Volume 11, Issue 2- Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Mary Scott Nabers, President/CEO, Strategic Partnerships, Inc.

Citizens and public officials continue to wait...and wait...and wait! It has been almost 18 months since Hurricanes Harvey and Irma devastated the U.S. Gulf Coast. It's been almost a year since Congress earmarked $16 billion in federal funding for rebuilding and resiliency. Yet, states impacted by the disasters have yet to see the $16 billion that was promised by Congress. 

What has happened? Eleven months after Congress passed the funding bill, the Trump administration has never issued rules telling states how to apply for the money. One has to question how this is possible. 

On Jan. 2, Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush sent a letter to Office of Management & Budget Director Mick Mulvaney calling for his department to approve rules for publication which would allow the funding to be allocated. Bush wrote (as many others have as well), "We cannot afford to wait any longer."

But, the country is stalled because of a government shutdown. There are no workers to deal with rules or oversee anything. President Trump has threatened to declare a national emergency and according to some sources has asked about reallocating funds earmarked for Harvey and Irma recovery to his border wall if Congress does not give him the funding he wants.  

If he should declare a state of emergency, it is very possible the administration would redirect portions of the $16 billion approved by Congress for Harvey and Irma recovery to the wall. Given the contentious nature of such a ruling, the funds would likely then be trapped in court battles for years, leaving already damaged areas with little hope of ever seeing the funding while ensuring that the regions will be even more vulnerable to the next hurricane season. 

In February 2018, following a string of severe natural disasters in 2017, Congress provided $16 billion for disaster mitigation. The objective was to build better defenses against hurricanes, floods and other catastrophes. But nothing has happened. Never has it taken the federal government this long to process these types of awards.   

Check out the latest article from our Texas Government Insider Newsletter!
Photo courtesy: City of Denver
Colorado- The city of Denver is seeking a partner for the redevelopment of the National Western Center. The 113-year-old site is home to the National Western Stock Show and officials want to dramatically increase and improve the space for the popular event. During phases I and II, a $765-million new campus will be built with a stadium arena along with a livestock hall, equestrian center, event center, stockyards and underground parking. 

City officials would like a partner to develop the current stock show grounds in an arrangement where the partner designs, builds, finances, operates and maintains the new development. The city will issue a request for qualifications (RFQ) next month.
Washington State- The Port of Seattle will release a request for proposals (RFP) for a new cruise ship terminal. Growing demand, particularly in the Alaska market, has led the port to approve a five-year spending plan to approve building a fourth cruise ship terminal. 

The new cruise berth is estimated to cost $200 million and would be built under a public-private partnership. The new berth would likely be located closer to downtown in place of one currently serving cargo container shipping operations. The RFP for cruise ship industry partners is expected this spring.
Illinois- The Oak Park and River Forest (OPRF) High School board voted to move ahead with its campus renovation plan. The project includes the renovation or construction of 76 general education classrooms, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant restrooms and elevator, a student resource center, a south cafeteria and several other upgrades to facilities. 

The project is estimated at a cost of more than $32 million and is expected to be covered entirely through the district's cash reserves. Board members voted 7-0 to authorize a request for qualifications (RFQ) for design services, with final approval of the renovation due at a future date.
Ohio- City of Columbus officials are planning to place a $1 billion bond issue on the ballot on May 7. The bonds will fund a real-time crime center, affordable housing, parks, utilities and public services such as road resurfacing and garbage collection. 

Most of the bond package, $425 million, will be spent on public service including road resurfacing, curb and sidewalk improvements, bridge rehabilitation, refuse collection and facility improvements. Around $250 million will be devoted to public utilities in the form of water and sanitary improvements. Funds totaling $205 million will be designated for safety, health and infrastructure. The bond package will also devote $50 million to affordable housing. The city will hold four community input sessions prior to the bond election.
California- San Diego has unveiled a new vision for the future of the city's rail system. After decades of debate, officials have proposed a redevelopment plan that will finally connect the existing passenger rail systems to the San Diego International Airport. Leaders have announced that they will be seeking a land swap with the Navy in order to make room for the "San Diego Grand Central" development that would combine 70 acres of Navy property with the current Old Town Transit Center. City officials envision a finished product that would be a mixed-use center with the rail lines and transit center complemented by over 1 million square feet of office space that could potentially host the Navy's cyber warfare arm. 

The city is looking at the feasibility of tunneling under the Navy base and existing airport runway. It is not clear yet what the project would cost, but funding will likely come from a combination of airport redevelopment funds, taxpayer approved bonds and ultimately a large investment by a private partner. The area has been studied over ten times and city officials are ready to get the project approved and underway within the calendar year.
Oregon- The Portland Police Bureau is seeking vendors to provide body cameras for its officers. The bureau would select two companies to provide cameras for testing by Central Precinct officers for a six-month pilot program beginning in June. The city council previously awarded more than $800,000 for body cameras and the city set aside another $1.6 million in annual funding for the program in the 2016-17 fiscal year. 

