HomeMy WebLinkAbout#19 - RFP for Comp Plan UpdateMAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
DATE: 11/15/2016
CONSENT
ITEM #: 19
AGENDA ITEM: 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update RFP
SUBMITTED BY: Stephen Wensman, Planning Director
THROUGH: Kristina Handt, City Administrator
REVIEWED BY: Cathy Bendel, Finance Director
Jack Griffin, City Engineer
Mike Bent, Building Official
Rob Weldon, Public Works Director
BACKGROUND:
All cities, within the seven-county metropolitan region must prepare a comprehensive plan and update
that plan as needed every 10 years. The City’s Comprehensive Plan update is due to be submitted to the
Metropolitan Council on December 31, 2018. The intent is to get the Council’s approval tonight, in order
to advertise the Request for Proposals, to have proposals submitted to the City by the end of the year, and
to have a consultant hired by March 1, 2017. Staff has prepared a Request for Proposal for City Council
approval.
ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL:
To approve a Request for Proposal for Comprehensive Planning Services.
PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS:
The purposed of the (RFP) Request for Proposal is to solicit professional comprehensive planning
services to assist the City in its 2040 Comprehensive Plan update. A primary focus of the RFP is to seek
assistance with community engagement and the identification of a shared vision of the long term future
design and character of the community. The consultant will also be responsible for updating the required
chapters of the Comprehensive Plan: Land Use, Natural Resources Protection, Transportation, Surface
Water, Wastewater Facilities, Water Supply, Parks and Trails, Housing and Implementation. The utilities
and transportation sections of the Comprehensive Plan update will be coordinated with the City Engineer,
Focus Engineering.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The project budget is dependent on the receipt of qualified bids.
City Council Meeting 11/15/2016 Consent Agenda Item #19
Page 2
OPTIONS:
Staff is respectfully requesting that the Council either approve the RFP as part of the Consent Agenda, or
move the item to the Regular Agenda and recommend changes as needed.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff respectfully requests that the City Council approve the RFP for the 2040 Comprehensive Plan
update as part of tonight’s Consent Agenda.
If removed from the Consent Agenda, Staff recommends the following motion:
“Move to approve the RFP for the 2040 Comprehensive Plan update as amended”
ATTACHMENTS:
2040 Comprehensive Plan Update Request for Proposals
City of Lake Elmo
2040 Comprehensive Plan Update
Request for Proposal
A. INTRODUCTION
The City of Lake Elmo is designated as Rural Residential, Emerging Suburban Edge by the
Metropolitan Council. The City is located in the center of Washington County bound by
Oakdale to the west, State Highway 36 to the north, Interstate 94 to the south and Manning
Avenue to the east. The city is 24.36 square miles and has an estimated population of 8,643
(by the State Demographer’s estimate in 2015). The City is facing significant development
pressure and its population is expected to grow to 18,200 by 2040 according to the
Metropolitan Council. The City has long valued its rural character and has sought to preserve
open space while it develops. The Comprehensive Plan update is expected to provide a vision
for future development, balancing the community’s desire to preserve its rural character, while
meeting local and regional needs.
B. SCOPE OF SERVICES
The City of Lake Elmo is seeking a consultant (which may be a single firm or a consultant
team consisting of individuals and/or firms with specialized expertise) to update the city’s
Comprehensive Plan. The desired outcome is to update and improve upon the 2030
Comprehensive Plan to reflect the changes in the community since the previous plan was
adopted and project future changes based on a community vision for the future. An updated
Comprehensive Plan will serve as a guide to the City’s decision making and development to
the year 2040. The final scope of services will be developed in collaboration with the
selected consultant. The components of the plan will, at a minimum, will include:
1. Public Participation Process - Develop, coordinate and conduct a creative public
participation process that engages a wide-range of community members to gather
input and to establish a community vision for the future development of the City. The
interaction and participation of residents (including those unlikely to participate in
standard workshop style community engagement), business leaders, elected officials,
City commissions and committees and administration is critical for the development
and success of the plan and to obtain community ownership of the final product. The
public participation process should result in high quality public outreach materials
graphically and in writing describing facts, findings, analysis, and alternatives for public
meetings, open houses, webpage and hearings.
City of Lake Elmo Comprehensive Plan Update RFP
Page 2
2. Vision/Overview of the Plan – Provide a vision or alternative visions of the long term
future design and character of the community. The vison will represent interests of a
broad range of citizens rather than a few special interest groups.
3. Background – Provide and analyze the historical background of development in the
City. Include current conditions and trends as well as emerging issues that will have
long-term implications.
