RFP: Consultant Services for Comprehensive Ordinance Rewrite

Request for Proposals (RFP)

Consultant Services for Comprehensive Ordinance Rewrite – City of Ellsworth, Maine

I. Introduction

The City of Ellsworth is issuing this Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit qualified consultants or firms to lead a comprehensive review and rewrite of the City’s ordinances. This effort aims to align the City’s regulatory framework with the 2024 Comprehensive Plan, the Housing Needs Assessment and Strategy and the Business Attraction Plan, supporting sustainable growth, housing development, and economic opportunity.

II. Background

Ellsworth continues to experience significant residential and commercial growth. As part of its strategic planning efforts, the City adopted a new Comprehensive Plan and Housing Needs Assessment in 2024. These documents identify several specific ordinance revisions necessary to implement recommendations and policy priorities—including zoning updates, process improvements, and regulatory streamlining.

Despite prior efforts, a full-scale ordinance overhaul has been hindered by limited staff capacity. The City now seeks an external consultant to deliver this work efficiently, objectively, and in alignment with community values and legal requirements.

III. Project Goals

The consultant will be responsible for drafting a modern, legally sound, and user-friendly set of municipal ordinances that:

• • Align with the 2024 Comprehensive Plan, Housing Needs Assessment and Business Attraction Plan;
  • Remove outdated or redundant language;
  • Streamline the development process;
  • Clarify regulations for staff, applicants, and the public;
  • Comply with state statutes and land use law.

IV. Scope of Services

The selected consultant will be expected to provide the following services:

• • Review & Assessment
    Analyze current ordinances and identify inconsistencies, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement.
  • Policy Alignment
    Translate recommendations from the 2024 Comprehensive Plan, Housing Needs Assessment and Business Attraction Plan into actionable ordinance language (e.g., reducing/eliminating minimum parking requirements, creating pre-approved design templates, refining permitting procedures).
  • Drafting & Rewriting
    Provide a complete and coherent draft ordinance set, replacing or integrating existing chapters as appropriate.
  • Legal Compliance Review
    Ensure all revised ordinances comply with Maine municipal law and reflect current legal standards.
  • Stakeholder Engagement
    Facilitate public workshops and engage stakeholders, including city staff, council members, developers, and residents.
  • Presentation & Approval Support
    Present draft ordinances to the Planning Board and City Council and support the final adoption process.

V. Proposal Requirements

Proposals should include the following:

1. 1. Firm Profile – Company background and contact information.
   2. Project Team – Key personnel and their qualifications.
   3. Relevant Experience – Description of similar projects, especially for municipal ordinance rewrites.
   4. Project Approach – Proposed methodology and approach to stakeholder engagement.
   5. Timeline – Proposed work schedule with key milestones, including public workshops and presentation dates in 2025.
   6. Fee Proposal – Total cost with a breakdown by task or phase.
   7. References – At least three references from recent, comparable projects.

VI. Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated based on:

• Demonstrated understanding of municipal land use policy and legal frameworks;
• Quality and clarity of proposed approach;
• Relevant experience and qualifications;
• Cost-effectiveness;
• Ability to meet deadlines and manage stakeholder engagement.

VII. Submission Information

Deadline for Proposals: May 29, 2025
Submit Proposals To:
City of Ellsworth – Deputy City Manager
Sara Devlin
1 City Plaza, Ellsworth Maine 04605
sdevlin@ellsworthmaine.gov
Proposals may be submitted electronically or in hard copy. Late submissions will not be considered.

VIII. Timeline

Addendum #1 Responses to Questions