The city will need to budget ongoing costs to cover the pilot program and if the city decides to implement the program permanently. Those costs would include salaries for a program manager, an information technology staff person and four additional staff members in the records division to support the program. The bureau will release a request for proposals for vendors in February for the pilot program.  
Check out our social media links!

Illinois- Illinois State University (ISU) is seeking proposals for new student housing near its campus for up to 1,200 students. With experience in public-private partnerships (P3), the university used this approach to develop the Cardinal Court student housing expansion in 2012. This expansion is part of an existing comprehensive housing master plan proposed by ISU. The description in the request for proposals states that the development must be constructed on available land owned either by the university or the entity making the proposal, zoned for multiple residential living complexes and be within one-half mile of the center of the ISU quad. 

ISU's enrollment is more than 20,000 students and 6,000 of them live in university-owned and operated housing facilities. No projection of the location or total cost of the project has been announced. Proposals for the partnership are due Jan. 29 and presentations from shortlisted finalists are expected the week of Feb. 25. ISU's plan is to have new residential facilities available for occupancy by Aug. 9, 2021.
Rhode Island- Officials in Lincoln are preparing a request for proposals (RFP) with a group of other towns for a Light-Emitting Diode (LED) conversion of streetlights. Several other communities in the state have saved costs and energy by switching their streetlights to more energy-efficient LED lights. 

The town administrator has already spoken with a consultant this past summer and interest in the conversion resumed in November when a state settlement with the town of Johnston indicated that the state is responsible for lighting on state roads. Other towns included as part of the RFP will be Smithfield, Middletown, Jamestown and Pawtucket.
The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people. By this time next year many states will have new laws and will have appropriated new funding. State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions (annually or biannually) where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education and government spending. 

The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions, legislatively referred constitutional amendments and bills that become law. Here is a list of dates for the 2019 Legislative Sessions and an interactive map for choosing dates for individual states. 
   View our Government Contracting Pipeline and Texas Government Insider newsletter archives
New Jersey- Jersey City Municipal Council allowed City Hall in October to purchase most of a 100-acre lot just west of Route 440 in Jersey City's Ward A. The land has been vacant for years due to chromium contamination. In November, the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency (JCRA) authorized an architectural firm to submit design proposals for a residential community for Phase I and Phase II of this bayfront property. Jersey City has partnered with the JCRA and will act as a master developer. After infrastructure is lain at the site by the city, development rights will then be parceled off and sold. 

Following a site tour and scope analysis, the architectural firm will be responsible for creating a set of design and development principles that fit within the proposed master plan. The First Phase Conceptual Plan will allow the city to create a comprehensive request for proposals (RFP) for prospective private developers. Design guidelines, renderings and a site plan will all be included. The second phase will be focused on refining the conceptual plan using feedback from the community and developers. According to the JCRA resolution, the city expects to issue developer RFPs in the first quarter of 2019. Once fully built out, the property could hold as many as 8,000 residential units.
Pennsylvania- The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Public-Private Partnership (P3) Office has issued a request for information (RFI) on behalf of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission for a bundled tunnel rehabilitation project. The purpose of this RFI is to gather feedback and information related to development, design, construction, finance and maintenance of the dated Pennsylvania Turnpike tunnels and tunnel systems.  

The turnpike volumes are approaching 450,000 average vehicles per day and over 160,000,000 vehicles per year. Key to the continued mobility throughout the Commonwealth are the five-vehicular highway tunnels located along the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Considering the daily customer volume, a P3 would provide the necessary modernization improvements for a bundled tunnel rehabilitation project to provide accelerated system upgrades and structural repairs. The RFI is due by Feb. 7.
West Virginia- A report by the Public Policy Foundation of West Virginia recommends that the state's seven publicly-run hospitals undergo some form of privatization. Experts weighed in on the idea just days before the start of the 2019 Legislative Session. The report found that the bureaucratic model currently being used to run the system has negatively impacted the number of staff, care availability, building improvements and general affordability of care. 

The staffing and structural needs were reviewed at Hopemont Hospital, a long-term care facility in Terra Alta; Jackie Withrow Hospital, a nursing home in Beckley; John Manchin, Sr. Health Care Center, a long-term care facility in Fairmont; Lakin Hospital, a long-term care facility in Pt. Pleasant; Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital, a psychiatric hospital in Huntington; Welch Community Hospital, an acute care hospital; and William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital, an acute care psychiatric facility in Weston. Staffing shortages were cited as the most harmful impact of the extensive red tape that makes the hiring process take months. Administrators and lawmakers alike are looking at privatization options in the coming months.
Florida- The city of Palm Coast is examining joining forces with a private partner to help develop a fiber-optic cable network. The upgrade to the existing infrastructure is badly needed and the city plans to draw more tech companies to the area and encourage remote workers. Currently the city has 54 miles of fiber and 124 connections to its system. These connections include city facilities and traffic signal cabinets, certain government connections by the school district and the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, and about 45 private businesses. 

