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Yelm council approves $20,000 consultant contract to guide Southern Loop Boulevard negotiations
Summary
The Yelm City Council on June 9 approved a professional services agreement, not to exceed $20,000, to hire consultant Bob Stowe (Stow Development Strategies) to assist in negotiating a development agreement with Blueburn and to evaluate incremental taxing options to help fund the Southern Loop Boulevard and related infrastructure.
The Yelm City Council approved a professional services agreement on June 9 authorizing up to $20,000 to retain expertise from Stow Development Strategies to assist with a proposed development agreement with a developer identified in the discussion as Blueburn and to evaluate an incremental taxing district to fund Southern Loop Boulevard infrastructure.
A staff presenter told the council the consultant ‘‘has extensive experience in leading, managing, coordinating, and implementing a wide variety of complex and multi‑faceted projects, including master plans,’’ and recommended hiring him to protect the city’s interests during negotiations and to explore financing options that could cover critical infrastructure over the next 20 years or more.
Council member Wood moved to approve the contract not to exceed $20,000. The motion passed by voice vote; no roll‑call tally was recorded in the transcript.
Staff said the work would include negotiating the development agreement with Blueburn and assessing whether an incremental taxing district would be the best financing tool for the Southern Loop Boulevard and associated infrastructure. The presenter said additional services and agreements with the consultant ‘‘may come forward in the future depending upon the work and type of assistance needed moving forward.’’
City officials described the consultant’s role as providing a mix of legal, financial and planning expertise that the city’s current staff, bond counsel and finance director do not possess in‑house. The council did not identify a timeline for final decisions about the development agreement; staff said the consultant’s input will guide master‑plan development and funding choices.
The vote authorized the contract; the agreement’s detailed scope and any future related contracts were said to be subject to additional council review and possible subsequent approvals.
Next steps: staff will proceed with the consultant engagement and return to council as work products or further contracts require action.
