Land Use Code Update
City of Issaquah
Issaquah, WA
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Overhaul of City’s Land Use Code (IMC Title 18)
I. PURPOSE OF REQUEST
The City of Issaquah (“City”) is requesting proposals from Planning, Legal or other firms/entities (“Consultant”) with experience for the purpose of rewriting the City’s Land Use Code (Issaquah Municipal Code Title 18). Applicants must be experienced in the areas of land use law, writing city land use code, real property law, city planning and development, and permitting. The City’s needs are further outlined in the following Request for Proposals (“RFP”).
Title 18 of the Issaquah Municipal Code (Land Use Code) was adopted by Ordinance 2108 in 1996. For the past 22 years, the City has amended the code annually to respond to changing Council policies, development-related issues, and land use case law. The purpose for the overhaul of Title 18 is to:
- Remove duplicative language;
- Reconcile inconsistent and/or conflicting provisions;
- Reassemble the provisions into an intuitive structure and more readable format;
- Add new sections (e.g. Central Standards, Green Necklace, etc.);
- Consolidate code provisions for different parts of the City, to the extent possible; and,
- Provide new code to better represent the updated visions for Central Issaquah.
In 2018, the City adopted the Parks Strategic Plan (Resolution 2018). The Green Necklace, as developed as part of the Parks Strategic Plan, provides a clearer vision for this community amenity. This vision is not represented in the current Central Standards. Specifically, Chapter 7 of the Central Standards (Community Space) needs to be updated and will require new Code language.
II. RFP SCHEDULE
The City will observe the following timetable, with expected selection of the Consultant by 1/31/19.
Issue RFP: 12 December 2018
Deadline for Submittals: 31 December 2018
Finalist Interviews: mid-January 2019
III. INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS
- All proposals should be sent to:
Keith Niven, Development Services Director
1775 – 12th Avenue NW
Issaquah, WA 98027
(425) 837-3430
- All proposals must be in a sealed envelope and clearly marked “RFP Title 18”.
- Any questions related to the RFP must be received sufficiently in advance of the deadline for submittals. Consultant questions should be addressed to Keith Niven.
- All proposals must be received by close of business (5:00 PM) on Monday, 31 December 2018. Three hardcopies of the proposal must be provided. No emailed, faxed or telephone proposals will be accepted.
- Consultant proposals should be prepared simply and economically, providing a concise description of provider capabilities to satisfy the requirements of the request. Emphasis should be on completeness and clarity of content.
IV. CONTENT OF PROPOSAL
All proposals must include the following information:
- Provide a letter of transmittal briefly outlining the Consultant’s understanding of the work.
- The name of the applicant, or firm/entity, and primary contact information.
- If a firm/entity, the names of specific individuals who would be involved in this work.
- Specific experience of the individuals relative to this work.
- A proposed outline of tasks and timeline for this work, responsive to the content contained in Section VII of this RFP.
- Related to the above, a proposed fee schedule applicable to a typical hearing, including hourly rates and any associated expenses (e.g. travel, clerical).
- References: Please provide pertinent references, including other local jurisdiction clients.
V. SELECTION CRITERIA
Factor/Weight Given:
Responsiveness of the written proposal to the purpose/scope: 15%
Cost for Services: 30%
Experience with performing similar work and proposed timeline: 20%
Interview Responses: 35%
Total Criteria Weight: 100%
VI. TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- The City reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and to waive minor irregularities in any proposal.
- The City reserves the right to request clarification of information submitted and to request additional information from any proposer.
- The City reserves the right to award any contract to the next, most qualified contractor, if the successful contractor does not execute a contract within thirty (30) days after the award of the proposal.
- Any proposal may be withdrawn up until the date and time set above for opening of the proposals. Any proposal not so timely withdrawn shall constitute an irrevocable offer, for a period of ninety (90) days to sell to the City, the services described in the attached specifications, or until one or more of the proposals have been approved by the City administration, whichever occurs first.
- The contract resulting from acceptance of a proposal by the City shall be in a form supplied or approved by the City; and, shall reflect the specifications in this RFP. A copy of the City’s sample contract is available for review upon request. The City reserves the right to reject any proposed agreement or contract that does not conform to the specifications contained in this RFP, and which is not approved by the City Attorney’s office.
- The City shall not be responsible for any costs incurred by the firm in preparing, submitting or presenting its response to the RFP.
VII. SCOPE OF SERVICES
The Consultant with which the City contracts shall work with City staff to rewrite IMC Title 18 to achieve the purpose identified in Section I of this RFP. The following information will help the Consultant consider the process, extent, cost and timeline needed to complete this work. The following will affect the work and final product:
- New Code will be written for the Green Necklace. Vision for the Green Necklace was developed by the Parks Department and Berger Partnership as part of the Parks Strategic Plan. The Consultant will work with Planning & Parks staff to accomplish this work.
- New Code will be written relating to public notice. The Consultant will work with Planning staff and the City’s Neighborhood Engagement Coordinator to accomplish this work.
- The City will be concurrently updating its Sign Code. The Consultant will coordinate with Planning staff to incorporate the new code related to signage.
- The City will be concurrently updating its Shoreline Master Program. The Consultant will coordinate with Planning staff to incorporate the new code relating to the SMP.
- IMC Title 18 has different standards for different parts of the City. The Consultant will work with Planning staff to consolidate differing standards into a single set of standards, where possible.
- IMC Title 18 has some disconnects with the City’s Comprehensive Plan and sub-area Plans. Planning staff will work with Consultant to include new Code language.
- Consultant will discuss format and construct with Planning staff and the City Clerk for the final product.
- Code will be written in Microsoft Word, or other software, as approved by the City.
- The City uses Code Publishing Company (https://www.codebook.com/) for its City Code.
- Consultant may, as determined by the City, be expected to attend a minimum of one (1) Public meeting, two (2) Planning Policy Commission meetings, one (1) Park Board meeting, two (2) Council Land & Shore Committee meetings, and one (1) full Council meeting as part of Code adoption.
VIII. COMPENSATION
As noted above, please present detailed information on the firm’s proposed fee structure for the services proposed. Please specify any additional fees, charges, expenses, etc. that are, or may be, billable to the City. All rates quoted shall be full cost inclusive of sales tax and other government fees, taxes and charges and valid throughout the contract period unless otherwise amended and agreed to by both parties in writing.
Payment by the City for the services will based on an agreed-upon schedule. Consultant will submit an itemized billing statement submitted in the form specified by the City and approved by the appropriate City representative. Statements shall specifically set forth the services performed, the name of the person performing such services, and the hourly labor charge rate for such person.
IX. TITLE VI COMPLIANCE
The City of Issaquah hereby gives public notice that it is the policy of the City to assure full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, Executive Order (E.O.) 12898, and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. Title VI requires that no person in the United States of America shall, on the ground of race, color, national origin, or sex be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity for which the City receives Federal financial assistance.
Any person who believes they have been aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI has a right to file a formal complaint with the City of Issaquah. Any such complaint must be in writing and filed with the office of the City Clerk within one hundred eighty (180) days following the date of the alleged discriminatory occurrence.