Lewiston board weighs switching engineering partners as general-plan work stalls

Board members on Oct. 1 discussed delays on Lewiston's general plan update and whether to seek an independent engineering firm after limited responsiveness from the municipality's previous contact.

Speaker 1 said recent outreach to Bear River has been silent; Speaker 2 said JUB and other firms can do general plans and may help identify grant funding. Speaker 2 cautioned that finding grant funding and completing a general-plan update typically takes time: "it'll take us probably a year to get funding, and then you're looking at another year to actually... to get a plan." Speaker 2 added most firms can find grants but the city may have to provide a modest local match.

Why it matters: The general plan shapes long-term decisions on lot sizes, infrastructure and where the city can accommodate growth. Board members expressed frustration at repeated delays and discussed moving forward with a firm that can both draft the plan and assist with funding applications.

Cost context and examples: Speaker 2 said a recent water project exceeded $8 million and required a local match of about $200,000; a general-plan/code update cost estimate was described as "100 and over a $100,000," indicating six-figure costs that the city is unlikely to fund entirely without grant support.

Next steps: The board asked staff to recontact Bear River for clarity and to explore alternatives such as JUB or Hansen Planning. Any decision about contracting for a general-plan update will depend on whether consultants can identify grants to offset upfront municipal costs.