Council approves Logan Simpson contract for full comprehensive-plan update, staff seeks additional appropriation

The City Council voted on July 14 to approve a professional services agreement with Logan Simpson Design Inc. to perform a ground-up update of the city’s comprehensive plan. Community Development Director Donna Ferguson told the council the work will be more extensive than a routine update, include significant outreach and education, and cost $129,744.

Ferguson said Logan Simpson’s proposal dedicates roughly 30% of its effort to community outreach and that staff recommends expanding the scope to capture demographic change and new East-Side residents since the last plan in 2021. Because the budget had initially allocated $60,000 for a smaller update, staff requested an additional appropriation of about $69,743 to fully fund the contract.

Council members who spoke supported a more comprehensive process and emphasized the outreach component to ensure broad participation. The resolution to enter into the agreement passed on a recorded vote; the clerk called the roll and the motion carried, with council members voting in favor per the record. Staff said work will include interviews, advisory committee participation by council members and multiple public engagement formats including open houses and targeted outreach to underrepresented residents.

Staff said the contract will be included in the next appropriation request and that the project timeline has expanded from a previously anticipated six months to more than a year to allow robust engagement and a full rewrite where needed.