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Sandy retains consultant for downtown economic development; committee debates scope and funding split with urban renewal
Summary
The Sandy Budget Committee on May 5 reviewed a two‑year, $120,000 consulting retainer to support downtown economic development and storefront recruitment, with $30,000 charged to the city budget and $90,000 to the Urban Renewal Agency.
The Sandy Budget Committee on May 5 reviewed funding to retain an economic‑development consultant to pursue short‑term projects such as filling vacant downtown storefronts and supporting longer‑term development goals. The consultant contract is a $5,000 monthly retainer over 24 months, totaling $120,000; the proposed budget charges $30,000 to the city’s economic development budget and $90,000 to the Urban Renewal Agency.
“Much of their work will be occurring in the Urban Renewal District,” Tyler (city staff) told the committee. He described a 75/25 split with urban renewal picking up the larger share because about 90% of the vacant commercial opportunities are inside the renewal district.
Several committee members said the $30,000 allocation in the city budget sounded small for the city’s needs. “$30,000… that comes to only two and a half weeks [of consulting] each year at $125 an hour,” Budget Committee member Jan Lee said, arguing the city may need more capacity for proactive recruitment. Tyler and others clarified that the $30,000 is the city’s portion of a $120,000 retainer and that the Urban Renewal budget includes additional professional services and grant funding to support consultant work.
The committee also discussed constraints from the city’s sewer ERU (equivalent residential unit) moratorium. Staff explained that some existing vacant storefronts already have ERUs assigned and therefore could be filled without adding sewer capacity; however, changes of use that require new plumbing (for example, a restaurant) would increase ERU demand and could be constrained under DEQ‑ordered limits.
Members urged stronger local management of consultant work so contractors produce actionable results. “Without some sort of guidance… you’re not gonna get the contractor to be in the real world,” councilor and committee members said during the discussion, pressing for staff leadership and clearer priorities when the consultant begins work.
Committee members flagged a May 19 work session with the city council and the Economic Development Advisory Board to refine priorities and the consultant’s scope of work.
Ending: The committee accepted the budget presentation and agreed to continue policy discussion at the May 19 session; committee members asked staff to return with clearer staffing and ERU‑allocation updates at that meeting.
