Specifications include, but are not limited to: TASK I: RESEARCH AND EVALUATION OF THE 2030 VISION AND GOALS (MAY-JULY) The purpose of this phase is to establish what has been accomplished and analyze strategic issues to carry the parks, greenways, and natural systems into the future. Dakota County staff will have begun addressing strategic issues using systems-based analyses when the consultant enters into the project. The consultant will assist with the wrap-up of this research phase. Staff has been researching these key areas: • Physical natural, greenway, and park system: geography and number of parks, greenways, county park conservation areas, and protected private open space • Recreation: access and activities offered • Visitors and visitor services: who visits Dakota County parks, who does not visit, and how current visitors are being served • Natural Resources: areas restored, habitat types, wildlife restoration, water resources and management areas • Cultural Landscapes: inventory of known cultural sites • Governance and Funding: how parks, greenways, and open space protection is currently funded Specific activities currently underway are: • Assembling an inventory of existing parks, greenways, and open space areas, recreation facilities, current visitors, budget and funding sources, visitor services, natural resource restoration and management, park facilities. • Benchmarking compared to other Regional Park Implementing Agencies in the Twin Cities, comparable communities across the nation, and national leaders. • Analysis of current demographics and projected 2050 demographics. • Analysis of park and greenway service area gaps. • Analysis of County landscape ecological/habitat gaps. • Early engagement with the Dakota County Board to evaluate the 2008 vision and goals and identify new goals for the plan updates. This is occurring in a series of meetings March – July 2024. It is anticipated that discussion on the topics of parks, visitor services, natural resources, cultural landscape will have occurred prior to the consultant being under contract. County Board discussion on the topics of greenways, governance, funding, and accessibility will take place after the consultant is under contract. Proposers should assume time to support staff in preparing for these meetings. (Dakota County Board Engagement and Schedule) The role of the consultant team will be to review information assembled and analysis conducted so far and work with the staff team to fill any gaps in information and assessment. The consultant should assume that approximately 50% of the research required will be completed. Phase I Community Engagement will occur late May – early June concurrently with the research work and Dakota County Board input. The community engagement goals are project awareness and general input on what is going well and what could be better. CONSULTANT MEETINGS AND DELIVERABLES • Refine project scope and schedule including all meetings and deliverables • Prepare community engagement plan • Plan and attend kickoff meeting and tour • Facilitate one staff Core Team meeting • Develop strategy and prepare materials for five Dakota County Board input sessions and attend input sessions if needed • Conduct Phase I community engagement, and prepare analysis and summary of both quantitative and qualitative findings • Research and phase I engagement summary report, based on analysis and synthesis of findings • Prepare all Meeting agendas, summaries, and materials/presentations TASK 2: UPDATES TO THE 2030 VISION AND GOALS (MAY-JULY) The purpose of this task is to refine current directions, identify new directions, and to update the 2030 vision and goals based on research, initial discussions with the Dakota County Board, and input from the community. Integration and update of the Visitor Services and Natural Resource Management plan vision and goals will occur as part of this task. The vision and goals from the 2020 Land Conservation Plan will also be incorporated (but should not be re-evaluated). In this phase it is anticipated that new directions will be explored in the areas of parks, greenways, visitor services, natural resources, cultural landscape, funding and governance. The updated vison and goals will be the primary content for the Parks, Greenways, and Natural Systems 2050 Vision Plan. To meet the schedule, it is anticipated that much of this work will run concurrently with TASK 1. As the research and County Board input is completed on specific topics, initial drafts of updated vision and goals can be undertaken. CONSULTANT MEETINGS AND DELIVERABLES • Plan, facilitate up to six staff workshops to explore new directions and goal updates in each topic area • Facilitate one Staff Core Team meeting • Develop draft vision and goals in all topic areas, including supporting graphics • Prepare materials for and present at Planning Commission meeting #1 (updated vision and goals) • Develop strategy for and prepare all meeting materials for Dakota County Board Physical Development Committee of the Whole meeting #1 (updated vision and goals) and attend meetings as needed • Prepare all meeting agendas, summaries, and materials/presentations TASK 3: PUBLIC REVIEW PARKS, GREENWAYS, AND NATURAL SYSTEMS 2050 VISION PLAN (JULYOCTOBER) The purpose of this phase is to prepare a 2050 Vision Plan Document for Parks, Greenways, and Natural Systems (vision and goals in all program areas and supporting information) and conduct the public review process. The product will be a graphic and engaging 2050 Vision Plan document (audiences: staff and county, no more than 75 pages) and polished executive summary with high quality graphics (audiences: general public and county board, no more than 20 pages). Appendices may be required for supporting research and process information. A Draft Public Review Draft Vision Plan will be prepared for Dakota County Planning Commission and County Board consideration, followed by a public review period in late September/early October. CONSULTANT MEETINGS AND DELIVERABLES • Prepare Review Draft 2050 Vision Plan document (audiences: staff and Dakota County Board, no more than 75 pages), polished executive summary with high quality graphics (audiences: general public and Dakota County Board, no more than 20 pages), appendices as necessary. Documents must be in ADA accessible format • Plan and facilitate one meeting with Staff Team to review staff review document and executive summary • Prepare Public Review Draft 2050 Vision Plan • Develop strategy and materials for and present at Planning Commission meeting #2 (draft Vision Plan) • Develop strategy and prepare all meeting materials for Dakota County Board Physical Development Committee of the Whole #2 (draft Vision Plan) and attend meeting if needed • Conduct Community engagement phase 2 and prepare analysis of both quantitative and qualitative findings • Prepare Community engagement summary • Prepare all meeting agendas, summaries, and materials/presentations
