HomeMy WebLinkAboutURA RES 2025-07 Feas. Study Vendor--New allocation areaRESOLUTION NO. c�' 0 JJ'— d %
A RESOLUTION OF THE CALDWELL URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY
AUTHORIZING THE APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSAL WITH ARCH NEXUS
FOR A FEASIBLITY STUDY
BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the Caldwell Urban Renewal Agency authorizes the
acceptance of the document made part hereof and set forth in full.
PASSED BY THE CALDWELL URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY of the City of
Caldwell, Idaho this 12' day of May 2025.
APPROVED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URB,
CITY OF CALDWELL this 12' day of May 2025.
ATTEST:
By
Secretary
of THE C
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Caldwell Urban Renewal Agency
Meeting Date May 12 , 2025_
AGENDA ITEM INFORMATION
SUBJECT:
Approval of proposal for feasibility study
Department Submittals
X to
mark
Initials
Building Department
CDBG
Clerk
City Attorney
Finance Department
x
RN
Human Resources
& Zoning
-Planning
Fire Department
Police Department
Public Works
Street Department
Water Department
WWTP
Engineering
Mapping
COST IMPACT:
Parks and Recreation
FUNDING
SOURCE:
Airport
Information Systems
TIMELINE:
FY2025
Golf Course
OTHER:
SUMMARYSTATEMENT:
Feasibility Study for a proposed new revenue allocation area
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approval of the resolution
ARCHITECTURAL NEXUS. Im
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May 7, 2025
To: RaeLynn North
Finance Director
City of Caldwell
205 S 6" Ave, Caldwell Idaho, 83605
RE: Proposal for Planning Services and Economic Feasibility Study
Urban Renewal Agency
Dear RaeLynn:
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We appreciate your consideration of Architectural Nexus and Zions Public Finance for this general
neighborhood renewal planning and feasibility study and look forward to working with you. The City of
Caldwell's desire for improved quality of life and development resonates with our firm's core values. We are
excited to take the next steps with you to confirm the project parameters. We believe that something truly
impactful can happen in this urban renewal area to solve a great need in this neighborhood and the City of
Caldwell, and our team is uniquely qualified to help:
• We understand the background of this project and site potential based on key team members'
previous work and involvement in its development.
• Our background in planning and feasibility studies is strong.
• Arch Nexus has great capacity. Our resources include over 100 staff members distributed in Salt
Lake, Sacramento, Boise, Washington State and other locations.
• Quite frankly, and most importantly, we have an extreme passion for developing urban
environments for people that are well planned and well designed.
Based on our background with the City of Caldwell and other similar communities, we will investigate the
feasibility of a plan that will:
• Foster appropriate type and level of development
• Encourage urban regeneration, while supporting existing local communities
• Present attractive street frontages
• Encourage pedestrian, bike and other active transportation means, while maintaining safe and
convenient vehicular access
• Allow flexibility for future growth
• Maximize appropriate density to relieve housing pressures
• Encourage parking strategies that meet current and future demand.
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Project Description
Location: See Exhibit 1 attached for Project Area.
We understand Minor changes in the boundary may be needed based on ongoing discussions with
the City and County. A significant change in area to be studied may result in additional cost or time
needed to complete the feasibility study.
Area: Approximately 620 Acres.
Project Duration:
Proposal review and Notice to Proceed May 2025
Completion October 2025
Proposed Team
Architecture - Architectural Nexus:
Mihnea Dobre, AIA - Principal Architect
Adam Garcia, Associate -Local Representative
David Abraham, AIA - Mixed Use Community Planner
Peter McBride, AIA _ Sustainability Director and Community Engagement
Stephen Springer, AIA Civic Development Market Leader
Brittany Brown, ASLA - Landscape Architect
Mons Public Finance
Michael Keith, Public Finance Relationship Manager ZPF Idaho - Economic Feasibility
Our team is enthusiastic, ready and available to begin planning and exploring the feasibilityof this
project immediately, with your approval.
Scope.of Services:
The scope of work is to establish the feasibility of Urban Renewal improvements in the project area.
Project Initiation
A kickoff meeting will be organized and administered with representatives of the Arch Nexus
design team, city staff, project stakeholders, and others. This meeting will serve to review the
scope of work, fine-tune composition of the working group and any advisory committees, clarify
administrative processes, identify issues and concerns, and determine key dates. The Design
Team will conclude the meeting with a guided tour of the site. The city wil I provide copies of all
relevant existing information, including but not limited to previous plans, reports, proposed
projects, and other information relevant to the Project Area.
Deliverable(s):
o Notes/minutes summarizing kickoff meeting and site tour. Project schedule.