Officials imagine a public-private partnership (P3) in which a private company would cover some of the upfront costs of expanding the system and linking it to individual customers. Even with the existing network in place, hundreds of businesses sit atop fiber lines and are not tapped in. A P3 to complete the network has been determined the most business-friendly and feasible solution by the city.
Wyoming- Jackson Hole valley's next affordable housing development is moving forward with the recent purchase of two plots of land. Teton County has purchased two lots on West Kelly for $1.7 million and the town is expected to reimburse 45 percent of the total cost. The land will be handed over to the Jackson/Teton County Housing Authority for development. Zoned at the highest level, Neighborhood High Density-1 (NH-1), the area allows for maximum density in exchange for at least 10 units of workforce housing. 

The NH-1 zoning is new as of summer, when the council enacted a fresh set of land development regulations for much of Jackson, with the goal of absorbing housing from Teton County. Two more similar projects are expected within the year at Jackson Street and another at Karns Meadow. The town council will meet to discuss a request for proposals (RFP) on Jan. 29 and will issue the RFP Feb. 5.
Photo courtesy: Town of Freeport
Maine- The B.H. Bartol Library closed in 1997 when the town of Freeport added a new Library. The Bartol Library, located at 55 Main St. was later occupied by a clothing retailer for 18 years but closed its business in December. Now Freeport town officials are working on a request for proposals (RFP) to see what potential renters have in mind for the building. 

The property is valued at $2.3 million and the former renter was paying the city $350,000 annually. The building is about 7,500 square feet, with 5,000 feet of usable retail space. Town officials note that the exterior of the building could use a little maintenance and the interior of the building is in good shape and could be immediately filled by another retailer.
Strategic Partnerships, Inc. provides opportunity identification for all 50 states. 
Click here for more information.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Jan. 23-25 / Washington, D.C.
The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) 87th Winter Meeting takes place Jan. 23-25 at the Capital Hilton Hotel, 1001 16th St. NW, Washington, D.C. The winter meeting will begin with a meeting of the Mayors Water Council and the Council of Metro Economic and the New American City on Jan. 23. 

Here are a few of the many forums conducted each day: 
- Your City Can Have it All- the Newest Innovations in Tourism, Entertainment and Sports 
- Technology and Innovation: Visioning the Future Needs of Cities 
- 5G Deployment and Cities 
- New Transportation Technologies and Opportunities 
- Local Solutions to Housing Challenges 
- Food Insecurity and the Economy 
- New Challenges and Solutions to Homelessness 
- City Initiatives to Reduce Gun Violence 

View the agenda here and register here. The USCM convenes for its winter meeting each January in Washington, D.C. and an annual meeting each June in a different U.S. city in addition to ad hoc meetings. At the annual meeting, members vote on policy resolutions. The results are distributed to the President of the United States and the United States Congress.
March 4-6 / Dallas, Texas
The 7th Annual Public-Private Partnership Conference & Expo will be held March 4-6 at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel. Government Contracting Pipeline readers can use promo code 100GCP to receive $100 off their registration. Register for the event here. 

Join over 1,250 senior representatives from governments, higher education institutions and leading firms in the global construction and financial markets. The conference attracts professionals from all corners of the industry and provides a valuable opportunity to facilitate new partnerships with industry peers and public sector partners. Attendees will discover new alternative project delivery methods, strategies for implementing successful P3 projects, the nuts and bolts of how deals work, and how to manage risks associated with legal and financial frameworks. Attendees will participate in interactive panels, workshops, and conversations specifically tailored to the needs of public agencies evaluating P3s. The conference is designed for all levels in the market including those beginning to explore P3s and seeking to better understand where alternative and accelerated project delivery methods can be applicable.

