Commission advances Main Street planning, staff to issue economic‑development RFP; commissioners press for in‑house coordinator

Coconut Creek staff said they will issue a request for proposals to engage consultants to develop a comprehensive economic development strategy that will evaluate city‑owned and privately owned parcels for redevelopment potential, with a focus on Main Street and other large shopping centers.

Veronica said the RFP scope will include city‑owned parcels within the Main Street area and privately owned properties that consultants recommend for redevelopment. Staff said consultants will assess redevelopment potential, alternative uses, incentives and staging, and that an associated long‑term financial analysis will examine fiscal impacts.

Several commissioners supported hiring an in‑house economic development coordinator to act as the city’s conduit to implement consultant recommendations and to pursue private‑sector recruitment. One commissioner said the city lost its previous economic development coordinator when the current city manager took office and asked that the budget include a program modification to add such a position to help run implementation and developer coordination.

Staff said they will move forward with the RFP and prepare a program modification to add a coordinator position if the commission prioritizes that request in the budget ranking process. Staff also said Block 13 in the Main Street area is slated for future development and that the CDD item related to the project will come to the commission on April 10.

The commission did not make a final staffing decision at the workshop; staff will return with the RFP, the proposed scope and cost estimates and any recommended program modifications for the FY2026 proposed budget.