Submittal Deadline: September 18, 2008, 4pm PT

Purpose
The Redmond Planning and Community Development Department is inviting qualified planning consultants, urban designers and multi-disciplinary firms to submit a proposal to provide professional services for the purpose of evaluating the various land use regulatory methodologies and alternatives appropriate for updating the City's existing zoning and subdivision ordinances – known as the Redmond Community Development Guide (RCDG).

The primary scope of work for this RFP is to evaluate the latest regulatory techniques employed in the writing of zoning codes to allow the City staff, once this first phase is complete, to produce a document that is reduced in size, easier to understand, simpler to administer, and clearly structured to promote achievement of adopted policies. This will result in a clearer understanding of the City's land use goals, development regulations, environmental standards, design criteria, and review process.

Existing Situation
The City completed major updates of the Redmond Community Development Guide (RCDG) in 1978, and in 1996. Since that time, the City has amended the code on numerous occasions to keep up with State mandates, the changing goals and vision of the City, as well as issues of concern to the community. The code in use on a daily basis by staff and the public is the result of several years of amendments that are at times unrelated, confusing, lengthy and/or contradictory. It is difficult to read, has conflicting standards, and has complex procedures. These attributes contribute to a difficult and confusing process for those who want to develop property in Redmond, and for citizens who want to participate in the review process. The code is in need of a comprehensive restructuring to update and improve overall clarity, conciseness and usability. The need for this project has been voiced by a wide range of interested groups that include residents, developers, representatives of the business community, City Council members, Planning Commissioners, and City staff. Interest in undertaking this work has been reinforced recently through feedback from the community and Council members.

Deliverables
The consulting firm shall provide, at a minimum, the items listed below. This list is not meant to be all inclusive. However it is expected that responses focus primarily on deliverable #1, with deliverables 2-5 being considered secondary elements of the proposal. Consulting firms have the opportunity to distinguish themselves through the description of deliverables in this proposal.

1. A written report outlining the recommended zoning method(s) best suited to the needs, goals, and character of the City based upon:
   • A comprehensive assessment and analysis of the City's existing RCDG, including the most recent and proposed amendments, to determine which of the available methodologies are best suited for the rewrite and restructuring of the RCDG.
   • A two-phase interview process with selected City staff, senior City management, elected and appointed City officials, members of the business and development community, and citizen and agency stakeholders to help the City define the most important qualities that the zoning code should exemplify.
   • A thorough review of the various land use regulatory methodologies and strategies available, including an evaluation of each method, its benefits and challenges.
   • A survey and analysis of various cities of similar size, character and/or demographics that are nationally recognized as having used the various methodologies, together with an analysis of the benefits and challenges that each city has experienced in implementing their chosen methodology.
   • Principles to guide the selection of appropriate land use management methods that are defined through the processes noted above. These principles should be used in guiding the recommendation.
2. Specific recommendations on how to:
   • Streamline and improve regulations pertaining to development review and approval processes, given the requirements and provisions of Revised Code of Washington Section 36.70B (Regulatory Reform)
   • Integrate sustainability initiatives into the RCDG
3. Specific recommendations on developing a work program strategy, including work program sequencing and prioritization of issues/elements, for staff to successfully accomplish the comprehensive re-write inclusive of the items listed above as well as:
   • How to successfully transition from the current RCDG framework to the new methodology/methodologies recommended for the re-write;
   • Integration and coordination of the various regulatory documents/approval procedures;
   • Recommendations to retain, amend or discard sections of the code as necessary; and recommendations of new sections needed to improve clarity and user-friendliness;
   • Recommendations as to how to structure the public participation and involvement process during the comprehensive re-write of the RCDG to successfully educate and involve the public in a meaningful and effective way;
   • Additional items identified by the consultant and City staff either before or during the course of the work.
4. The consultant shall provide information for publishing on the City's website to help explain the project process and progress, describe the consultant's credentials, and provide a forum for the public to record their comments and suggestions as the project unfolds. This should include text, photographs, maps, renderings, and other images for the web site.
5. A description of how the consultant will present the completed work product to the City, with, for example, an overview of how many drafts will be submitted to City staff for review and comment, and the number and estimated timing of public presentations to the Design Review Board, Planning Commission, City Council, etc.

Proposed Timeline
The City anticipates selection of a Consultant and City Council contract approval such that work commences no later than January 1, 2009.

Questions/Inquiries
Questions and inquiries concerning this RFP shall be e-mailed to Connie Allen, Purchasing Agent, at [email protected] no later than Friday September 12, 2008. For the purpose of fairness and consistency in responses to inquiries, inquiries and responses will be posted on the City's internet page.

The full RFP is available online at www.redmond.gov/insidecityhall/finance/bids.asp.