Cookeville council approves up to $430,000 contract with ASA Engineering for Depot-area master plan

Cookeville City Council on Sept. 18 authorized a professional services agreement with ASA Engineering and Consulting to develop a master plan, site and civil engineering design and construction documents for the Depot-area project, with authorization for phases 1 and 2 not to exceed $430,000.

The presentation to council described the project area as roughly 10 acres near the depot and West Broad Street and outlined a four-phase approach. Council heard that phase 1 includes boundary, topographic and utility surveys, a traffic study, a preliminary master plan and final engineering design for a parking lot and utility relocation; staff stated the phase‑1 fee is $200,000. Staff said phases 1 and 2 together are budgeted at $430,000 and gave a preliminary schedule and public outreach plan.

Why it matters: The Depot-area master plan is intended to guide redevelopment of a key downtown site, including parking, street realignment and a central park-like area intended to tie into the historic district. The plan will shape future public improvements and possible public-private development.

What staff told the council

Mister Mills, a city staff member who presented the proposal, told the council the project area is "approximately 10 acres" bounded in his description by West Rock Street, North Cedar Avenue and South Oak Avenue. He described a four-phase scope and said the proposal for phases 1 and 2 is for professional services "not to exceed $430,000 for phases 1 and 2," subject to final contract revisions by the city manager and city attorney.

Mills outlined cost components on the record: he said phase 1 has a total fee of $200,000, broken into line items (surveying, diagnostics, preliminary master plan and final site/civil design for a parking lot and utility relocation), and that phase 2 would complete the final master plan and street engineering. He said the work will include significant data gathering and public outreach, with multiple focus groups and public meetings scheduled starting this month and continuing through fall 2025.

Council reaction and next steps

Council members responding at the meeting said they were enthusiastic about the concept for downtown and noted there would be public meetings and additional staff work before construction. Staff said phase 3 (park and streetscape work) and phase 4 (future mixed-use areas) could change substantially based on public input and the final master plan and that pricing for those phases is not yet determined.

Following presentation and brief discussion the council voted 5–0 to approve the agreement and authorize execution subject to any corrections the city manager or city attorney require. Staff noted final contract language will be completed before signature and that the project schedule is aggressive as described.

Contract terms and schedule (as stated in the meeting record)

- Project area: described by staff as approximately 10 acres surrounding the depot and West Broad Street. - Phase 1: boundary/topographic/utility surveys, traffic study, preliminary master plan, final engineering for parking and utility relocation; staff stated a total fee of $200,000 and a projected completion date of "December 26" for phase 1 as presented at the meeting. - Phases 1 and 2 combined: authorized not to exceed $430,000 for the professional services described for phases 1 and 2. - Public outreach: multiple focus groups and public meetings to gather input; final master plan to be delivered after outreach and design tasks.

What was not specified

Staff did not provide final contract language at the meeting and said phases 3 and 4 have not been priced. The transcript does not specify exact contract start dates, funding source for the $430,000 authorization, or whether the city will fund the work from existing budgets or request new appropriations.

Implementation notes

Staff said the agreement is subject to final review and that the city manager and city attorney would clear any corrections before execution. The council directed staff to proceed with the public-engagement schedule and the phased design approach.