The community development committee authorized the mayor to enter into an agreement with Town Planning Practice LLC to complete phase 2 of a zoning diagnostic and begin phase 3 of an update to the city’s zoning code.

City staff said the work began with a diagnostic of the city’s township‑era zoning code and that the consultant, Fred Guevara of Town Planning Practice LLC, had delivered the diagnostic and recommended a series of phases to revise the code. The new contract would let the consultant finish outstanding phase‑2 tasks (mainly revisions sought by the Planning & Zoning Commission) and launch the more labor‑intensive phase 3, which includes code restructuring and implementation work.

Council members asked whether the city should wait until phase 2 is fully complete before contracting for phase 3. Supporters said overlapping the last revisions of phase 2 with early phase‑3 work will keep momentum and limit pauses between public hearings and final drafts. One councilmember called the pause “another month” that would not meaningfully delay the overall project; another said the city had waited many years and should “keep the ball rolling.”

Staff clarified the two contract drafts showed a monthly rate discrepancy due to an earlier drafting error; the consultant’s proposed scope and his hourly/monthly assumptions had not materially changed. Council approved the resolution authorizing the phase‑2 completion and phase‑3 implementation work, with the contract to go into effect June 1.

The committee framed the zoning work as preparatory to development that would follow sewer and water extensions, and members said updated subdivision regulations, zoning districts and mixed‑use provisions will position the city to receive and shape future projects. The vote to adopt the resolution was recorded by the clerk at the committee meeting.