Consultant selection begins for Sarasota downtown master plan

Sarasota’s Downtown Master Plan Update moves into its next phase March 31, as an ad hoc committee reviews short-listed consultants competing to lead the effort.

The meeting at City Hall will focus on procurement procedures and introductions from firms seeking the assignment.

The committee will not hear formal proposals during the session and is restricted from discussing project-specific approaches with firms as part of the evaluation process.

Consultant selection follows procurement reset

The review comes after the city restarted the procurement process earlier this year, canceling and reissuing its Invitation to Negotiate.

The reset stemmed from a scoring issue tied to local preference requirements included in the solicitation but not incorporated into the overall evaluation.

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City staff said the correction required either a revised scoring structure or a waiver from the City Commission, which would affect the timeline for selecting a consultant.

Public input highlights downtown conditions

Public comment in earlier meetings focused on conditions along Main Street, including sidewalk maintenance, pedestrian safety and traffic noise.

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Residents pointed to deteriorating infrastructure and called for wider sidewalks, changes to on-street parking and measures to reduce vehicle noise.

Next phase tied to consultant selection

City staff outlined a timeline that places consultant selection as the next step before detailed planning begins, including discussions on housing, infrastructure and downtown development priorities.

Committee members said they may meet more frequently after a consultant is selected to address delays tied to the procurement reset and move the process forward.

What to watch

The March 31 meeting begins the consultant selection phase for Sarasota’s downtown master plan update, which will determine who leads the next stage of planning for the city’s downtown core.