By Ryan Clark
NKyTribune reporter
When Tom West was hired on as the city’s economic development director this winter, he made it a point that he did not want projects to sit around and gather dust. He wanted to hit the ground running.
It looks like he’s taken off.
At its caucus meeting Tuesday, commissioners heard a proposal from West for an order authorizing the mayor to issue an RFQ and RFP as part of a two-stage process to select a zoning consultant.
The idea is to help rewrite the city’s zoning ordinance into a form or character-based development code, to provide a more streamlined approach to encourage development and bring the city into the 21st century.
“How do we make Covington a better place to live, work and invest?” West asked.
It starts with bringing in consultants to develop a code incorporating both zoning and historic preservation regulations, which the city hopes will cost about $250,000 or less for the entire process.
West said the plan will start with Phase One, which will identify 3-5 firms, who will then be interviewed.
“Who can you work with?” he asked. “Who do you feel can work well with the community?”
Eventually, the city would select one firm, which would lead to Phase Two. There, the city would ask for a proposal, schedule and a fee, and afterward, if all agreed, they would negotiate a contract.
The selection would take place in May, while the project would kick off in June and finish a year later, in June 2019.
Many questions remained — Commissioner Tim Downing wanted to know exactly what approach the firms would use, while Commissioner Jordan Huizenga wondered how the city’s historic guidelines would exist in a form-based code — Mayor Joseph U. Meyer reminded all that this was just the approval of the RFP/RFQ.
The proposal was slated for the consent agenda next Tuesday.
“These codes vary just like the cities vary,” West said.
“The code development process will be undertaken under the direction of staff, with substantial public input and engagement,” the proposal stated.
Also Tuesday:
- Commissioners heard a review of software possibilities for social media management by Systems Analyst and Project Manager Kendall Huff. In February, the city began talking about developing a new social media policy, which would involve turning off commenting by the public. But by state law, the city would have to then archive all the previous comments the public has made, which sent them looking for third-party help. Huff presented three options: Smarsh, ArchiveSocial and PageFreezer. Each offered pluses and minuses for what the city needs. All of the companies have been around for about three years, Huff noted. While Smarsh has reportedly not been as user-friendly, ArchiveSocial is being used by other cities in Kentucky, including Louisville and Henderson, but comes with a heavier price tag — about $400-$600 per month. By comparison, PageFreezer cost only $99 per month, while ArchiveSocial may have a limit for the pages and posts before additional charges incur. Still, Huff admitted it would take more communication with all of the companies to know exactly what, and how much, they could provide. City officials said they would like more information at the next caucus meeting in two weeks.
- Commissioners heard an order to enter into an agreement with Walker Consultants to provide a parking financial feasibility study for $62,400 which would come from the general fund. West said that while the city only received one response to their RFP, he noted it was “a great proposal.” In March, the city issued an RFP for the study, which “will review the project assumptions and financials of the proposed 700-space parking garage at Duveneck Square and assess the city’s existing on- and off-street parking facilities,” city plans said. The item will be added to next week’s regular agenda.
- Commissioners heard a request to hire Donna Kay Wietholter as a part-time code enforcement inspector, which would bring the total in the department to three full-time workers and three part-time workers. Commissioners agreed to move the item to next Tuesday’s consent agenda.
- Commissioners heard a request to authorize an order to a property transfer and maintenance agreement with the Historic Licking Riverside Civic Association for a Little Library in George Rogers Clark Park. In 2017, the Historic Licking Riverside Civic Association requested a revocable license to install the library in the park. “Insuring such a unique item became a challenge for the HLRCA,” city plans said. “To overcome this challenge, HLRCA offered to donate the library to the city and they have agreed to undertake ongoing maintenance of the library through the proposed agreement.” Assistant City Solicitor Cassandra Zoda said that because of the “public benefit” the library would be a “good asset for the city.” The request was moved to next week’s consent agenda.
- Mayor Meyer asked Rick Davis, public services director and assistant city engineer, about why the Roebling Suspension Bridge has been closed to pedestrian and bicycle traffic until June. Davis responded that it was a state decision based on safety. “By God, then they better fix that bridge,” Meyer said. The Mayor went on to ask Davis to put a plan together, saying they would “go to Frankfort if we have to.” Meyer is concerned because of the lack of foot traffic to the area businesses.
The next Covington Commission meeting will be a legislative meeting held at 6 p.m., April 10 at the Covington City Hall at 20 West Pike St.
Contact the Northern Kentucky Tribune at news@nkytribune.com