Mount Clemens to seek consultant for new master plan; DDA and county data used to promote downtown

City planning staff reported the current master plan was adopted in 2010 (updated in 2016) and said he is drafting a request for proposals to prepare a comprehensive new master plan.

"We would be hiring a consultant for that project," staff said, and set a target to issue the RFP in the second quarter of the calendar year with a budget estimate "around $100,000 to $150,000" for a citywide comprehensive plan. The planning commission has reviewed the matter and indicated support for producing a new plan.

On economic development, staff and DDA representatives described a collaborative approach: the city pays a portion of a county-provided economic-development service, the DDA maintains a strategic plan aligned with city goals, and the city uses ThinkMTC (a GIS-based web tool, updated regularly) to show available real estate and demographic data for prospective businesses. Staff said ThinkMTC and county data also provide cell-phone–derived foot-traffic metrics used in event planning.

Downtown event organizers said the data are actionable: "That weekend we drew 19,700 people in 2 days in our downtown and we also drew those people down to visit their stores and restaurants," an event official said, and staff explained how those results inform event placement and business-hour recommendations.

Commissioners asked staff to refine metrics and to include public-participation strategies in the RFP; staff said public engagement and a consultant-led participation plan will be written into the RFP and that a steering committee similar to the 2015-16 update could be used to interview and select a consultant.