COSADC Hires Another Planning Consultant

The City of San Angelo Development Corporation approved the hiring of a consultant, Alicia Cook LLC, at their recent meeting.  Economic Development Director Roland Pena recommended using a facilitator for the four hour planning meeting scheduled for the morning of March 5.  The cost would be $1,000 plus travel and hotel.  Pena has worked with Alicia Cook in the past. 

Board members expressed a desire to talk about the Business Retention Expansion Program (BREP) and trying to get money for local businesses to expand.  I'd hoped to hear discussion on Texas Pacifico, in light of City Council's refusal of the Development Corp's recommendation of nearly $250,000 for moving their corporate headquarters and providing 35 jobs.  That didn't happen in this meeting.  We'll see if Alicia Cook facilitates such a conversation. 
I find the Development Corporation's concern about using local vendors and helping local firms interesting as they approved hiring an outside facilitator.  How many local facilitators had the opportunity to share their skills, background or abilities? 

As for Alicia Cook's role Pena said her deliverable would be top strategic priorities for the Development Corporation for the coming fiscal year.  Pena said the current strategic plan will be used in planning.  It consists of three documents:

1.  Market Assessment
2.  Target Industry Analysis
3.  Action Strategy and Final Recommendations

Since then City Council hired a Lake Nasworthy Master Planner and Downtown Master Developer.  They presented their plans to Council last fall.

4.  Lake Nasworthy Master Use Plan
5.  Downtown Master Development Plan

Add the plans authored and facilitated by Lauren Shrum of Texas Outdoors Consulting:

6.  Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan
7.  Twin Buttes Recreation Master Plan 

The Development Corp may need to consider other plans including:

8.  San Angelo Cultural District Planning Study
9.  City of San Angelo Capital Improvement Plan (underway)
10.  West Texas Water Partnership

It may want to invite representatives from partner organizations:

11.  San Angelo Chamber of Commerce
12.  Downtown San Angelo
13.  Concho Valley Angel Network

That's alot to consider prioritizing for the coming year.  I look forward to seeing the process Roland Pena and Alicia Cook have devised via SATV's airing the meeting.