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To~ Jim Norman, City Administrator CC: Dean Kapler, Public Works Director Park & Recreation Commission Mark Boos, Parks/Utilities Supervisor Subject: Master Trail Plan discussions with City Council Earlier this year, City Council authorized the Park and Recreation Commission to invite Requests for Proposals (RFP) for trail planning services. This was intended to be a comprehensive approach and detailed trail plan, which was also to be used as a tool for grant applications. A project budget and procedure was not discussed at the time of RFP approval. RFP's for Master Trail Planning Services were mailed directly to four Consulting firms specializing in Trail Planning and Design, as well as in natural resource protection. One of these firms declined due to workload concerns, and a fifth firm inquired, but did not submit a proposal. LHB Engineers and Architects, URS Corporation, and SRF Consulting Group, Inc. delivered proposals before the November 6th, 2001 submission date. On November 15, 2001 the Park and Recreation Commission discussed the project and recommended that the best way to proceed may be to conduct a joint workshop with City Council. In this manner, the underlying need for a Master Trail Plan could be addressed as well as a budget and potentially the selection of a firm to implement the project. The Commission felt the Workshop could be conducted in the following manner: Background on the issue and introduction of the proposed project Structured presentations from three firms (separate from one another) to include: · Community need for a Master Trail Plan (5 minutes) · Overview of their proposals (5 minutes) · Public participation (5 minutes) · Strategies for using the Master Trail Plan as grant-making tool (5 minutes) · Questions on their presentations/proposals Dismissal of proposer's and general discussion Budgeting for the project Structuring the Master Trail Plan process and selection of a vendor The Park Commission noted that the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources is expected to announce their RFP's for the two-year funding cycle as soon as December. The City may be best able to position its self for this multi-million dollar funding source if the Master Trail Planning is under way, and a finn is working on behalf of the City.