Found in the City of Walla Walla "Doing Business"

Walla Walla Zone Code RFP

Thursday, September 08, 2011

Request for Proposals For Updating The City of Walla Walla Zone Code and Related Regulations

The City of Walla Walla seeks the services of qualified professional planning consultant(s) with experience in public participation, planning and design of sustainable communities to assist in updating of the Walla Walla Zone Code and Subdivision Code. 

It is expected the selected consultant(s) will have an understanding of public participation processes in order to obtain public input and comment, land use planning and legislation/law in Washington State, code development, an understanding of the political environment related to working with other units of government and the public, proven project organization and management skills, and the ability to meet project timelines and budgetary constraints.  It is further expected the updates will comply with the requirements of the Washington State Growth Management Act.

Necessary skills of a planning consulting firm/team include the ability to preside at public meetings and hearings, engage the public, commissions, agencies and entities and obtain public/agency input, communicate technical scientific information in a manner suitable for the general public and to work collaboratively with several City departments and other groups of consultants.

A complete copy of the Request for Proposals is available below in Microsoft Word (.docx) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format below. Questions regarding the RFP should be directed in writing to Brian Walker at bwalker@ci.walla-walla.wa.us or 15 North 3rd Avenue, Walla Walla, WA  99362.

The City of Walla Walla reserves the right to reject any and all submittals and to waive irregularities and informalities in the evaluation process. This RFP does not obligate the City to pay any costs incurred by respondents in the preparation and submission of qualifications. The successful vendor must comply with the City of Walla Walla equal opportunity requirements. The City of Walla Walla is committed to a program of equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, sex, age, nationality or disability.

Proposals shall be submitted in writing not later than 5:00 p.m., October 14, 2011

We bring this to your attention because the City and County zoning laws are closely related, and property rights are directly controlled by zoning laws.  This "RFP" (or "Request For Proposal") is an effort to hire an outside company to manage the updates and revisions of the current laws, codes, and regulations. 

While completely legal,  we discussed this at the September meeting, because bringing in an firm from outside the city is entirely possible.  Which leads to a disturbing question:  How do we know that this firm will have the interests of our community at heart?  Granted, city employees will be managing the contractor, but the proposal is being floated presumably because those employees are busy, and don't have the time to fully engage on this project. 

If you are concerned about this, please contact the Walla Walla City Council with your questions.