4. Assumptions – Analyze the assumed effects of external forces (physical, social,
economic and political) on the future of the city. Issues and forecasts of local and
regional growth will be included.
5. Planning Elements - Review, update and revise, as appropriate, the contents of the
Comprehensive Plan, along with updating technical and supporting data in order to
develop a more concise and usable document that is informative to long range
planning.
6. Implementation – Develop an implementation plan with strategies and
implementation measures to accomplish the goals and objectives of the plan.
The following describes the specific minimum components which should be included in the
scope of work. The City Council and City staff will finalize the scope of work with the selected
consultant prior to contract authorization. The City is open to suggestions other than those
items listed that the consultant believes will be of value in producing a viable
Comprehensive Plan that will have practical applications for day‐to‐day and long-term
planning activities.
Metropolitan Council Requirements
The consultant will be responsible for ensuring that the comprehensive plan update
complies with all Minnesota Statutes and Metropolitan Council requirements, including
those contained in the Thrive MSP 2040 system statements as well as the minimum
requirements contained in the Local Planning Handbook for Lake Elmo.
Comprehensive Plan Chapters
Each chapter of the existing comprehensive plan is in need of differing levels of revision. It
is anticipated that upon review of the existing plan, each consultant will provide its insight
as to the best method to implement these and other revisions. All updates should account
for changes in physical development over the past decade and community preferences for
future development. The consultant will work with the City to determine to what extent
revisions are needed. The chapters include:
1. Introduction: Provide an introduction chapter that describes the planning process, the
community vision and summarizes the plan revisions and the additional planning that
has been put in place since the previous update.
2. Vision for Lake Elmo: Provide a vision or alternative visions of the long term future
design and character of the community. The vision or visions should clearly provide a
vision or visions for the old village, sewered areas and rural areas in the city, balancing
City of Lake Elmo Comprehensive Plan Update RFP
Page 3
the need for growth and rural preservation. The vison will represent interests of a
broad range of citizens rather than a few special interest groups.
3. Land Use: Provide an overview of current land use. Review current land use, including
amount of undeveloped land for each use, to identify parcels or areas with
inappropriate land use designations and provide guidance for their future use and
development. Evaluate the land use category designations and their descriptions to
determine whether they are suitable or should be broadly reconsidered or slightly
revised to better define the intent of each category. Assess whether change to or the
establishment of planning districts would be beneficial . Review and update the village
land use guidance to reflect the city’s vision for the village.
4. Natural Resources Protection: Update the current conditions identified in the 2030
Comprehensive Plan.
5. Transportation: Update the city’s current transportation systems to address changes to
future land use patterns. The content in this chapter will be updated in conjunction
with the City’s engineering consultant.
6. Surface Water: Review of the city’s current water resources plan to update it to meet
the requirements of the State Statutes, the Metropolitan Council, and local Watershed
Districts. The content in this chapter will be updated in conjunction with the City’s
engineering consultant.
7. Wastewater Facilities: Update the city’s municipal wastewater facilities and subsurface
treatment facilities to ensure conformance with our Thrive MSP 2040 and future land
use patterns. The content in this chapter will be updated in conjunction with the City’s
engineering consultant.
8. Water Supply: Review and update the city’s current water supply plan. The water
supply plan needs to integrate water supply planning with land and resource planning.
The content in this chapter will be updated in conjunction with the City’s engineering
consultant.
9. Parks and Trails: Work with the City’s Parks Commission to update the current
conditions as identified in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. Analyze the availability,
usage, and management of the city’s current parks, trails, and open space and the
future needs based on changes in demographics and land use.
10. Housing: Analyze the availability, usage, and future housing needs based on the prior
and projected changes in demographics and any proposed changes in land use. The
Washington County CDA can serve as a resource for this element.
11. Implementation: Updates to this chapter will be necessary to account for how the
community has changed since the adoption of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan and to
reflect updated goals and policies of the body of the plan.
C. REQUIRED PROPOSAL CONTENT
City of Lake Elmo Comprehensive Plan Update RFP
Page 4
The following material must be received by 12:00 noon (CDT) on Thursday, December
22, 2016 for a proposing consultant to be considered. During the evaluation process,
however, the City of Lake Elmo shall reserve the right to request additional information
or clarifications from a consultant, or to allow corrections of errors and/or omissions.
Cover Letter/Title Page: Title page showing the following: request for proposal’s subject;
the consultant’s name, address, telephone and email address of the contact person; and
the date of the proposal.
