Title
Approval of an Ordinance Appropriating $57,500 for the Community Renewal Area (CRA) and Isthmus Projects, funded from General Fund Balance
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve on second reading an ordinance appropriating $57,500 for the Community Renewal Area (CRA) and Isthmus Projects, funded from General Fund Balance.
Report
Issue:
The City has been in the process of considering a community renewal area for downtown Olympia over the past two years. Additional funds are needed to provide for additional consulting services from ECONorthwest to continue the Isthmus Urban Design project. Specifically, an additional $7,500 will be added to the ECONorthwest contract to conduct more specific financial feasibility analysis of the isthmus development options.
Also, the City intends to contract with Pacifica Law Group for additional legal, planning, appraisal, and other professional services to explore the range of possibilities for development of public/private partnerships on the isthmus. Currently, the City owns two parcels in the isthmus target area, plus some of the Heritage Park fountain block. All other parcels are privately owned.
While the City intends to develop substantial parks space on the isthmus, it lacks the resources to own and control all uses in this area.
In addition, the initial isthmus visioning work, including some community stakeholders, has identified various levels of low scale private, public, or quasi-public uses that could complement the park development.
To understand what public private arrangements would be possible, what land and other interests could be worth, and how such agreements might be structured, the City will contract for the experience and skills of Pacific Law Group and Associates to decide not only what is desirable, but what might actually be financially viable.
The scope of work for ECONorthwest contracts are attached as Attachments 2, 3 and 4. The Scope of Work for Pacifica is still being developed.
Staff Contact:
Keith Stahley, Director Community Planning and Development Department 360.753.8227
Background and Analysis:
The background and analysis have not changed from the first reading at the July 8 Council meeting.
At its June 10, 2014 meeting, City Council directed staff to return with an appropriations ordinance to fund the additional work necessary to continue the Isthmus Urban Design process.
Options:
1. Approve the appropriations ordinance as presented.
2. Do not approve the appropriations ordinance.
Financial Impact:
$57,500 will be appropriated from the General Fund Balance.