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Existing Conditions Assessment and Information Gathering
The Team will study existing plans and data related to land use, zoning, transportation
infrastructure and services, parks and civic space, community assets, and the contextual setting
of surrounding land uses and connections to the greater community and region. The team will
also explore transportation and mobility patterns and their context within urban design plans.
The City will provide input on known current and future projects and plans.
While existing knowledge and community outreach events and processes (done by the City or the
Team, as discussed later in this proposal) will yield invaluable insight into the community and the
people, understanding the site history, context, and current conditions will be just as critical to
identifying opportunities within North Caldwell. Site observations and research will lay the
foundation for how planning can address public, equity, ecological, and design issues. With tools
such as Environmental Protection Agency Enviro Atlas Interactive map and other tools, as well as
inhouse expertise, our team will provide a base -level analysis of neighborhood impact issues such as
access to transportation, overall accessibility, walkability, bikeability, tree coverage, tree equity,
noise pollution, air quality, access to healthy food, census data, property values, and proximity to
community amenities alongside other considerations.
Additionally, we will consider the historical and community context of the North Caldwell
neighborhood. Historical uses within a neighborhood can help inspire place making design and
ensure a community's history is not lost through redevelopment. Based on our experience and
familiaritywith the neighborhood and site, we understand that historic and ecological context may
include the following items (among many) that will either need to be addressed or will influence the
planning and research process:
1. Indigenous peoples including Shoshone, Bannock, Northern Paiute, Nez Perce, Coeur
d'Alene, Kalispell, Kutenai, and others.
2. History of the Boise River and Indian Creek and their impact on Caldwell, including industry
and recreation.
3. History of immigrant communities and migrant farm workers.
4. Local cultures and languages.
5. Impact of the County seat in Caldwell.
Dellverable(s):
o A summary and analysis of existing plans, existing data, and initial stakeholder input will be
compiled with key findings
Land Use and Circulation / Connectivity plan:
Based on the findings of the preceding tasks and the resulting community vision, the Team will
develop a general Future Land Use Plan for the project area. The land use plan will specifically
encompass the following:
o Appropriate locations, types, and intensities of commercial and residential
development, industrial and civic sites, as well as infill and redevelopment
opportunities and priority uses.
o Development and preservation strategies.
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Locations of existing and proposed open and public spaces, including corridors
that can also provide low -stress active transportation options.
Placemaking, street trees/urban forest, and streetscape considerations
Critical aspects of the street and transportation network, including assessment
of new connections for key destinations, or to complete or extend the grid
network in locations such as across the train tracks.
Deliverables):
o General land use and connectivity plan for the project area, at block level (not parcel
specific).
Focused Master Planning
Based on feedback from the City and the assessment of existing conditions and existing and.
proposed land use, the Team will convert the decided goals into a focused master planning
effort.
o Limited to include up to three primary intersections and corridors, to be selected
with input from City
o Urban regeneration, while supporting existing local community
o To include street section and bikeable and walkable connections between
residential and other areas
o Edge treatment of streets including site furnishing, light poles, and other similar
improvements
o Connection to river, park and creek
o Place making elements -identify location
o Parking strategy, EV charging strategy
Deliverable(s):
o Master Plan focused on primary intersections and corridors to help identify priority
improvement projects.
Economic Feasibility Study
ZPFI will first work closely with the consultant team to evaluate the market feasibility of
development asset forth in the master plan elements created by ArchNexus. Market analysis is
essential to project the absorption timeframe of the proposed development which impacts the
timing of receipt of tax increment revenues. Market conditions also impact the pricing and valuation
of the development. The incremental value from the development is based on increased property
values (appreciated and new growth) over and above the base year values shown on.the County
Assessor tax rolls. Our GIS experts will identify the parcels within the project area, along with their
existing base year taxable value. Projected tax increment revenues will be matched to the timing of
expected infrastructure costs and a funding strategy will be presented to help the City achieve its
vision and goals for the site.
Deliverable(s):
o Economic Feasibility Study assessing tax base increase against cost of proposed projects.
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Support Adoption Effort
The team will generate a Draft of the Urban Renewal Planning and Feasibility Study and present
the Draft to the Urban Renewal Agency as part of the approval process. Once adopted, final
changes will be made and the adopted plan delivered.
Deliverable(s):
o SupportCityof Caldwell in the presentation of the Feasibility Studyto the URA.
• Meetings
o Meeting with City officials and City stakeholder (3 anticipated)
o Final Presentation to Urban Renewal Agency
Design Fee Proposal
Base scope, including planning work and financial feasibility can be accomplished for a fee of $47,200.
