The objective of this process is to prepare a comprehensive Downtown Redevelopment Master Plan which creates a vision for Downtown Liberal and includes a detailed strategic implementation program with prioritized actions. The final Plan will be used as a guide by the City and other stakeholders to promote redevelopment, enhance the downtown retail market, increase business opportunities, improve pedestrian and bicycle accessibility and safety, and ensure consistency in development and design standards to create a distinct downtown identity that is unique to Liberal.

With oversight from City staff as well as guidance from a project steering committee, the selected Consultant team will lead the planning process and develop project deliverables as outlined within this RFQ. The intent of the Scope of Services provided below is to serve as a framework, which consultants can use to develop a more detailed qualification profile and scope of services based on their professional expertise and knowledge. The City asks Consultants to present an efficient, effective scope of services, which ensures the project objectives are met.

The final scope of services and costs will be negotiated with the selected Consultants in conjunction with City staff prior to contract approval. The anticipated budget range for services performed is between $70,000 to $95,000. The Consultant is expected to provide interpretation and identification of deliverables or milestones it believes are integral to the project in the submitted proposal. The following Scope of Services are provided as a general framework and are to be incorporated into the Consultant's proposed scope of work. However, the proposed scope of work is not limited to these elements.

• Project Management – The Consultant will take the lead in managing their time, staff, resources, budget, and related activities to ensure that the project objectives are met. The Consultant will be in close communication with assigned City staff throughout the life of the project. City staff will provide general oversight of the Consultant and will help to facilitate interactions with City staff, board/committee members, the general public, and project stakeholders.
• Public & Stakeholder Participation – The Consultant shall be responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive public and stakeholder participation strategy that is best suited to meet project objectives. Special arrangements will need to be included to facilitate multilingual outreach for our Spanish-speaking residents and stakeholders. The Consultant should facilitate conversation amongst all stakeholders in order to build consensus and clarity around preferred strategy and associated action steps necessary to strengthen Downtown Liberal. The City will assist in establishing a project steering committee, which should be incorporated into the proposed engagement process. The project engagement strategy should be geared towards successful plan implementation, and not just Plan creation.
• Market Analysis, Existing Conditions, & Data Analysis – The Consultant will work to understand the market conditions, context, trends, and related information applicable to the Downtown area in relation to the larger community. This information and data will be used to inform the study and to ground the study in objectivity.
• Vision & Goal Setting – The Consultant will work with the City and project stakeholders to develop a broadly supported and achievable vision and related goals for Downtown Liberal. The vision and goals shall build upon the “Launch Liberal 2035” Comprehensive Plan goals and related action items.
• Plan Focus Areas – While other focus areas may be identified during the planning process, the City desires for the Master Plan to focus on the following interrelated topics areas:
  • Placemaking (including Urban Design, Activity, & Public Art): The City desires to integrate placemaking efforts as part of the larger Downtown planning effort. It is anticipated that placemaking (in its many forms) will blend seamlessly with all elements of the project scope, including the other focus areas listed below.
  • Business & Economic Development: In recent years, the City has seen some success in the redevelopment of Downtown through implementation of new policies to activate public events, façade improvement grants awarded, and rebuilding infrastructure (street, sidewalk, and curb replacements) in pockets of the Downtown area. The City is interested in exploring the market dynamics affecting current and future downtown business and development, and in working to maximize the effectiveness of its economic development incentive programs being offered. The City is also interested in exploring new policy concepts which can help reduce the number of inactive storefronts in Downtown Liberal.
  • Parking & Mobility: Lack of safe and convenient parking has been cited as a deterrent to visitors and potential developers alike. Kansas Avenue is a four-lane main arterial road through the city with an at-grade railroad crossing located at the Southern boundary of the Downtown area. The City is interested in exploring traffic data studies in the plan which show the impact of possible parking and transportation configurations on vehicle traffic in the Downtown area. Safe, ADA accessible pedestrian access and alternative modes of transportation should also be explored in conjunction with parking and street configuration options.
  • Streetscape/Infrastructure: A very important part of the Downtown Master Plan will be to develop a visually appealing style for Downtown Liberal which features unique spaces that build community pride. The Plan must include a proposed aesthetic design scheme for unique and long-lasting streetscape components including hardscape elements, light fixtures, seating, litter receptacles, bike racks, public art, and landscape plantings which create a cohesive and distinct space. Another component of this is to enhance crosswalks, pedestrian refuge islands, and sidewalks to improve downtown's walkability as well as visual appeal. New paving, seating, and pedestrian scale lighting will improve the sense of safety and facilitate use.
• Plan Development – The Consultant shall document the planning process and outcomes within a final report. The final report will include an executive summary (or similarly concise overview) in addition to all other relevant information necessary to effectively convey relative project information.
• Action Plan/Detailed Implementation Strategy – The Consultant will develop a practical action plan for long- and short-term implementation strategies to achieve study goals and project objectives. The Consultant will be innovative and proactive in their approach to implementation, in order to ensure the highest chance for success.
• Presentations & Communications – The Consultant will present the final plan and implementation strategy to the Planning & Zoning Board, Seward County Economic Development Board, the Liberal City Commission, and other applicable committees as requested. Additionally, the Consultant will work with staff to communicate with project stakeholders throughout the process, and to present intermediate deliverables and related information to help keep the community informed.

Click to review the full RFQ document at www.cityofliberal.org