Volume 10, Issue 31- Wednesday, August 8, 2018
Mary Scott Nabers, President/CEO, Strategic Partnerships, Inc.
Problems facing municipal governments continue to compound. Constrained budgets make it almost impossible to address many critical community needs. Additionally, city leaders are faced with a paradox - how to develop a rundown area without pushing out the residents who have lived in the area for many years. Gentrification is sweeping through major cities creating controversy and strife and also many community 
benefits. 

Some areas, such as the neighborhood adjacent to Los Angeles' Skid Row, have seen a 95 percent increase in median household income over the past few years. However, the neighborhood's original residents have been dispersed and there are dozens of critical needs that require attention. To address this growing community concern, developers, working with city leaders, are negotiating various types of Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs). 

CBAs are contracts signed by community groups and developers that require specific amenities for the local community when major projects are launched. The agreements are meant to ensure that the projects benefit local workers, citizens and residents. Specific amenities are guaranteed to areas so that citizens are rewarded. 

CBAs first appeared in the U.S in the early 2000s. However, the agreements are more abundant now because of budget constraints and critical community needs that cannot be addressed otherwise. CBAs, in fact, are extremely popular today.  

Each agreement is negotiated between community coalitions and developers and the benefits are tailored to meet specific community needs. CBAs often result in addition of community parks, day care centers and/or job training facilities. 

A few years ago, Detroit voters approved a law requiring developers of projects over $75 million to commit to certain housing, hiring or other related benefits. As a result, a $108 million project planned in the Lafayette Park neighborhood will not only bring 374 new residential units and parking to the neighborhood but also a number of attractive amenities. Twenty percent of the new units will be designated for affordable housing use and more than 50 percent of all construction hours required will be performed by verified Detroit residents.

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Courtesy Photo: imagineblaisdell.com 
Site plan of the Blaisdell Center
Hawaii- The city of Honolulu is in the process of finding up to five private developers for a public-private partnership. The developers would take on the city's $716.8 million redevelopment of the 54-year-old Neal S. Blaisdell Center. The current master plan calls for a 95,000-square-foot exhibition hall and larger parking structure with 2,400 stalls, extensive renovations to the concert hall and arena, and extensive landscaping and water features. 

The schematic design phase, which accounts for about 30 percent of the total design, is expected to be finished in October. The environmental assessment is underway and a request for proposals is expected to be released by November 2018. The city would like to begin construction by summer 2020.
Kentucky- The biggest chunk of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's budget, that began July 1, is going towards the repair of over a thousand bridges throughout the state's 120 counties. Over the next two years, $340 million of the $548 million will cover the "Bridging Kentucky" budget. The total amount of bridge money to be spent over the next six years is estimated at $700 million. The evaluation of all bridges that need replacing or rehab should be finished by the middle of August. 

Currently, it looks as though 30 percent of the bridges can be rehabbed. Contracts for several bridges on the list have already been let and will be completed this year. Another 16 bridges have been identified that could be let this year, but that number could increase after the screening process is finalized. In 2019, it is anticipated that between 150 and 200 bridge projects will be let for construction. This steady flow of construction work will continue through the end of the program in 2024.
Washington State- The Spokane Public Schools Board of Directors approved a wide-ranging, $495 million bond measure that would add three middle schools, replace three others and provide substantive improvements throughout the district. The bond will be appearing on the general election ballot Nov. 6. The bond includes a state match of $57.9 million for a total cost of $553.2 million. The bond would put two of those new middle schools on city land, one near Mullan Road Elementary School and another in northeast Spokane on North Foothills Drive. A third middle school will be located on land currently occupied by Albi Stadium. 

If approved, the district will embark on a design phase that's expected to last about a year. Construction would begin in 2020. The centerpiece of the bond will be the three new middle schools, which would ease overcrowding. Additionally, the bond calls for replacement of Sacajawea, Glover and Shaw middle schools. The bond also includes a new commons area at Lewis and Clark High School, renovation of the Libby Center for option programs, safety and security upgrades for all schools and other smaller projects.
Georgia- The Gwinnett County Board of Education has announced plans to build a new high school in the Mill Creek area. The board also plans to install new artificial turf fields and undertake other projects dependent on voter approval this fall of a $350 million general obligation bond. The Gwinnett County Public Schools plan to pay off the debt incurred by the bonds with the debt service millage rate. 

