OVERVIEW

The City of Gretna, Nebraska is seeking a specialized and professional entity to prepare and present an update to the Gretna Comprehensive Plan. The consultant team will incorporate past planning documents and current activity levels, will engage local property and business owners, and will work collaboratively with City leadership.

BACKGROUND

Gretna is one of the fastest growing cities in the fastest growing county in the State of Nebraska. With a population of 9,323, Gretna became a City of the First Class in September of 2021 and continues a high level of growth and development inside the Corporate Limits as well as throughout her Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). Located along Highway 370, Highway 6, Highway 31, and Interstate 80, Gretna is an exciting and robust community on the SW edge of the greater Omaha metropolitan area.

The existing Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 2009 and has seen updates in 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2022. Current Plan elements reflect information obtained from the 2000 and 2010 Census, but do not include any information from the 2020 Census. The community's involvement in establishing priorities for the 2009 Plan was completed through town meetings, City Staff, elected officials, and community groups, which will need to be revalidated in the planning process.

PROJECT SCOPE

City leadership identified the general scope of work to update the Comprehensive Plan. Any additional tasks or work elements may be added during contract negotiations. A final work plan and scope of services will be agreed to by all parties upon conclusion of the negotiation process and prior to proceeding with the Plan. The proposal should clearly demonstrate how the firm(s) can best satisfy the requirements of the City of Gretna in this effort. The City of Gretna reserves the right to reject all submitted proposals.

Validity of Existing Comprehensive Plan. A major component of this Project is to determine the relevance of the existing plan by determining whether element or chapter updates are needed or a complete overhaul of the existing Plan is necessary. Land use conditions, expanded corporate limits and ETJ, and demographic conditions, including projections, will guide this determination.

Assemble and Analyze Data. The project shall include assembling and analyzing data regarding existing conditions then utilizing said data to develop policies, strategies, actions, and an implementation plan to guide further development and decision making within the community. The Plan shall consider, at a minimum, a 20-year time horizon.

Plan Elements. It is anticipated the update or the new Comprehensive Plan would provide a complete analysis of, but is not limited to, the following content:

1. Community Assessment, Conditions, Trends and Projections
   1. Population and Income
   2. Housing
   3. Education
   4. Transportation
   5. Parkland & Trails
2. Economics & Employment Conditions, Trends and Forecasts
   1. Employment Needs
   2. Workforce Availability
   3. Action Steps for an Economic Development Plan
3. Natural Resources and Stormwater Management
   1. Policies for Sustainable Development throughout the built environment
   2. Inventive utilization and management of the area's natural resources
4. Land Use
   1. Existing land use
   2. Future land use plan balancing commercial, industrial, residential and mixed uses
   3. Policies and Action Steps for implementation to guide future development and land-use decisions
   4. Proposals and policy for land annexation
5. Housing
   1. Identification of funding opportunities for plans encompassing housing, community and economic development opportunities.
   2. Projected needs and housing varieties/types with recommended locations.
6. Transportation
   1. Assess Gretna's connectivity within the existing corporate limits
   2. Incorporate findings of the WE-STEP study currently looking at connectivity between the County and adjoining communities
   3. Connectivity of trails and active transportation modes in and around the Gretna area
7. Parks & Recreation
   1. Frame and provide guidance for Gretna Crossing Park: primarily maintenance and staffing
   2. Guidance for use, scope adjustments, and sizes of existing City parks
   3. Recommendations for locations of new parklands
8. Community Facilities
   1. Government
   2. Schools
   3. Utilities
   4. Fire & Rescue
   5. Law Enforcement
9. Downtown Gretna
   1. Provide guidance on reinvestment in Gretna's historic downtown
   2. Evaluate the viability and sustainability of downtown businesses and buildings
   3. Propose an overlay or specially designated district for Olde Town/Downtown Gretna by market analysis incorporating sustainable uses
10. Community Health and Wellness
    1. Provide policies and guidance on City initiatives for the health and wellness of our community, businesses, residents and resources

PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

Each response shall provide sufficient detail to enable City leadership to evaluate and compare responses. The format shall provide a straightforward, concise delineation of the entity's capabilities to satisfy the requirements of this RFP. Proposal responses are limited to 15, 2-sided pages. At a minimum, the following information is required:

1. A cover letter introducing the entity and providing an executive summary of the proposal. Letter must be signed and dated by an individual having legal authority to contract on behalf of the entity.
2. A description of the understanding of the selected response scope of work, approach, methodology, and relevant experience in providing service. Each proposal shall detail the strategies taken to develop an understanding of the community and to nurture citizen engagement.
3. Present a process that is creative and interactive for soliciting input from a diverse citizenry while ensuring open dialogue throughout the development of the Plan. Continuing an effective communications plan will ensure that citizens can fully participate in and track the process of the Comprehensive Plan project.
4. Indication of the size of the firm (and any partnering firms), number of firm employees assigned to this project, and the location of the primary office from which project work will be completed.
5. Inclusion of project team qualifications including prior experience in relevant projects.
6. A breakdown of proposed fees for completion of the project including the firm's all-inclusive maximum fee and all related services.
7. A complete schedule for completion of the project with target milestones and timelines.
8. Description of prior municipal comprehensive planning experience within the past five (5) years; especially focus on municipalities of similar size and dynamics of Gretna.
9. A minimum of three (3) professional references for like/similar projects. References must include all current contact information.

PROPOSAL RESPONSE SUBMISSION

All responses must be received no later than 3:00pm (CDT) on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. Any response received after this date and time will not be considered.

Submit two (2) bound, hard copies and one (1) memory stick containing the proposal in .pdf format. All submittals become the property of the City of Gretna, Nebraska.

Submissions shall be delivered by mail or in person to:

City of Gretna
ATTN: Paula J. Dennison, AICP
204 N. McKenna Ave; PO Box 69
Gretna, NE 68028

Questions and requests for additional information shall be directed to Paula Dennison at Paula@cityofgretna.com.

DEVELOPMENT OF SCOPE OF SERVICES

Following the selection of the successful firm, a detailed Scope of Services will be developed by the City and consultant to outline the specific purposes, objectives, and tasks of the Comprehensive Plan Update.

PROPOSAL RESPONSE EVALUATION AND SELECTION SCHEDULE

The selection committee, consisting of City leadership and invited participants, will evaluate and rank proposal responses, may select qualifying entities for interview, and may negotiate with any selected entity for contract execution. The selected entity will be recommended by approval of the Gretna City Council.

The following is anticipated as the evaluation and selection schedule:

RFP issue date — November 21, 2022

Proposal Responses due — January 18, 2023 by 3:00pm CDT

Consultant interviews, if conducted — Week of February 6, 2023

Consultant entity selected — February 21, 2023

Execute contract — March 1, 2023

MISCELLANEOUS

Any member, officer or employee of the City of Gretna is prohibited from sharing in, having interest in or benefitting from any contract or agreement resulting from this RFP.

Any entity selected is required to file non-discrimination and affirmative action statements with the City of Gretna.

Proper worker's compensation and professional liability insurance is required to be carried by the selected entity per Nebraska Revised Statutes.

The City reserves the right to reject any and all proposals received in response to this RFP, to waive any irregularity, to make counter proposals, to request additional information, and to negotiate with responders. The City reserves the right to terminate this RFP at any time and to reissue this or a substitute RFP at a later date.

All costs associated with the preparation of any response are the sole responsibility of the responders.

All submittals become the property of the City of Gretna. Except for the name of firms on the final list, no information contained in a proposal submittals shall be made public until after the award and execution of a contract.

All proposals must remain in effect for 90 days after the proposal due date.

The City of Gretna is an equal opportunity employer. Minority and women's business enterprises are encouraged to submit proposals.

PROPOSAL RESPONSES DUE:

3:00pm CDT, Wednesday, January 18, 2023

City of Gretna
ATTN: Paula J. Dennison, AICP
204 N. McKenna Ave; PO Box 69
Gretna, NE 68028