Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Downtown Planning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Madeira council tables contract with Urban Fast Forward for downtown planning
Summary
Madeira City Council discussed a proposed six-month consulting contract with Urban Fast Forward to shape downtown development but voted unanimously to table Resolution 13-26 after discussion; the contract would have included public vetting, benchmarks and architectural renderings.
Madeira City Council on Feb. 9 discussed Resolution 13-26, a proposed contract authorizing the city manager to engage Urban Fast Forward for economic development consulting to shape a long-term vision for downtown, then voted to table the resolution by a 7-0 roll call vote.
City Manager Michael Norton-Smith summarized the proposal as a second phase of work tied to the 2023 Comprehensive Plan, saying the contract would run about six months, include benchmarks and deliverables, involve public vetting meetings and collaborate with an architectural firm to produce visuals and renderings. Council Member Chad Shaffer and Council Member Logan Junger described the work as community-driven and timely given recent construction in portions of downtown; Council Member Ramzi Takieddine urged use of chamber and committee resources to influence the retail landscape.
David Peterson, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, spoke during public comment in support of the resolution, saying the Chamber is "in full support of Resolution 13-26 and downtown planning," and that developers are showing interest in Madeira.
A motion to approve Resolution 13-26 was made by Council Member Logan Junger and seconded by Dr. Jodi Whitted; the minutes record that a subsequent procedural motion to table the resolution passed by a 7-0 roll call. The minutes do not specify who moved to table. The council did not adopt the contract at the meeting; no dollar figures, contract cost or funding source for the consulting work are recorded in the minutes.
Council members did not record further conditions or a date for when the resolution will return to a future agenda. The Economic Development Committee had earlier given unanimous support for the proposal and said recommendations would come to council in real time as they evolve.
