Introduction/ Purpose

The City of Paola ("City") is seeking proposals from professional planning and design firms to assist in the development of a Downtown Master Plan ("Plan") for the City's Downtown District ("District"). The intent of this plan is to create a shared community vision and provide strategic guidance for land use, redevelopment, infrastructure, and placemaking within the District. The District includes a mix of commercial, civic, and residential properties. The Plan will serve as the guiding document for anticipated growth, development and revitalization of the Downtown area and will act as a framework for future ordinances and initiatives to help reinvigorate the Downtown area and make it an attractive place to live, work and play. The Plan will need to be developed with respect to the following City documents located at www.cityofpaola.com.

Paola Land Development Ordinance (LDO) — LDO LINK

Planning Paola 2050 Comprehensive Plan — COMP PLAN LINK

Plan Focus Areas

The selected consultant will lead a robust community engagement effort and work closely with City staff and a Steering Committee. While the final scope will be developed with the selected consultant, the plan is expected to address the following topics:

• Placemaking & Urban Design: Identity, public art, and streetscape enhancements.
• Business & Economic Development: Market conditions, business attraction/retention, and strategic infill development.
• Parking & Access: Short- and long-term strategies, multimodal connectivity, and wayfinding.
• Redevelopment & Land Use: Context-sensitive redevelopment scenarios that respect adjacent residential areas and environmental constraints.
• Streetscape/Infrastructure: Design themes, pedestrian safety, public realm improvements, and branding.

Proposal Procedures

Anticipated Proposal Schedule: The following is a proposed timetable for the consulting selection process.

• February 10, 2026 — Advertise Request for Proposals
• March 12, 2026 — Consultant Proposals Due at 3:30 PM (Local Time)
• April 14, 2026 — Final Approval by Paola City Council

Inquiries Regarding the RFP: Questions concerning the RFP may be directed via email to Randi Shannon, City Manager, rshannon@paolagov.org OR Mitch Gabbert, Zoning Administrator, mgabbert@paolagov.org.

COMPLETE RFP AND REQUIRMENTS CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.CITYOFPAOLA.COM