Council approves contract with GGLO for South Town Center master plan, budgeted from RPB funds

The Mill Creek City Council voted 6‑0 on May 27 to authorize the city manager to execute a professional services agreement with GGLO to prepare a South Town Center master plan, environmental impact statement and planned action ordinance for an amount not to exceed $658,521.

Ryan, the planning presenter, said the project will prepare an analysis, EIS, outreach and a planned action ordinance aimed at enabling mixed‑use redevelopment, coordinated infrastructure and business transition support for a roughly 40‑acre South Town Center area stretching from Mill Creek Town Center toward 160th Street. GGLO was selected after a competitive process; staff said the firm has experience in subarea master plans and implementation.

The contract price exceeds an earlier planning placeholder of $600,000. Staff reported that the city will cover the $58,521 difference by reallocating funds from the annual comp‑plan budget and other internal savings, with a potential to recoup up to about $50,000 in grants tied to stormwater and infrastructure analysis. A councilor raised concerns about whether the quote was reasonable; staff said GGLO was selected primarily for qualifications and implementation experience rather than lowest cost and that the project is fully funded without drawing additional taxes.

The scope includes outreach that emphasizes current business owners and operators and a business transition strategy—staff emphasized that some existing businesses that are conforming uses can remain under redevelopment scenarios. Key schedule points: phase‑one analysis and visioning through July; design exploration July–November; documentation and adoption targeted January–March 2026, with an early public visioning workshop and a community engagement presence planned for the Mill Creek Festival.

Council voted to extend the meeting before the item and then approved the resolution. The motion passed 6‑0.