Attendees will participate in interactive panels, workshops, and conversations specifically tailored to the needs of public agencies evaluating P3s. The conference is designed for all levels in the market including those beginning to explore P3s and seeking to better understand where alternative and accelerated project delivery methods can be applicable.
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

- Colorado has named private-sector tech veteran Theresa Szczurek as its next chief information officer and executive director of its Office of Information Technology. Szczurek, the founder of an enterprise software firm that develops chatbots and other live-assistance platforms, will succeed Suma Nallapati, who stepped down last week at the end of former Gov. John Hickenlooper's term. 
- Curt T. Otaguro has been appointed to serve as the state comptroller in Hawaii, a position that concurrently serves as head of the Department of Accounting and General Services. Otaguro was most recently the executive vice president and division manager of a bank's digital banking division where he spent most of his career in various positions of increasing responsibility. 
- Northern Virginia Community College is looking for a new president after Scott Ralls was named to lead Wake Technical Community College in North Carolina. Ralls, who had led the region's largest college since 2015, will begin his new position on April 12. He formerly served as head of North Carolina Community Colleges from 2008 to 2015. Ralls will succeed Stephen Scott, who served for 15 years before retiring in August. 
- Ferndale City Manager April Lynch is leaving her job to take a new position. Lynch's new job will be working as associate vice president for human resources for the University of Detroit Mercy. She will leave Ferndale at the end of next month. She was hired by the city in 2011 after working as an assistant city manager in Ypsilanti. She had also worked as the human resources director in Ypsilanti in addition to positions in planning and zoning departments there.
- Scot Wrighton has been selected as the city manager of Decatur. The pick comes almost seven months after former City Manager Tim Gleason announced he would be leaving the position to take up the same role for the city of Bloomington. Wrighton has been city manager in Streator for more than four years and was also city manager there from 1987-1994. Wrighton is expected to begin his new position in March. 
- The city of Fishers has named Megan Baumgartner economic development director. She previously held the assistant director position and succeeds Brandon Dickinson, who left in October. Baumgartner was hired by the city in 2015 and since then has led the city's business-retention, expansion and attraction-project efforts while serving as the main point of contact between Fishers businesses and the city. 
- Long-time county engineer David Yamamoto has been confirmed by the Hawaii County Council as the new director of public works. His appointment is effective Feb. 1. Yamamoto, a registered professional engineer, has more than 26 years of experience as an engineer and program management professional. He has held the position of building chief in the Public Works' Building Division since 2012. 
- Douglas County Commissioners have selected Tom Stone as the new county manager. Stone previously served eight years as a county commissioner in Eagle County, Colo., and as the chief administrative officer of Lassen County in Calif. Commissioners had been working to find a new county manager since July when Larry Werner announced he was terminating his contract effective Aug. 31, 2018. 
- Michael Mackey has been appointed Lansing's new fire chief. Mackey worked in Florida for more than 30 years with the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue and recently served as that department's interim chief. Former Norton Shores Fire Chief David Purchase has been overseeing Lansing's fire department on an interim basis since July. Randy Talifarro stepped down from his position at the helm of Lansing's fire department earlier this year when Lansing and East Lansing ended an agreement that allowed the two cities to share a fire chief. Talifarro continues to serve as East Lansing's fire chief. 
- Longtime local police officer Kelly Blackwelder is Elon's new police chief. Elon began its search for a new chief in November when former Chief Cliff Parker joined the Sheriff's Office as chief deputy. Blackwelder, who previously was the operations lieutenant began her first day as police chief Jan. 7. 
- Bob Broscheid was selected as the newest director of Arizona State Parks. Broscheid has been director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife since 2013. Has was the former state Game and Fish deputy director. Broscheid spent 18 years at the state Game and Fish office as a biologist and habitat branch chief. Broscheid replaces Sue Black, who stepped down in November. 
- Keith Hanson, also a Shreveport native and private-sector technology leader, has been chosen as Shreveport's first chief technology officer. In the next week or so, Mayor Adrian Perkins expects the city council to confirm Hanson's appointment. Hanson returned to Shreveport eight years ago and launched his own software development company. Hanson credits his ability to work closely with private-sector technology firms as a strength as he transitions into his public role in City Hall.
About Government Contracting Pipeline

Strategic Partnerships, Inc.
Ph: 512.531.3900
www.spartnerships.com
Government Contracting Pipeline, a publication of Strategic Partnerships, Inc., is a free, weekly newsletter detailing important happenings nationwide and the premier source for federal, state and local government news and contracting opportunities.
Note to media: Need expert commentary on procurement issues relating to public-sector entities, public-private partnerships (PPPs/P3s), state agencies or decision-makers? Give us a call at (512) 531-3900, and we'll arrange an interview for you with one of our experts.

Permission to reproduce, reprint: This newsletter may be reproduced, and all the articles within may be reproduced without permission when credit is given to the author (if listed) and Government Contracting Pipeline, a publication of Strategic Partnerships, Inc., and the company website, www.spartnerships.com is listed.

For information about SPI's products and services:  sales@spartnerships.com
 
© 2019 Strategic Partnerships, Inc. All rights reserved.
Strategic Partnerships, Inc., 901 S. Mopac Expressway, Ste. 1-100, Austin, TX 78746
SafeUnsubscribe™
Forward this email | Update Profile | About our service provider
Sent by editor@spartnerships.com in collaboration with
Constant Contact