Discussion:
Staff provided Council with an outline of its proposed planning process on March 21, 2017.
An RFP reflecting the proposed planning process attracted five applicants,
MKSK (Ohio)
Houseal Lavigne (Chicago)
Lakota Group (Chicago)
H3 Studios (St. Louis)
WSB (Minneapolis)
Four of the five firms are from outside the metro area with significant national planning experience and leaders at the forefront of planning innovation and strategy.
A multidisciplinary team, including staff from Planning and Development, Administration, and Parks and Recreation, reviewed all applications.
Upon review, three candidates were invited to interview with the staff committee.
MKSK was chosen after review of additional materials and references. MKSK is based out of Columbus, OH, and in 2016 was awarded National Planning Excellence Award by the American Planning Association. MKSK was selected for its vision, community engagement plan, use of technology and graphics and strong technical planning skills.
Staff felt that MKSK and its team was a perfect supplement to the existing skills and resources available at the city. MKSK has also committed two of its principals to work on the project.
MKSK has proposed a team that includes HR&A Advisors, HR&A is an award winning firm that will be providing economic development strategies and real estate advice to create an economically sustainable community. HR&A has provided financial strategies for several Minnesota developments.
Toole Design Group is an engineering and landscape architecture firm that will be providing transportation planning services. They have a Minneapolis office and is considered one of the nation’s leading designers for bike and pedestrian systems. (Automotive planning is being completed in cooperation with Scott County under a separate agreement with SRF)
We believe the MKSK team will be a great fit for Shakopee and a good partner with staff, elected and appointed officials and community stakeholders
We believe the selection of the MKSK team will bring with it a fresh and outside perspective able to look beyond the minimum requirements of the Met Council.
Staff has negotiated the attached contract that is a not to exceed $205,000 including all expenses.