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 organizati...
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