ESCANABA - The process has begun for creating a new development plan for Escanaba's downtown. Officials began work on drafting a request for proposals at Wednesday's Downtown Development Authority (DDA) meeting.

Requests for proposals will be sent to more than 30 firms including architects, engineers, and planners, explained City Manager Jim O'Toole.

The scope of work being requested in the proposals includes proposed improvements for downtown, financing of projects, plan scheduling, and nine performance requirements that must be met, O'Toole said.

"We need to identify the physical projects the community would like to see done now to move the community forward," he told DDA members, adding the proposals will include what to do downtown, how to do it, how to pay for it, when to do it and get it done.

The deadline to submit proposals would be 3 p.m. on Dec. 15. Proposals received would be narrowed down to the top three choices which would be interviewed, O'Toole said.

Creation of a downtown development plan would be a function of the DDA and does not need council approval, he explained.

A work session will be held at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 18 to further address downtown development ideas. City council land other community boards and commissions will be invited to participate in the process.

Last month, after DDA Director Roger Good announced his resignation, O'Toole recommended the DDA complete a development plan for downtown, prior to hiring a new director. At that meeting, DDA assistants Judy Schroeder and Cori Triest were named interim co-directors.

In other business Wednesday, the board rescinded action made to approve the treasurer's report and tabled the item to the next DDA meeting so finance errors could be corrected.

Also during the meeting, newly-appointed Economic Development Director Christina Henderson introduced herself to the board and encouraged the two groups to stay connected to maximize local marketing efforts.

Another guest at the meeting, Web site designer Ron Rademacher, presented information on michiganbackroads.com, promoting Escanaba as one of Michigan's "Terrific Towns" for tourists to visit.

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Jenny Lancour, (906) 786-2021, ext. 143, jlancour@dailypress.net