We understand master planning and feasibility can be evolutionary and the timeframe and strategy for
accomplishing these targets is not always fixed. Based on our previous experience, we are suggesting
the deliverables, tasks, timeline and fees above. This.effort could be modified as needed and additional
meetings and documentation will be provided at the published hourly rates.
For the purposes of these services, we propose to use this letter to define the contractual relationship
between Architectural Nexus and the City of Caldwell. If a different agreement is proposed by the City, the
team is open to considering it. Once the agreement is signed by all parties and payment of a $5,000 retainer
is received, we will be pleased to commence our efforts.
Additional scope, if elected
Stakeholder and Community Outreach and Engagement
If desired by the URA, the Team could also provide Stakeholder and Community engagement services.
Input must be carefully coordinated and developed uniquely for the residents, workers, visitors, business
owners and other stakeholders in the City of Caldwell. The long-term community needs depend on the
ability of our team and the City to accurately understand the desires of the community. Arch Nexus will
work with you to tailor a unique public outreach process that brings meaning and connections with the
community. Over the years, we have developed an iterative process with cycles of listening, analyzing,
planning and reporting back. This builds trust. Arch Nexus recommends cycling through this process
several times in order to build ownership and buy -in within the community, and also to properly integrate
the ideas discovered through the process.
We have developed a variety of proven data gathering tools that can bridge differences within the
community to reach each demographic. Tools such as maps, issue boards, dot boards, story activities, and
comment cards are designed with the community in mind and are tailored to respond to the time, place, and
environment of the specific outreach event. Additionally, our outreach efforts on projects include having
translators available. Constituencies are better able to express themselves in the language they are most
comfortable with.
We will make additional efforts to reach all groups within the community so that new and unexpected
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voices maybe heard, which would make this effort well worth it. We recommend meeting people/
stakeholders at events where they already are, such as the Night Rodeo, the Canyon County Fair or one of
the Tuesday Farmer's Markets. We find this form of public outreach garners a wider array of responses,
rather than the typical "you come to us" events. Additionally, in today's ever=Increasing digital world, we
recommend engaging with the online community through web -based surveys, social media, and websites.
Engaging them on these platforms will ensure that all interested members of the community are reached,
no matter their mobility or schedule.
Third party certifications offer a way for project teams to enhance the transparency of their work. Electing
to participate in a third -party certification process promotes trust between a City or organization and the
community they are working with. SEED (Social Economic and Environmental Design) is a global network
of individuals and organizations across the construction industry that are dedicated to fostering a culture
around civic responsibility and community engagement in the built environment. Their main belief is that
design has a role in shaping a better world and that everyone should have access to it. Firms can submit
their projects to become SEED Certified using the SEED Evaluator tool, which is a simple and inexpensive
process that attests that the community was consulted throughout the design process.
Arch Nexus is one of only three firms-irn the US recognized as a Certified SEED Consulting Firm. And while
the City may not choose to use this process, this certification demonstrates our passion, commitment, and
track record of successful projects that exemplify equitable and engaging community outreach practices
and principles.
For these additional services, a range of $15,000-$25,000 would cover the team costs depending on the
specifics of the engagement desired and selected.
Assumptions and Clarifications:
The following is a list of assumptions and clarifications on which the proposal is based:
1. Legal Consultation, Civil Engineering, Surveying, Geotechnical Engineering, Environmental
Consulting, Traffic Engineering, and other services, if needed, are to be provided by the Owner and
are not part of basic planning and financial feasibility services. However, we will coordinate our
Services with those of other owner consultants to assure that applicable requirements are
effectively coordinated throughout the project.
2. Project estimating is by others.
3. All previous planning documents, planning studies, meeting notes, etc. and all other documents
pertaining to the project prior to the Design Team's initiating services are available to the team at
the outset of the project.
4. Normally reimbursable expenses are not included in this fee, such as travel, shipping, printing of
documents, renderings, physical models, marketing artwork, etc. These should be very limited given
the use of virtual meetings and online platforms, will be presented for pre -approval by the owner
and submitted for reimbursement as incurred (not to exceed $5,000).
Arch Nexus Commitment:
We again want to express our appreciation for the consideration of Arch Nexus as a part of your team.
We are invested in being your trusted partners throughout the progression of the plan. Our staffing
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availability for this project puts us in a position to begin work immediately upon your direction. If the
proposal is aligned with your understanding of the scope of work, please sign this letter and return it to
us for our records. We look forward to the opportunity of establishing the feasibility of a
transformative urban renewal plan together and developing a strong relationship with you. Thank
you again for inviting us to work together!
Sincerely,
ARCHITECTURAL NEXUS
4L&
Mihnea Dobre, AIA , LEED AP BD+C
Principal
Architectural Nexus
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Si
Ti
Date:
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Exhibit 1 - Project Area
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