Additional projects funded by the bond include: the build-out of Discovery High School, renovations to Central Gwinnett High School's fine arts facilities, lab and instruction space renovations at middle and high schools, school bus purchases and technology improvements.
Courtesy Photo: panynj.gov 
Stewart International Airport
New York- A request for proposals (RFP) is due by Aug. 15 for a United States Customs inspection station at the New York Stewart International Airport. Construction of the 20,000-square-foot addition at the terminal will cost $30 million. The contract will be awarded and shovel ready before the year is out, but the addition is unlikely to be completed until 2020. 

Commission members have been lobbying the Port Authority to restore the inspection station to Stewart's budget since a commercial airline introduced the airport's first international flights last year. The station, which will allow international and domestic flights to be processed at the same time, was cut in 2016 and revived in February of this year.
Kentucky- Kentucky is considering a new roadway to ease congestion around Louisville. Traffic on the Gene Snyder Freeway has led to a proposal for a new "outer-outer loop" running 50 miles through Bullitt, Oldham, Shelby and Spencer counties to connect Interstate 65 to I-71. The state allocated $2 million earlier this year for a feasibility study that is projected to be completed by November 2019.  

The final report of the study will recommend one or two wide corridors for the placement of the new alignment along with preliminary cost estimates. No definitive costs have been projected and a funding source has not been secured. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet estimates that the project will cost hundreds of millions and is open to a potential public-private partnership to secure funds.
California- The Port of San Francisco is seeking developers for redevelopment of 13 of the city's historic piers and the Agriculture building adjacent to the Ferry Building. Proposed concepts are expected to align with the priorities outlined in the city waterfront land use plan, which include: arts and culture, assembly and entertainment, education, food and beverage, maritime (excursion and leisure), museums, recreation and specialty retail. All plans should highlight the historic waterfront's potential to deliver an outstanding patron experience. 

Responses to the request for information
are due at the end of October, and a request for proposals is expected in early 2019. Successful public-private partnerships have resulted in the rehabilitation of the Exploratorium at Pier 15 and bulkhead buildings at Piers 1½, 3 and 5. These restored facilities add to attractions at the waterfront, alongside Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. Over 24 million people a year visit the waterfront.
Rhode Island- The New Shoreham town manager has announced a new Town Housing Initiative development. The plan calls for the repurposing of four town-owned properties and changes to town zoning ordinances to create affordable housing. Land that is currently privately owned and located near the Block Island School at the intersection of High Street and Payne Road is also being considered. 

Voters recently approved $1.5 million to repurpose property for housing, yet a public-private partnership will be required to fully fund the project. Town officials would like to see a multi-tiered development with a combination of rental units and affordable units for purchase. The new area could be a town center with zoning amendments flexible enough to allow construction of a physical therapy center, a pool, or buildings for other uses, such as senior housing.
North Carolina- New Hanover County wants a construction manager at risk (CMAR) for an estimated $11 million to $12 million replacement of the Division of Juvenile Justice facility at 138 N. 4th St. in downtown Wilmington. The plan is to expand a one-story structure to an estimated three-story, 35,000-square-foot building to house courtrooms. The need is arising as the state has decided to raise the age of juvenile jurisdiction to 18 years old for non-violent offenses. 

New Hanover County has already chosen an architecture firm to design the building. The deadline to submit a proposal to be considered as the CMAR for this project is Aug. 15. According to the request for qualifications, the proposed schedule for the project is for the schematic design to be completed by Sept. 25 and construction to be done by December 2020.
California- The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) has a subway station under construction on 1st Street, between Central and Alameda. LA Metro will issue a request for interest (RFI) for development above the station, located in Little Tokyo. The site would be eligible for housing and commercial uses, with a minimum building height of three stories.

In advance of the pending RFI, an "opportunity overview" published by the transit agency offers up a sneak preview of what could be built atop the underground light rail stop - which will serve the Gold and Blue Lines. The station will be one of three that is part of its Regional Connector project, which will offer one-seat rides across the city when it's up and running by the end of 2021.
Texas - Victoria County has begun demolishing buildings damaged by Hurricane Harvey at the Victoria Regional Airport. Of the 70 buildings that were damaged, eight are slated for full demolition including a historic hangar used during World War II and the Korean War. In its place, along U.S. 59, the county has considered building a multipurpose facility that would act as a staging area for disaster response efforts. 

