7.b Park Planning RFP Memo 11-1-2021Page 1 of 1
City of Scandia
14727 209th St. N. PO Box 128, Scandia, Minnesota 55073
Phone (651) 433-2274 Fax (651) 433-5112 http://www.ci.scandia.mn.us
DATE: November 1, 2021
TO: The Parks and Recreation Committee
FROM: Ken Cammilleri, City Administrator
RE: Implementing a Park Planning Process and Issuing a Request for Proposals
(RFP)
The goal of developing a park plan is about developing a clear action plan and guidance for
future improvements to community parks, trails, recreation facilities, and green spaces.
Plans can even incorporate the development of new recreational programming. Yet, most
importantly the continued involvement and engagement of key community stakeholders is
one of the most important elements of its successful implementation. Such considerations
of level of involvement can be established in the RFP or be later refined based on desires
when proposals are accepted.
The RFP process allows us to set project scope to approach the project with a practical
understanding of what can be expected for cost, process, and deliverables. I encourage that
the consideration of scope should prioritize what a community wants to get from a plan first
and to prioritize what is most important. This will allow us the opportunity to scale down
the scope if we are faced with financial or time barriers.
Leaving some elements undefined allows interested contractor’s to come up with their own
potentially innovative proposals. I find that this is most helpful when communities have
difficulty deciding what direction they wish to take a planning process. The only downside
to this approach is that comparability of proposals can be diminished. That said, there is
usually at least one desirable proposal that raises to the top of most people’s interest.
I am offering the RFP in your packets as a starting point for you to refine a project scope
that most reflects your goals and the City Council’s. Realistically, I estimate a project scope
similar to what is in this draft may be in the $13,000-18,000 range. If price is a mitigating
factor, or your goals are to focus efforts in select parks, we may want to reduce the scope.
I should note that Washington County has included $100,000 in their Capital Improvement
Plan for 2023, of which, the City would be expected to provide $50,000 towards. This
planning effort, if approved, would focus on existing and future pedestrian, bicycle, and
vehicular needs. So the interconnectivity of trails and sidewalks may have some carryover
into our potential planning efforts. These elements can be incorporated in the park plan as
part of a later update or can occur concurrently to such efforts.
It is recommended that if the Committee has agreed upon a proposal, it should proceed with
a recommendation that it be forwarded to the City Council for their input and authorization
to proceed.
Please let me know if you have any questions.