An advisory committee selecting one of four finalists to develop
Lafayette's 
comprehensive plan recommended a Miami, Fla. based firm to create the roadmap of how the city and parish should look in 20 years.
"The comprehensive plan is important on a number of levels," said advisory committee member Ben Berthelot, who is also director of Lafayette Consolidated Government's Community Development department. "It provides a roadmap of where we want to go in the future, so it's important for the public to get engaged with this."
The comprehensive plan is designed to handle all aspects of future growth, from police and fire departments to schools, traffic improvements and other infrastructure issues.
The 24-person committee heard 45-minute presentations from each of the four finalists, followed by 30-minute question-and-answer sessions Thursday at the Acadiana Center for the Arts.
After three rounds of voting, eliminating one firm each round, the committee selected Wallace Roberts and Todd to create the comprehensive plan for Lafayette Consolidated Government.
Wallace Roberts and Todd developed the "Louisiana Speaks" campaign as well as the "Imagine Austin" plan to guide growth in Austin, Texas. Other credentials include the "Omaha by Design" and "Focus Kansas City" plans.
"It's about you and not about us," said John Fernsler, a project manager with the firm. "You are a great place in this nation, and people are going to beat a path to your door. Our approach is to start with the shared aspirations everyone in the community can agree with."
City-Parish President Joey Durel said he will follow the committee's recommendation and begin working with City-Parish Attorney Michael Hebert to draft a contract stating the terms of how long the firm has to develop the plan and how much it will cost LCG. The City-Parish Council must then approve the contract.
Durel said Tuesday during a media briefing about the comprehensive plan that developing such a blueprint typically costs about $1.5 million.
The plan will be entitled, making it a governing document. It will also be a living document in the sense future adjustments will be made.
Durel said the plan will "transcend politicians." As different administrations take the helm, a guiding plan for the future made with citizen input will steer future decisions.
LCG officials hope to conclude the contract negotiations with Wallace Roberts and Todd by the end of March. The firm will then take between eight and 14 months to complete the comprehensive plan.
The LCG request for proposals attracted 12 national firms. The advisory committee narrowed that list to four finalists.
The three finalists the committee did not recommend are: Dover, Kohl and Partners from Coral Gables, Fla.; Fregonese Associates from Portland, Ore.; and Goody Clancy, from Boston, Mass.
Fernsler emphasized getting the community involved in the plan's creation. He said efforts like a logo design competition and having live music at events helped get the public involved with the campaign in Austin.
Fernsler said his firm is able to not only help develop the ideas but also implement them into reality.
"We are proud of our record with areas that are unique remaining unique," Fernsler said. "A comprehensive plan is your legacy for the future. The ideas have to resonate in this community."
Durel said the plan will "transcend politicians." As different administrations take the helm, a guiding plan for the future made with citizen input will steer future decisions.
LCG officials hope to conclude the contract negotiations with Wallace Roberts and Todd by the end of March. The firm will then take between eight and 14 months to complete the comprehensive plan.
The LCG request for proposals attracted 12 national firms. The advisory committee narrowed that list to four finalists.
The three finalists the committee did not recommend are: Dover, Kohl and Partners from Coral Gables, Fla.; Fregonese Associates from Portland, Ore.; and Goody Clancy, from Boston, Mass.
Fernsler emphasized getting the community involved in the plan's creation. He said efforts like a logo design competition and having live music at events helped get the public involved with the campaign in Austin.
Fernsler said his firm is able to not only help develop the ideas but also implement them into reality.
"We are proud of our record with areas that are unique remaining unique," Fernsler said. "A comprehensive plan is your legacy for the future. The ideas have to resonate in this community."
