R2001-180 AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT

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ECONOMIC AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT MEMO ' #01-98 � September 26, 2001 TO: Honorable Mayor Howley and City Council FROM: Steve Garm ity Manager � A. J. Krieger, conomic and Urban Development Departmen� Steven J. V Steenhuyse, Planning Manage��j J ' SUBJECT: Execution of a Contract with Goody, Clancy and Associates for Master Planning of the New Near North Neighborhood SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with the Goody, Clancy& Associates team for Master Planning of the New Near North Neighborhood, for a not-to-exceed labor cost of$245,000,with deliverables and travel expenses not to exceed $35,000 (total $280,000). BACKGROUND: In 1999 the Decatur Housing Authority received a$35 million Federal HOPE VI grant to demolish the Longview Place public housing project and redevelop the entire 120-acre Near North neighborhood. In the spring of 2001, the Department of Housing and Urban Development granted an extension of the 1999 grant and suggested that the City procure a master planner for the project. As a home rule municipality, the City is not subject to the same procurement requirements as the DHA, so the City is able to move more quickly and can use greater discretion in choosing a master planner for the site. In early July, staff issued a Request for Qualifications to 11 identified master planning consulting firms with HOPE VI experience. The City received three qualified responses. The qualifications were reviewed by a panel consisting of three City staff inembers, two DHA staffers the president of the REMCO Family Council, (REMCO is the Longview residents' association), and one community member at large. All three firms met the minimum qualifications, and were all invited to an interview. The Goody, Clancy&Associates team, which includes Reese Fayde Associates, and local firms PWC Engineering, Architectural Expressions and BLDD Architects, impressed the panel with the breadth of their HOPE VI master planning experience. In addition to Goody, Clancy's urban planning and architectural skills, Reese Fayde has extensive experience navigating and negotiating with HUD as well as conducting public participation. The local firms will bring local expertise to the project and keep some of the project funds in the local economy. While all three of the competing firms had excellent credentials, the Goody, Clancy&Associates team had the