Transmittal Letter: A signed letter of transmittal briefly demonstrating the consultant’s
understanding of the work to be performed, committing to perform the work within
requested time periods, explaining why the consultant’s believes that it is best qualified
to perform the services, and stating that the proposal is an irrevocable offer.
Statement of Qualifications: Submitted materials should demonstrate the qualifications
of the consultant’s and of the particular staff to be assigned to this engagement.
General Information: Provide general information and a brief history of the consultant’s
firm. Include similar information on key sub-consultants, if any, proposed for the
project.
Introduction and Executive Summary: Provide the following information concerning your
firm:
Firm name and business address, including telephone number, fax number, and
email address.
Year established (include former names and year established, if applicable)
Type of ownership and parent company, if any
Project manager’s name, mailing address, and telephone number, if different
from Item 1. In the Executive Summary, highlight the major facts and features of
the proposal, including any conclusions, assumptions, and recommendations
you desire to make.
Project Understanding: Include a summary of the consultant’s understanding of this
project as described in the Scope of Services. Discuss and clearly explain the methodology
that your firm proposes to use to satisfactorily achieve the required services on this
project. The respondent must document their clear understanding of the RFPs entire
scope of work and project intent for the City of Lake Elmo Comprehensive Plan Update,
data requirements, and public participation process. Include all aspects of technical
analysis, projections, advanced technology and software, and public participation
processes. Address any unique situations that may affect timely, satisfactory completion
of this project.
Personnel Qualifications – For each member of the professional staff proposed to be
assigned to this engagement, please provide the following information:
Identification of key personnel who will manage the project and who can negotiate
and execute a contract.
City of Lake Elmo Comprehensive Plan Update RFP
Page 5
Names and proposed roles of other individual team members.
Education and experience biographies of all team members addressing the
qualifications and considerations of the RFP.
Describe the qualifications of the consultant to perform the work requested.
Include information about pertinent prior experience.
An outline of the proposed functions of the individuals and their back-up
as well as their experience in the specific assigned functions.
References:
Include a list of municipal clients where similar services were (or are currently being)
provided by the professional staff proposed along with the name and telephone number
of a person who may be contacted at that municipality.
Include a list of private clients for whom work has been or is being performed within Lake
Elmo, the type of project, the specific activities performed, and the name of a person
who may be contacted at the private client.
Proposal: The purpose of the technical proposal is to demonstrate how the consultant, as
a team and as individuals, will contribute to the comprehensive planning effort. The
substance of the proposal will carry more weight than form or manner of presentation;
the proposal should be complete and concise.
Proposed Work Plan and Tasks: Provide specific approaches, methods, and assumptions
that will be utilized to accomplish each work item in the Scope of Services.
Schedule: Provide a proposed schedule from project initiation (March 1, 2017) to final
completion. The schedule should include a listing of key tasks within each phase, key
milestones and approximate dates, and deliverables.
Additional Information:
Include any other information that is believed to be pertinent, but not
specifically requested elsewhere in this RFP.
Describe the consultant’s use of technology to enhance client services or
reduce costs, including how the consultant leverages technology to do so.
Describe research capabilities and references utilized.
Provide a statement on the consultant’s capacity to perform the work and what
kind of priority it would be given, including capability to maintain reasonable
response times.
Compensation/Fee Schedule: Identify pricing for each segment of the scope listed below:
The consultant shall break out the cost as follows:
Proposed cost for each scope of work listed in Section B - Scope of Services.
City of Lake Elmo Comprehensive Plan Update RFP
Page 6
Hourly rates for all consultant employees who are expected to work on the project.
These rates shall be the agreed upon rates for any additional services requested by
the City of Lake Elmo above what is detailed in the RFP.
Reimbursable costs include detail of service or item and applicable charge per unit.
Not to exceed cost for the Project.
If multiple consultants are collaborating on the RFP submittal, please identify the
specific segment of the scope for each assigned consultant and the associated pricing.
Provide a fee schedule for incidental/disbursement services and any other costs the city
will be charged in addition to those previously noted.
D. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
Inquiries: All responses, questions, and correspondence should be directed to Stephen
Wensman, Planning Director for City of Lake Elmo, using the contact information below.
In the interest of fairness to all respondents, please do not contact other staff or elected
or appointed officials unless instructed to do so.
Stephen Wensman
City of Lake Elmo
3800 Laverne Avenue N.
Lake Elmo, MN 55042
swensman@lakeelmo.org
651.747-3911
Proposal Submission: One electronic copy of the proposal, in Adobe PDF format, and six
paper copies of the proposal shall be submitted to the addresses above. The submission
deadline is 12:00 noon (CDT) on December 22, 2016
Timeline: Lake Elmo’s anticipated timeline for the consultant team selection process is as
follows, although the dates may be subject to change as the City deems necessary.
