Commission reviews comprehensive plan and approves RFP to update plan

The Newton Planning Commission completed its annual review of the city’s comprehensive plan and voted to accept the existing plan as reviewed. Commissioners also approved issuing a request for proposals (RFP) to hire a consultant to prepare a 10‑year comprehensive plan update.

Planning staff explained Kansas statute requires an annual review of the comprehensive plan and said the packet included a draft RFP for a consultant. The proposed RFP would scoping a 10‑year plan (rather than the 20‑year horizon in the current plan) and set an evaluation process. Staff proposed a selection committee of six people: one city commissioner, two planning commission members and three city staff (city manager, planning director and the planning/zoning administrator). The RFP was slated to post the next day (February 4) with a submission window of a little over six weeks and a proposal deadline around April 1.

Commissioners asked about technological recommendations (including possible consideration of AI or smart‑city technology) as part of the consultant scope; planning staff said those topics were appropriate under the request for recommendations but that the city is still developing an internal policy on AI usage. A motion to accept the comprehensive plan review and to release the RFP passed by voice vote.