Commission confirms HWC contract, expands focus‑group outreach for comprehensive plan

Commission staff reported that the county’s comprehensive‑plan contract with consultant HWC has been executed and that the engagement program will include more outreach than originally proposed.

Nathan (S1) told the commission the county negotiated four additional focus groups beyond the consultant’s initial proposal, bringing the plan to roughly eight targeted focus groups plus two or three public forums over the next 8–10 months to capture a broader range of perspectives. "We did squeeze, I think, 4 additional focus group meetings out of them beyond what they had proposed," Nathan said. He said the steering committee membership is being finalized and will include representation from commissioners, council representatives, redevelopment commission members and sector stakeholders; he estimated 15–20 participants for the steering committee.

Commissioners asked whether unaffiliated residents would be directly represented on the steering committee; Nathan said membership will be sector‑based rather than open resident seats but that public forums and focus groups will provide opportunities for general resident input. Staff will finalize the steering committee list and schedule the first meetings once commissioners confirm members.

Provenance: topicintro SEG 254, topfinish SEG 324.