The Community Development Corporation received an update on the village connection corridor and the scope of Haff & Associates’ (HAF) agreement, and board members asked staff to pause major additional design work until the CDC receives cost comparisons between sidewalk upgrades and a full 8‑foot trail alignment.

Phil reviewed the comprehensive plan language that called for exploring a trail connection along FM 407 (Justin Road) and explained HAF’s assignment to perform alignment assessment and grant‑positioning work. The consultant’s scope is intended to identify preferred alignments and position the city for grant funding that favors an 8‑foot trail over simple sidewalk repairs.

Board members emphasized they wanted a data‑driven decision and highlighted recent local changes — specifically school zone and busing rules — that may affect grant scoring for Safe Routes to School and similar programs. Several members asked staff to obtain an “opinion of probable cost” that quantifies the delta between reconstructing to an 8‑foot trail and filling sidewalk gaps so the CDC can decide whether to continue paying for further HAF work or instead invest in targeted sidewalk connections.

Phil confirmed the overall HAF contract (approximately $136,000 originally scoped) remains active but said the board’s direction would influence remaining consultant tasks. The CDC requested staff provide: (1) the percentage of HAF work completed to date and meeting notes; (2) an estimate of the additional cost if the study must explicitly evaluate both a trail (8 ft) and a sidewalk-based alternative and (3) opinion-of-probable-cost figures and linear footage for sidewalk completions needed to close the biggest gaps (Highland Forest to Walmart area). The board signaled preference for pursuing options that maximize grant points but asked for the cost comparison before authorizing more consultant spending.