Officials are in the preliminary planning stage at this time, but have released their potential funding sources. The project will be funded by a mix of insurance funds and Federal Emergency Management Agency grants, yet the grants have not yet been awarded. Without the grant money the county would consider forming public-private partnerships to see the project to fruition.
Massachusetts- Sharon selectmen are moving forward on a request for proposals (RFP) for a solar project on the town's former landfill site. The request is for a company to lease town land to put up an array of solar panels. The town's Energy Advisory Committee is also developing an RFP for an energy consultant to pursue municipal aggregation. 

The town will be using three criteria when it bids out to energy providers - the best value, a plan that includes a green energy component and a 100-percent green energy plan. This RFP is for a consultant who would shepherd the town through the work of seeking power-supplier bids and educating the public about aggregation. The town is also conferring with the schools about projects for which it could seek state Green Community grants.
Maryland- The Hagerstown City Council is interested in forging a public-private partnership to develop a new indoor sports complex. The city council has announced that they will issue a request for qualifications (RFQ) to build a facility on one of three proposed sites; Fairgrounds Park, the Municipal Stadium area or the municipal golf course called The Greens at Hamilton Run. 

After conducting phase one of a feasibility study the city decided to postpone funding for a second study and will reach out to the private sector. The initial study suggests developing a facility that would have one or two indoor artificial turf fields and four to six basketball courts, which could be converted into eight or more volleyball courts. While partnering with Washington County to fund the project is one option the city has considered, Hagerstown is also interested in alternative funding solutions through a private partner.
Texas- The Alamo Management Committee has posted two requests for qualifications (RFQ) for the architectural design and an architect of record to work on the proposed 130,000-square-foot museum. The goal is to have a world-class museum and visitor center in place in time for the 300th anniversary of the Alamo being moved to its current location, occurring in 2024. 

 An RFQ will also be released for a firm to do a study on three historic buildings - the Woolworth, Palace and Crockett - following the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Each building will be assessed individually and in detail. This will then be provided to the museum designer as part of the design process. Master planners have suggested that some or all of the three buildings could be demolished or incorporated into a new building. The Alamo Plaza design is still underway, pending approval from the San Antonio City Council and the Alamo Executive Committee.
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Massachusetts- Montague's Public Works Facility Building Committee has issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) for the owner's project manager. A new Public Works Facility has been proposed that is 25,500 square feet, is on municipal property and is adjacent to the town's public safety complex. 

The cost of the project has increased and is not to exceed $11.2 million. Because of this limitation, the RFQ is for the owner's project manager (OPM) for the construction of the facility. Submissions for the OPM are due by Sept. 6. Following the hiring of the OPM, the next phase of the design will be bid. There will be a project briefing and site tour on Aug. 15. The anticipated start of the project is the beginning of 2019 with a completion timeframe of 2020.
Indiana- The Gary Community School Corp. recently offered 33 schools in a sale that was open to local taxing units, public universities and colleges. Only one bid was received by the due date of July 27. One theory for low bid activities on these school properties was that the asking prices were higher than expected. The district used assessments provided by a Calumet Township Assessor. 

A new set of updated assessments has been released that is mostly lower than the set used in the first bid legal ad. A legal notice was published last week kicking off a period of public bidding on the closed Gary Community School Corp. schools that are scattered across the city. A bid of $100,000 was submitted by the city of Gary for Franklin Elementary. The city hopes to land a $30 million federal grant to transform the property into new housing. The district can't afford to maintain the properties and if some of the schools don't attract buyers, the district has the option of holding an auction.
Washington, D.C.- The United States Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on its request for information (RFI) regarding national-level test facilities for offshore wind-specific research and development. The Wind Energy Technologies Office is seeking information on facilities that can conduct unique offshore wind research and development (R&D) in the U.S. 

The DOE also wants to know what upgrades to existing facilities or new facilities are needed for the U.S. to be at the cutting edge of offshore wind R&D, and what specific tests and analyses could be carried out at existing, upgraded, or new facilities in order to advance the U.S. offshore wind industry. Responses to the RFI must be received by Sept. 14. 
Indiana- Dubois County Commissioners were presented with a proposal by the Jail Study Committee outlining suggestions for improvements to the county's criminal justice system. High on the list is the need for a new security center that would house 250-300 inmates. The facility would separate the inmates based on gender, level of offense and whether or not they needed treatment. The Jail Study Committee also included a request for the creation of a new justice center. 

