Festus officials are looking to hire an urban planning consultant to conduct an annexation study.
“The main reason for the urban planning consultant is to assist the city with future annexation and growth,” City Administrator Greg Camp said. “There is a lot that goes into that.”
Camp said the city does not have a particular area targeted for annexation.
The study, however, would provide information about the feasibility of annexing certain areas.
The city sought requests for qualifications (RFQs) from those interested in the consulting job, and the deadline to apply was March 13.
On April 1, Camp said two candidates had responded.
He said he expects staff to bring a recommendation for a candidate before the City Council at one of its April meetings. Council meetings are scheduled for April 14 and 28.
According to the city’s guidelines for the RFQs, the urban planning consultant would be expected to finish the annexation study within six months of contract execution.
The scope of the work would include review and evaluation of potential annexation areas; evaluation of short-term and long-term impacts of potential annexation areas, including the feasibility of the city providing public services to those areas; compliance with the city’s Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use Map, as well as compliance with Jefferson County annexation requirements; coordination and compilation of the information and data gathered from the study with input from the city of Festus; advisement and assistance in the necessary steps to include the annexation of properties to be placed on a 2026 ballot; review and analysis of current and potential land uses and zoning designations; and completion of other work needed for the annexation study.
Camp stressed that the urban planner would not be a staff position.
“This is not a part-time or full-time position; it is a consultant (who will be paid at) a cost to be determined once the responses are submitted and reviewed.”
Festus has never before hired an urban planning consultant, he said.