential redevelopment projects and creation of a Commuity Renewal Area Plan as required by Revised Code of Washington.
A link is provided in the attachments to the August 2, 2011 staff report that includes a background paper on CRAs in the State of Washington prepared by attorney Hugh Spitzer has been included as an attachment for further information. Staff's Request for Qualifications supplement has been included as an attachment as has ECONorthwest's original response to the 2011 request for qualifications.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
None at this stage, however, public outreach and involvement of property owners, stakeholders and the community is an important part of the CRA process.
Options:
1. Approve contract and scope of work as presented.
2. Approve contract and scope of work as amended.
3. Do not approve contract and scope of work.
Financial Impact:
$80,000 has been budgeted for this effort and Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) grant of $25,000 has also been awarded assistance in finalizing this grant is one of the work plan tasks included in the scope of work.