The next step is to conduct a feasibility study to determine what the county needs in a new security center and then what the county can afford to put into the new building, which would cost anywhere from $20 million to $50 million. Commissioners agreed to begin drafting a request for qualifications from contractors. From there commissioners will be able to conduct the feasibility study which is required by law before construction on the new jail can begin. There is no word yet on when that feasibility study will be completed.
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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

- South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) Executive Director Jack Stephens announced that he will retire when his contract ends Dec. 31. Stephens has served as the SFRTA's leader since February 2014 after working as deputy executive director for more than a decade. Before joining SFRTA, he was interim general manager and chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. SFRTA has hired a firm to conduct a national search for Stephens' successor. 
- Michelann Ooten has been chosen to serve as the director of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM). Ooten, the agency's deputy director, will replace Albert Ashwood, who is retiring Aug. 31. Ooten has 17 years of experience with OEM, including serving the last seven years as deputy director.
- Mark Washington was selected as the next Grand Rapids city manager. He comes to the West Michigan city from Austin, Texas, where he most recently served as assistant city manager for three years. Washington had been with the city of Austin since 2009. Former city manager Greg Sundstrom retired in February after eight years in the position. Washington is expected to start in September. 
- Ken Okuhara is the new chief technology officer for the city of Stockton, Calif. Okuhara started his IT career with the state of California in 2000, specializing in project management. Okuhara's responsibilities with the city will include oversight of app development, the project management office, the city data center and IT networks.  - Andy Hume, who has been serving as acting administrator at Las Cruces International Airport for the past eight months, has been named as the new airport administrator. Hume has been with the city of Las Cruces for 17 years. Prior to his acting position, he was the city's downtown coordinator for five years. He is currently with the economic development department, which oversees the airport. 
- Air Force Maj. Gen. Richard Scobee has been nominated to become the next head of the Air Force Reserve, succeeding Lt. Gen. Maryanne Miller. If confirmed by the Senate, Scobee would also be promoted to lieutenant general and become the head of Air Force Reserve Command, located at Robins Air Force Base, Ga. Scobee is currently serving as the command's deputy chief. 
- Christina Briggs has been promoted to economic development director following the departure of former Chief Innovation Officer and Economic Development Director Kelly Kline. Briggs has been the deputy director of economic development and assistant to the Fremont city manager since 2015. 
- Jeff Delaney has been chosen as Kennesaw State University's new chief information officer (CIO). Delaney has served as the interim CIO since February after then-Interim President Ken Harmon announced that the former CIO, Lectra Lawhorne, resigned her position. Delaney has more than 20 years of experience in technology leadership in higher education. He has served as the associate vice chancellor for Information Technology Services with the Board of Regents and as Savannah State University's chief information officer.
- The Pentagon has named Chris Shank, a former National Aeronautics and Space Administration official, as director of the Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO). He was previously a vice president at a government affairs firm. Shank will be the second SCO director since its founding. Will Roper, the first director, left the post to be the Air Force's top acquisition official earlier this year. Established in 2012, the office is tasked with finding new and innovative ways of using existing capabilities to bolster conventional deterrence against potential adversaries like Russia and China. 
- The University of Texas System Board of Regents has named James B. Milliken as the lone finalist for chancellor of the Texas system. Milliken most recently served as chancellor of The City University of New York (CUNY) from 2014 until 2018. If appointed chancellor, Milliken will succeed William H. McRaven, who became chancellor in 2015 and stepped down at the end of May. Larry Faulkner, the former president of UT Austin, has been serving as chancellor ad interim since then. 
- Mike Callahan is the new Kansas City, Kan., fire chief. Callahan is a 40-year veteran of the Chicago Fire Department where he most recently served as the deputy fire commissioner. Callahan will begin his role as fire chief Sept. 4. Kevin Shirley has been serving as the interim fire chief since John Paul Jones retired in December after three decades with the department. 
- Sheila Kuehl has been appointed chair of the Los Angeles (LA) County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). As chair, she succeeds LA Mayor Eric Garcetti. An LA County supervisor, Kuehl previously served as Metro's first vice chair. The chair position rotates between the three groups. Kuehl's term extends through June 30, 2019.  
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