REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL:

ZONING ORDINANCE REWRITE/CONSOLIDATED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE

Monroe County, Indiana, (2015 population 144,705) is accepting proposals from qualified professional consultants and firms for the updating and rewriting of the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Control Ordinance to create a Consolidated Development Ordinance. Consultants and firms must have experience and knowledge in the fields of municipal and/or county planning and zoning, including experience in the writing and updating of zoning, subdivision and consolidated development code regulations.

Monroe County adopted a county-wide 20-year Comprehensive Plan in February 2012, and subsequent amendments to the plan in the form of an Urbanizing Area Plan in 2015 and a Framework Zoning Plan and Code Diagnostic in December 2016. We are now seeking an implementation strategy to rewrite the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance for consistency with these adopted Plans. The last complete rewriting of the zoning regulations was in 1997. The Zoning Ordinance has been amended in piecemeal fashion since that time. These regulations need to be reorganized, codified, and illustrated to explain the concepts of the regulations, while also implementing the recommendations of the Comprehensive Plan. The consultant will be expected to perform services as required by the County in a professional and timely manner. These services must include significant and meaningful public interaction and involvement throughout the planning process. It is anticipated that the time frame for the project will be approximately 12-18 months following the signing of the contract. The selected consultant will be expected to complete the contracted scope of work within the specified time frame.

The County requests proposals from firms able to facilitate and complete the rewrite of the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance which will:

• Follow the vision, goals, and objectives of the Comprehensive Plan(s) and encourage economic, environmentally-friendly and socially sustainable development.
• Facilitate significant and meaningful public input during the process, including any workshops, open-houses or focus groups.
• Meet the County’s desire to direct future land uses to compatible areas.
• Amend the Zoning Map; creating new zoning districts that include the recommendations which are consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and Urbanizing Area Plans.
• Provide commonly used definitions and a user-friendly set of guidelines in clear, simple language or in illustrated language. Ensure language is clearly stated to avoid, whenever possible, disputes of interpretations.
• Revise all sections of the Zoning Ordinance, as needed, including general regulations utilizing the diagnostic review materials in the Urbanizing Area Plan Phase II document and in consultation with County staff and officials.
• Update the Ordinances so that they are more responsive to contemporary development trends, recognize diverse physical characteristics of Monroe County, and encourage quality development.
• Update the Ordinances so that they are current with all local, state and federal statutes and are consistent with recent case law and constitutional determinations.
• Develop new Zoning Districts, Land Use concepts, Development Standards, and form-based code recommendations consistent with those concepts set forth in the Urbanizing Area Plan Framework and Comprehensive Plan;
• Clearly establish criteria for conditional land use and variance consideration/approval.
• Establish clear procedures for zoning related applications and identify opportunities for process simplification and flexibility consistent with identified community goals and proposed objectives.
• Reduce and/or streamline the caseloads of the Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals and County staff, by crafting regulations that require fewer requests for variances, conditional use permits and rezoning cases.
• A reorganized code available to the general public on-line at the County’s web site, in an “easy access, easy look-up” format with electronic query capability, by search terms and by process type, that allows for future amendments to be easily incorporated into the on-line presentation format.
• Provide a final version of the plan in written form as well as in electronic form compatible with Monroe County’s systems.
• Make recommendations for streamlining and fulfilling public notice requirements for zoning map amendments

Content of Proposals

The proposals should include the following information (in this format, please):

1. Cover Letter.
2. Firm Information and Background.
3. Project Approach – discussion on the firm’s particular approach to the scope of work including detailed public engagement proposals.
4. Project Schedule – proposed project schedule, including estimated delivery dates for 1st draft and final draft.
5. Project Team – identification of the Project Manager and anticipated team members (with resumes).
6. Firm Experience and Qualifications – information on overall firm qualifications and experience related to completion of similar projects within the past 5-10 years.
7. List of References – minimum of three.
8. Proposed fee for Services – information on the firm’s proposed fee, including anticipated allocation of resources and all necessary expenses (cost not-to-exceed). Please note that costs associated with certain scope items should be included as separate line-items for evaluation and optional selection by the Plan Commission (i.e. public informational meetings, and County presentations).
9. Supplemental information – include any other supplemental information that may help the Monroe County Plan Commission with their review.

Submission Guidelines

1. This Request For Proposals is being released on June 1, 2017.
2. Four copies of the proposal must be received by 12:00 p.m. on July 14, 2017, in the office of the Planning Department.
3. The outside of the envelope shall be clearly marked: “PROPOSAL FOR MONROE COUNTY ZONING/SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE UPDATE”.
4. Due to the requirements of this Request For Proposal, faxed qualifications/proposals will not be accepted. Late proposals or proposals received before release of this Request For Proposal shall not be considered.
5. The County Plan Commission will select the firms to be interviewed. Those firms selected to be interviewed will be informed of the exact time and place of the interview at a later date. Final selection shall be by the Plan Commission. Requirements:
6. Project Cost Estimates:
   1. Final Service fees will be negotiated upon selection. However, in an effort to assure the full anticipated costs are understood by the County, and to assure an accurate comparison with all submissions, all proposing firms must complete an estimated project cost and provide it to Monroe County along with their proposal.
   2. The total fee shall be all-inclusive and include all personnel, meetings, presentations and public hearings as required. It is assumed the fee will also include all other related reimbursements including but not limited to, travel, meals, consultants, phone, fax and printing, map making and etc.
   3. All firms shall provide a statement summarizing the basis for any subsequent fees not estimated in estimated project cost or variations from the estimated project cost. Proposals will be screened to insure that they meet the minimum requirements of the proposal format. A selection committee will review qualifying proposals, and may interview the shortlisted firms. The following criteria are among those that will be used to evaluate submitted proposals.

Addenda to REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL:

The selected firm will be required to enter into a contract with the County. Additional contract conditions may be required depending upon the nature and extent of the services to be provided. The County reserves the right to negotiate a change or modification to any of the proposed contractual conditions.

At a minimum, qualified firms shall submit a detailed cost estimate to perform the various elements identified within the request.

Written proposals are due at 12:00 p.m., July 14, 2017. Please submit four (4) copies labeled “PROPOSAL FOR MONROE COUNTY ZONING/SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE UPDATE” to:

Please Review the full RFP prior to application via the link provided.

All questions and correspondence regarding the information presented herein should be directed to:

Larry J. Wilson, AICP
Director, Monroe County Planning Department
Monroe County Government Center
Bloomington, IN 47404
(812) 349-2561
lwilson@co.monroe.in.us