During a recent city council meeting, officials discussed the development of the Old Town Downtown master plan, emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive implementation strategy. The plan, which is part of the IH10 quarter initiative, will involve a consultant tasked with creating an implementation matrix that details action items, responsible parties, timelines, and funding sources. This matrix is expected to align with the city’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), incorporating essential project objectives such as sidewalks, parking, drainage, and stormwater management.

The council outlined a timeline for the project, indicating that a Request for Proposals (RFP) will be issued following feedback from the council. The RFP will be open for approximately four weeks, with interviews for finalists scheduled 11 to 14 weeks after posting. The selected consultant will follow a phased approach that includes project initiation, data collection, analysis, and drafting recommendations.

A key aspect of the project will be the establishment of a steering committee composed of Old Town Downtown residents and business owners, aimed at fostering community engagement throughout the planning process. This committee will provide input and feedback, ensuring that local perspectives are integrated into the final plan.

Council members raised concerns about the effective use of existing funds, particularly a remaining $10 million allocated for sidewalks and alternative transportation modes. They stressed the importance of utilizing these federal funds efficiently and ensuring that the new plan does not overlook previous master plans, which have not been fully realized in the past. One council member specifically requested that the selected consultant thoroughly review past plans to avoid redundancy and ensure that the new strategy builds on previous efforts.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to incorporate these considerations into the RFP and to maintain a focus on executing actionable plans that reflect the community's needs and aspirations.