RFP Invitations Sent November 18, 2016
Proposals Due December 22, 2016
City Council Review of proposal Invitation of selected
consultants
January 3, 2017
Schedule Consultant Interviews January 4-10, 2017
Selection of Consultant January 17, 2017
Negotiation and finalization of contract January-February 2017
Commencement of new contract March 1, 2017
E. PROPOSAL REVIEW
Qualification Based Selection: The City of Lake Elmo intends to select and award a
contract to the consultant (or consultant team) evaluated to be best qualified to perform
the work in the Scope of Services based on extent and quality of consultant’s resources,
City of Lake Elmo Comprehensive Plan Update RFP
Page 7
cost, communication and presentation skills, compatibility, and quality and extent of
experience. Other performance factors may also be considered.
Qualified consultants will have:
demonstrated experience in municipal comprehensive planning;
well-developed skills and experience in designing and facilitating a thorough,
effective public engagement strategy;
familiarity with the Metropolitan Council’s comprehensive planning
requirements and recommendations; and
expertise in land use planning, urban design, landscape architecture, housing,
and economic development.
Review and Recommendation Process: Based upon review of the submitted proposals a
selected number of consultants will be asked to interview by the City Council for final
selection.
Financial Liability Limitations: The City shall not be liable for any expenses incurred by
the applicant in connection with this solicitation, including but not limited to expenses
associated with the preparation of the statement, attendance at interviews, preparation
of compensation fees schedule, or final contract negotiations.
Rights of Review: The City reserves the right to reject any and all proposals or to request
additional information from any and all applicants.
Selection Criteria: The Lake Elmo City Council will evaluate the written proposals based
on, but not limited to, the following ranking criteria:
1. Understanding the Scope-of-Work and Proposed Project Approach- a maximum of 50
points.
Does the consultant demonstrate an understanding of the study objectives?
What is the consultant’s approach to performing the scope-of-work
effectively and efficiently?
What is the consultant’s proposed public input plan?
2. Related Experience on Similar Projects – a maximum of 25 points.
Demonstration of personal and leadership skills necessary to navigate the project
through the social and political issues.
Description of a proven track record in successfully completing similar projects on
time and within budget. Successful experience of both the firm and the individual
team members will be considered. What will be the assigned role of each team
member?
How familiar is the consultant with this kind of work in communities with similar
demographics? Does the consultant have a history of successfully completing
similar kinds of studies?
What experience does the consultant have with effective community/public
engagement?
City of Lake Elmo Comprehensive Plan Update RFP
Page 8
3. Schedule – a maximum of 10 points.
What is the consultant’s proposed project schedule and the staffing plan that will
facilitate completion of the Plan in a timely manner. How many on-site
visits/meetings are planned?
Does the consultant and team members devote the time and resources per scope
of work category necessary to successfully complete this project on time?
4. Cost – a maximum of 15 points.
Does the consultant demonstrate successful budget performance and experience
meeting project budgets?
Description of approach to budgeting.
Presentation of the consultant’s best offer – “not to exceed”
Each proposal will be evaluated on the above ranking criteria. After RFP review, the Council will
schedule oral interviews. The City Council will determine which firm would best provide the
services requested by the RFP.
Equal Employment Opportunity: In connection with this proposal and any subsequent contract,
the consultant shall not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment
because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability, sex, or status regarding public
assistance. The consultant will take action to ensure that its employees are fairly treated during
employment without regard to their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital
status, disability, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, and age in
accordance with Minnesota Statute 363A. Such actions shall include, but not be limited to the
following: employment, promotion, demotion, or transfer; recruitment or recruitment
advertising, layoff or termination; rate of pay or other forms of compensation; and selection for
training, including internship and/or apprenticeship. The consultant further agrees to insert a
similar provision in all subcontracts, except subcontract for standard commercial supplies or
raw materials. The consultant will furnish all necessary information and reports and federal
agencies, for purpose of investigation to ascertain compliance with non-discrimination
provisions or any resultant contract.
Ownership, Publication, Reproduction, and Use of Materials: All work products of the
contractor, which results from this contract, are the exclusive property of the City of Lake Elmo.
No material produced in whole or part under the negotiated contract shall, during the life of the
negotiated contract, be subject to copyright in the United States or in any other country.
