WATERLOO -- The city will extend its nine-year relationship with the architect of a downtown redevelopment effort.

Waterloo City Council members voted 6-1 Monday to approve spending a projected $60,000 with Vandewalle & Associates of Madison, Wis., to continue implementing the Riverfront Renaissance plan and related efforts.

That brings the city's total investment with the firm since 1999 to more than $480,000.

While most council members supported the extension, some questioned how long the city would continue to need an urban consultant downtown.

"They came up with a grand plan for the Riverfront Renaissance and I think that's great," said Councilman Steve Schmitt. "At what point do we cut the ties?"

Councilwoman Carolyn Cole pulled a line from the current presidential campaign as an analogy.

"It's kind of like coming up with an exit plan to get out of Iraq," she said of Vandewalle's involvement. "You don't want to wave the white flag of surrender until things are done as they should be."

Vandewalle & Associates was the primary architect of a downtown plan that included the current Vision Iowa grant-funded riverfront trail, amphitheater, pedestrian mall and rubber bladder dam, currently under construction.

But the downtown plan included other downtown redevelopment projects being handled by both the city, Waterloo Development Corp. and Cedar Valley TechWorks. The TechWorks and WDC have their own contracts with Vandewalle.

Mayor Tim Hurley said the many projects, including the RiverLoop Expo and Public Market building, Grout Museum expansion, TechWorks and a growing interest by private developers need to share a common vision, which Vandewalle helps fulfill.

"Those all need to tie together to make sense," Hurley said, adding there would be a time when Vandewalle wont' be needed anymore. "We're closer to the end than we are to the beginning or the middle."

He said the projected scope of work under the Vandewalle contract exceeds what city planners can absorb.

"Our staff is almost suffocating under the priorities of the work load they have now," he said.

Councilman Quentin Hart voted against the contract after raising questions about how the Vandewalle duties tied in with the My Entrenet business development program, TechWorks and some hotel-motel grant awards made for downtown marketing and wayfinding signs.

"Sixty thousand dollars just sort of caught me off guard a little bit," Hart said.

Contact Tim Jamison

at (319) 291-1577 or

tim.jamison@wcfcourier.com.