TITLE
Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. RFP CM20-015 and award a contract to Redistricting Partners, of Sacramento, CA, for professional services to assist City staff and the Independent Redistricting Commission to establish City Council district boundaries, in accordance with the City Charter and state and federal law, for a total contract amount not to exceed $245,000, for a period of two years, with the option to renew for an additional one-year period, at the discretion of the City Manager; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into a contract, including any necessary amendments. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to enter into a contract with Redistricting Partners for professional services to assist City staff and the Independent Redistricting Commission in establishing City Council district boundaries, in accordance with the City Charter and state and federal law.
On November 6, 2018, Long Beach voters approved Measure DDD - City of Long Beach Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. Measure DDD amended the City Charter to create a Commission of Long Beach residents to determine the boundaries of Council Districts every ten years after the national census. The Commission will be comprised of 13 members and two alternates that will act as an independent body charged with the adoption of a map that establishes Council District boundaries within six months after census-block-level population data from a regular United States decennial census is made available to the public. To achieve the adoption of a final map, the Commission will review census-block-level population data from the 2020 Census, provide an open and fair process for public input, deliberate proposed maps, and report on progress made. Redistricting Partners will assist the Commission and City staff during the redistricting process in several ways. Professional services provided by Redistricting Partners will ensure compliance of applicable redistricting process laws throughout the process, deliver trainings to Commissioners to fulfill their duties, conduct a “communities of interest” analysis, implement and staff public meetings, and provide mapping software and services that allow for the Commission and public to create and analyze proposed maps for final adoption. Redistricting Partners will also assist the Commission with completing a report to the City Council recommending any changes including amendments to the City Charter, that could improve the redistricting process in future years.
The Request for Proposals (RFP) was advertised in the Long Beach Press-Telegram on December 23, 2019, and 380 potential proposers were notified of the RFP opportunity. Of those proposers, 11 downloaded the RFP via the City’s electronic bid system. The RFP document was made available from the Purchasing Division, located on the sixth floor of City Hall, and the Division’s website at www.longbeach.gov/purchasing <http://www.longbeach.gov/purchasing>. A RFP announcement was also included in the Purchasing Division’s weekly update of Open Bid Opportunities, which is sent to 35 local, minority-owned, and women-owned business groups. Four proposals were received by the January 30, 2020 deadline. Of those proposers, none were Minority-owned Business Enterprises (MBEs), Women-owned Business Enterprises (WBEs), certified Small Business Enterprises (SBEs), or Long Beach businesses (Local). The selection committee determined that Redistricting Partners, of Sacramento, CA (not a MBE, WBE, SBE, or Local), was the most qualified firm to provide services for the upcoming City Council districts redistricting process. Redistricting Partners was selected based on their experience working on comparable engagements when conducting successful redistricting projects for cities, schools, and other special jurisdictions in the State of California; providing high quality commission training; and, competence in providing a robust community engagement and transparent redistricting process.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Amy R. Webber on October 26, 2020, Business Services Bureau Manager Tara Yeats on October 21, 2020, and by Budget Analysis Officer Julissa José-Murray on October 23, 2020.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action to adopt Specifications No. RFP CM20-015 and award a contract concurrently is requested on November 17, 2020, to ensure the contract is in place expeditiously.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total contract authority will not exceed $245,000 for a period of two years, with the option to renew for one additional year. Sufficient appropriation is currently budgeted in the General Fund Group in the Office of the City Clerk. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. The number of additional local jobs created by this contract is not available at this time and will depend on the work assigned over the course of the contract.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER
MONIQUE DE LA GARZA
CITY CLERK