SUNDRE — With council’s selection of a consulting firm, the process to draft a plan that will lay out the phased development of a year-round campground and passive use outdoor recreation plan can begin.
“It’s a preparation, a plan, not for the actual development,” Mike Marko, director of planning and economic development, said during the regular Feb. 22 council meeting conducted by teleconference.
“This is for the 37 acres of town-owned land on the east side, south of Highway 27,” said Marko.
He told council nine submissions were received by the closing deadline.
“The purpose of the project was to prepare and complete a design and consultation process for the preparation of a master plan for a multi-phased, year-round camping and passive outdoor space on these lands, as well as develop a plan for implementation.”
The project’s scope includes developing a plan that will provide space for the community to use in addition to the camping, semi-passive outdoor recreation facilities such as bocce ball court, pickleball, walking trails, cross-country skiing and other compatible activities, he said.
The purpose of the land’s future master plan is to propose improvements and phased development costs for those improvements, and would be guided by the municipality’s existing design development standards for parks, open spaces and trails, he said.
“I want to emphasize that the proposal before you does not include the actual building of the site,” he said.
“It’s the plan to tell us how it could be built in a staged manner.”
Nine submissions were received by the Jan. 19 closing deadline, and administration used a set of six key criteria to evaluate the consulting firms.
“We wanted to make sure the proposals, or the submissions, had a clear understanding of our request together with their qualifications,” he said.
“We placed a lot of weight on that in addition to the overall price. It’s not just price that dictates who we’re recommending.”
The initial selection process narrowed down the original pool of contenders to three preferred candidates, who were in turn invited for interviews based on the evaluation criteria, he said.
“The preferred candidate that the administration selected is the IBI Group,” he said.
The firm is a Canadian-based international professional consulting company with offices in Calgary that offers integrated services in urban design, planning and landscape architecture.
Additionally, the representatives who were interviewed outlined a clear and concise presentation of their idea for the project that involves a unique community and stakeholder format, he said.
“That’s key,” he said.
The quoted cost of the service is also within budgetary requirements for this phase of the project, he said, adding the other two candidates interviewed also boasted high credentials, although their proposals came in at a higher cost.
Administration therefore recommended that council approve the retention of IBI Group at a cost not to exceed $35,000, with funding to be entirely covered through a municipal stimulus program.
Coun. Rob Wolfe moved the recommended motion.
Speaking in favour of the motion, Coun. Richard Warnock called the area important to the future development of tourism in Sundre.
“I would like to make sure that we do it right, and not a piecemeal plan,” said Warnock.
Councillors Cheri Funke and Todd Dalke sought additional information with regards to how the consultant intends to engage with the community.
When developing the proposal to solicit tenders for the project, Marko said administration emphasized that when it comes to open houses, the municipality will do the legwork and reach out to the community for that component of the engagement.
“But what we were interested in, is to hear how the consultants wanted to involve the community while they were in the process of developing the plan. IBI was very strong in emphasizing that it’s very, very important to make sure we engage and talk to the right people in the town about what the needs are, what the requirements are for recreation and tourism,” he said.
“There is no expectation from IBI that we’re going to receive a cookie cutter plan sitting on top of these lands that’s predetermined based on an office approach. They want to engage the right people. They recognize that the town has dynamics, that there are interest groups in the business community and recreation.”
Part of their plan is to talk to the community “before they actually put their pen to paper and start producing the plan,” he said.
Linda Nelson, chief administrative officer, said part of the request for proposals advertised by the municipality required applicants to provide a plan outlining a detailed approach to consult.
“The IBI group had a very comprehensive consultation plan,” said Nelson, adding a number of community groups and organizations such as the Sundre Bike n Ski Club and the Sundre & District Chamber of Commerce were even specified in their application.
“And then of course an open house for all of the residents of Sundre,” she said.
“The final plan would be based on feedback from the public and the community groups.”
Wolfe spoke in favour of the motion and said there needs to be a focus on year-round tourism, not just summer, which benefits local businesses.
His motion carried unanimously.
