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The Town Council has approved an agreement with a planning consultant for services related to the update of the General Plan for 2020.
The contract with Tucson-based The Planning Center is for an initial one year and includes two one-year options for renewal. The maximum total cost is $100,000.
Town Manager Grady Miller told the council staff reviewed the RFPs received from several firms and decided on The Planning Center.
“We feel they are the best qualified to assist the town with this project,” Miller said. “[This] firm is the best fit for the town.”
The current General Plan was approved by the Town Council in January 2010 and ratified by voters in May 2010. In the past 10 years there have been five amendments to the plan.
State law requires an update every 10 years or re-adoption of the existing plan. Staff determined the update is appropriate due to changes in environment and economic influences.
Resident Bob Shelstrom asked what the minimum cost of such a project would be.
“Could we spend $20,000 and get what is required, and paying the additional $80,000 for ‘bells and whistles,’” Shelstrom asked.
He also asked what others pay for the same services.
Miller said staff has gone through a process to determine the scope of services needed and found the costs are consistent across the board. He also said the cost to the town to develop the 2010 update was $95,000, so it is showing only modest increase over the past decade.
“We just don’t have the staff to do this internally,” Miller said. “We are getting a lot for what we are paying. I would stop short of calling this a bargain, but we are getting good value.”
The Planning Center will work from its Tempe office on this project and is teaming with three other firms for collaboration. Bowman Consulting is an engineering consultant; Elliott D. Pollack is a firm specializing in economic aspects of planning; and Contract Planning Services are municipal ordinance experts with a focus toward implementation.
The team will be working with staff and receiving public input to develop the update over the next year to be ready for adoption in 2020.
