Title
Agenda Item:
Community Renewal Area Consultant Selection Process
Body
Issue:
Review supplemental questions and discuss consultant interview selection process.
Committee Recommendation:
Being developed.
City Manager’s Recommendation:
Request additional information from consultants and set up interviews.
Staff Contact:
Steve Friddle, Community Services Manager, 360.753.8591
Presenter(s):
Steve Hall, City Manager
Steve Friddle, Community Services Manager
Background and Analysis:
Downtown Olympia continues to suffer the effects of a contracting state government. Many office buildings in downtown formerly occupied by state offices now sit empty or are substantially under-utilized (Dept. of Personnel, Dept. of Fish & Wildlife) and others are starting to have a blighting influences on our downtown. The plan for establishing a Community Renewal area is intended to address this issue and consider other possible “blighting influences" around the City.
The Revised Code (RCW) of Washington provides for the creation of Community Renewal Areas (CRAs) where there are significant blighting influences. The RCW requires that as part of establishing a CRA, a Community Renewal Plan be developed. The purpose of today's discussion is to move forward with the creation of a CRA, to review supplemental questions for a potential consultant and to formulate next steps to interview and select a consultant for formal recommendation to City Council.
Thera Black, with the Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC), Michael Cade, with the Economic Development Council (EDC), and George Sharpe, with the Visitor Convention Bureau (VCB) are currently conducting research and activities that are consistent with and relate directly to the City’s proposed CRA effort to stimulate and attract quality investment. These organizations have agreed to partner with the City to help in the Committee’s current consultant selection work and discussions will continue on how these organizations may assist with future CRA work plan efforts.
At the October 12, 2012 meeting the Committee narrowed its decision to continue discussions with the following two firms:
A. National Development Council has 40 years experience helping communities build capacity through a wide range of technical expertise in training, community and economic development advisement, and direct real estate public and private financing services. In the State of Washington, they have provided assistance to Seattle, Tacoma, Yakima, Vancouver, Spokane, Bremerton, Bothell, Bellingham, Redmond, and the Counties of King, Clark and Pierce.
B. EcoNorthwest also has a wide range of experience in working on downtown redevelopment issues and, in response to the original Request for Qualifications, their initial proposal was to expand the public process to focus more on education, expectations and community visioning for downtown.
Proposed Next Steps:
• December 10 - Issue the Supplemental Questions to NDC and EcoNorthwest (Attachment 1)
• January 4 - Written response deadline
• January - Committee interview with Consultant firms
• January - Formulate recommendation to City Council on Consultant
• February - Committee Review of Consultant CRA Work Plan and Contract
• February/March - Committee Recommendation and Council Action on Consultant Work Plan Contract
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
To be addressed in the Work Plan.
Options:
1. Issue Supplemental Questions and schedule Consultant interviews.
2. Recommend that City Council not move forward with the creation of a Community Renewal Area.
Financial Impact:
The financial impact depends on the final scope of the Work Plan as part of a Professional Services Contract. The City originally estimated the cost at $80,000. The City was awarded a $25,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Community Revitalization Board (CERB).