Ramsey County updates procurement, goals for Rice Creek Commons development

Ramsey County commissioners said the county and Joint Development Authority (JDA) are reviewing past requests for proposals and procurement processes and working to refine the Rice Creek Commons project’s goals and evaluation rubrics before moving forward with developer outreach.

Commissioner, District 1, who reported the update, told colleagues the JDA and city and county staff have held multiple meetings and workshops since the last formal board meeting to review lessons from earlier solicitations and to “reflect on all of the goals, the guidelines, the rubrics” for the project. The commissioner said the work aims to ensure the county issues procurement documents that are realistic given current market, financial and technical constraints.

The report said staff were assigned to research a set of “what if” questions raised in the reflection process, including financial, technical and logistical items and issues of political will. County leaders said they are not considering major overhauls of the project at this time, but seek clearer language about what the county can deliver and what kinds of proposals the county has capacity and appetite to pursue.

Commissioners said clarifying those themes will help shape the next steps in procurement so that the county and partner cities can move “quickly and productively” when they reopen developer outreach. No formal vote or new contract award was reported during the update.

The presentation repeated that the Rice Creek Commons project remains framed around increasing affordable housing, job creation and broader sustainability goals, but that staff want procurement materials that reflect the realistic capacities of the county and its partners. County leaders said they will return with further updates as staff research and workshop results are completed.

A follow-up workshop and procurement timeline were not specified in the meeting record.