Permission and approval must be obtained from the City of Lake Elmo before any report,
handbook, manual, interim data, or results are published in any medium. Draft copies of all
deliverables must be prepared by the consultant, and reviewed for approval by the City of Lake
Elmo before publication. The consultant, subject to the approval by the City of Lake Elmo, shall
have the authority to publish, disclose, distribute, and otherwise use in whole and part, any
reports, data, or other materials prepared under the negotiated contract. All maps provided for
each item identified in the scope of work to clarify findings, data, projections, and trends must
be clear and concise in their purpose and delivery. When available, GIS information shall be
provided to the City in electronic form compatible with or easily converted to ArcGIS software.
Conflicts of Interest: No official or employee of the City of Lake Elmo who is authorized in his
official capacity to negotiate, accept, or approve, or to take part in negotiating, accepting, or
City of Lake Elmo Comprehensive Plan Update RFP
Page 9
approving any contract or subcontract in connection with a project shall have, directly or
indirectly, any financial or other personal interest in any such contract or subcontract. No
engineer, attorney, appraiser, inspector, or other person performing services for the City of
Lake Elmo in connection with the project shall have, directly or indirectly, a financial or other
personal interest other than his employment or retention by the City of Lake Elmo in any
contract or subcontract in connection with such project. No officer or employee of such person
retained by the City of Lake Elmo shall have, directly or indirectly, any financial or other
personal interest in a project unless such interest is openly disclosed upon the public records of
the City of Lake Elmo.
Subcontracting: The contractor may, with prior approval from the City of Lake Elmo,
subcontract as necessary to accomplish the contract objectives. Subcontracts shall contain all
applicable provisions of the agreement, and copies of the subcontract must be filed with the
City of Lake Elmo.
Responsibility for Acceptance: The City of Lake Elmo will, in all cases, determine the quality,
acceptability, and fitness of the deliverable products that are to be paid for and will decide all
questions that may arise as to the fulfillment of the contract. The City Council will ultimately
make the decision for acceptance/rejection of any submitted proposals. The Planning
Commission’s role shall be recommendatory in nature. The City of Lake Elmo will have the right
to correct any clerical, mathematical, or minor errors or omissions in the technical specifications
when such corrections are necessary for the proper fulfillment of this document.
Assignment: The contractor shall not assign or transfer the contractor’s interest in the
negotiated contract without the express written consent of the City of Lake Elmo.
Termination: The right is reserved by either party to terminate the negotiated contract with or
without cause at any time if the recipient does not comply with the provisions of the
negotiated contract or its attachments. If the City of Lake Elmo terminates the negotiated
contract, it reserves the right to take such action, as it deems necessary and appropriate to
protect the interests of the City of Lake Elmo. Such action may include refusing to make any
additional reimbursements of funds and requiring the return of all or part of any funds that
have already been disbursed.
Amendments: The terms of the negotiated contract shall not be waived, altered, modified,
supplemented, or amended in any manner whatsoever, except by written instrument signed by
the parties.
Successors in Interest: The provisions of the negotiated contract shall be binding upon and shall
ensure to the benefit of the parties hereby, and their respective successors and assigns.
Waivers: The failure of the City of Lake Elmo to enforce any provisions of this contract shall not
constitute a waiver by the City of Lake Elmo of that or any other provision.
Notice: All notices, certificates, or other communications shall be sufficiently given when
delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, to the parties at their respective places of business as
designated hereafter in writing by the parties.
Hold Harmless: The contractor shall save and hold harmless the City of Lake Elmo, its officer,
agents, employees, and members from all claims, suits, or actions of whatsoever nature resulting
from or arising out of the activities of the contractor or its subcontractors, agents, or employees
under the negotiated contract. It is hereby understood and agreed that any and all employees of
the contractor and all other persons employed by the contractor in the performance of any of
City of Lake Elmo Comprehensive Plan Update RFP
Page 10
the services required or provided for under the negotiated contract shall not be considered
employees of the City of Lake Elmo and that any and all claims that may arise under the Worker’s
Compensation Act on behalf of said employees while so engaged and any and all claims by and
third parties as a consequence of any act or omission on the part of said contractor’s employees
while so engaged in any of the services to be rendered under the negotiated contract by the
contractor shall in no way be the obligation or responsibility of the City of Lake Elmo.
AVAILABLE RESOURCES
The following documents are available on the City’s website ( www.lakeelmo.org ):
2030 Comprehensive Plan
City of Lake Elmo Code of Ordinance
The City of Lake Elmo has GIS parcel level data from Washington County available in addition to
Pictometry imagery, Bee-Hive infrastructure data. Washington County data is available for some
traffic data.
Firms are encouraged during the proposal preparation process to contact the City of Lake Elmo to
determine exactly what resources will be available.