Kathleen S. Margoles

Community and Economic Development Director

Issue Statement:  The CRA requires additional resources to implement the 2017-2022 CRA Strategic Plan. The selection of a consultant with expertise in downtown revitalization, redevelopment, marketing, real estate development, and successful implementation is needed to work with the CRA.

Recommended Action:   The CRA Board approve the agreement with R. Miller Consulting Group, LLC, in the amount of $96,000 for year one of the initial three year term.

From 2011 - 2015, the CRA contracted with Redevelopment Management Associates, Inc. (RMA) for consulting services in developing a Five Year Strategic Plan and implementation of the Plan including marketing/branding and program development and management.   For the four contract years, RMA was paid:

FY12 - $227,100

FY13 - $245,615

FY14- $300,700

FY 15- $55,700 (3 month period)

After the end of the 3 month RMA agreement in December 2015, City CRA staff continued to administer the programs with the assistance of a number of consultants. Although the transition has been smooth, given the current workload of the department, it is now necessary to seek a consultant through a Request for Qualification process that will assist with the implementation of the newly updated CRA Plan.

The CRA requested proposers to submit responses to the attached RFQ #060917.  Seven sealed proposals were submitted to the City Clerk’s Office on June 9, 2017.  Subsequently, an Evaluation Committee reviewed and ranked the submissions.

Since 2016, the City and the CRA embarked in a variety of areas of planning.  The Retail Coach was hired to analyze our retail needs and assist in retail recruitment. There were funds budgeted for a Retail Plan, Mobility Plan , Facility Plan, Parks Master Plan and Five Year CRA Strategic Plan Update.  All these plans and studies are interrelated and interdependent to a degree.

In April 2016, the CRA contracted with The Corradino Group for the Mobility Plan that was completed and presented to the Commission in February 2017.

In addition, the City contracted R. Miller Consulting to coordinate activities related to the Downtown Mixed Use District. Ms. Renee Miller reported to the CRA Board in April 2016 on the current DMUD regulations.  Ms. Miller’s presentation was well received and she has continued to work on redevelopment projects with City staff.  Her knowledge of redevelopment in South Florida and the key players has been invaluable. In August 2016, the CRA Board approved a contract with R. Miller Consulting to update the CRA Strategic Plan. 

The 2017-2022 Oakland Park Community Redevelopment Strategic Action Plan was approved by the CRA Board at the April 19, 2017 meeting. The Plan includes recommended Capital Improvement Projects, Public/Private Partnerships and Policies and Programs. In May 2017, the CRA released a Request for Qualifications for a consultant team to facilitate the implementation of the ambitious 2017-2022 Five Year CRA Strategic Plan.

On June 9, 2017, seven proposals were received.  The Evaluation Committee, consisting of Ana Alvarez, Assistant City Manager, Kathleen Margoles, Community and Economic Development Director and Stephen Scott, Assistant Director of Engineering and Community Development reviewed and ranked the proposals.  The ranking is as follows:

1.         R. Miller Consulting Group

2.         T. Brown Consulting Group

3.         Strategic Planning Group

4.         GAI Consulting

5.         Kimley Horn

6.         Lamnbert/Calvin Giordano

7.         Gray Robinson

Staff spoke with references provided by each firm.  R. Miller Consulting Group received an excellent recommendation from the Broward County Housing Finance and Community Redevelopment Division. 

The initial contract award term, as stated in the RFQ,  shall be for three (3) years, with the option to extend the contract for tow additional 2 year periods, at terms mutually acceptable to both parties.   The award is contingent upon appropriation of sufficient budgeted funds. 

The proposed contract is for three years.  The first year will run from the date of execution until 9/30/18.  All subsequent years run from October 1 to September 30 as to align with the City's fiscal year.  The first year of the contract is for an amount not to exceed $96,000.  Funds for the CRA Consultant are included in the FY17 and proposed FY18 Budget.

In accordance with the terms of the contract, the contract amount each year is not to exceed $96,000.  This represents an upper limit of payment and actual expenditures will be dependent on the availability of funding approved by Commission as part of subsequent budgets.