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Planning commission tables countywide impact-fee RFP; asks staff to collect edits
Summary
Lancaster County planning commissioners discussed a draft request for proposals (RFP) to hire a consultant for a countywide impact-fee study, raised questions about scope and timing, and voted to defer action to the October public meeting so staff can incorporate commissioner edits and get answers from absent consultants.
Lancaster County Planning Commission members on Oct. 22 discussed a draft request for proposals to hire a consultant to complete a countywide impact-fee study and voted to defer formal action until the commission’s October public meeting.
The planning commission chair opened the item by explaining the document’s purpose: “This is a the RFP request for the proposal to have the, to find a consultant to do the countywide impact study,” and said the draft lists the topics the county expects the consultant to address. Planning staff said the draft will be sent out for bids once the commission approves it.
Commissioners raised several substantive questions about the RFP’s scope. One commissioner asked why the draft names specific services — sheriff, emergency medical services and parks and recreation — rather than leaving the eligible services broad. Planning staff replied that state law limits the services that can be funded through impact fees and that, per the presentation the commission had previously received, fire was omitted from this study because the county is examining other funding sources for that service. The chair added that the school district is pursuing its own schedule and consultant for school impact fees.
Several commissioners asked for clearer deadlines in the RFP. Planning staff said a statutory minimum bid period applies to government procurements; the selected consultant’s contract would set the study schedule because consultants typically define the time they need to reconcile and validate data.
Commissioners requested additional information from the absent consultant referenced in the prior workshop presentation, including more detail on the alternate funding sources for fire, and asked that staff incorporate typographic edits submitted in hard copy.
Because commissioners want to see those clarifications and edits incorporated before voting, the commission made and approved a motion to table the RFP until the October full meeting. Planning staff asked commissioners to submit additional comments within seven days so staff can gather responses and update the draft in time for the public agenda. The motion to defer passed, recorded in the meeting as 6 in favor, 9 against.
