City of Ridgecrest
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
PULBIC SURVEY CONSULTANT
City of Ridgecrest
Responses must be received by:
James C. Winegardner
Director of/City Treasurer
City of Ridgecrest
100 W California
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
David Brodsly/Marian Breitbart
Kelling Northcross & Nobriga
1333 Broadway Suite 1000
Oakland, CA 94612
No later than 5 p.m. on Thursday October 17, 2002
I.INTRODUCTION
The City of Ridgecrest (the “City”) is seeking a qualified consultant to assist the City in conducting a public opinion survey in connection with the development of a capital and financial plan to address the City’s infrastructure needs. The City is considering seeking voter approval of a community facilities district on the June 2003 ballot. The consultant will assist the City in determining the project priorities of its voters, as well as the acceptable level and structure of special taxes to support this program.
II.CITY OF RIDGECREST
Ridgecrest is an incorporated city of 25,000, located in the southern portion of the Indian Wells Valley and in the northeast corner of Kern County in the Northern Mojave Desert. It is approximately 80 miles from the Lancaster/Palmdale area and approximately 125 miles from both Bakersfield and San Bernardino, the three nearest major urban centers. Though often described as isolated, a favorable characteristic of the City is its proximity to two major highways and the Inyokern Airport. The principle employer of the City’s residents is the China Lake Naval Weapons Station (“NAWS”).
Prior to the establishment of the original Naval Ordinance Test Station (NOTS) at China Lake in 1943, Ridgecrest consisted of a few scattered farms and homesteads. Ridgecrest evolved during the 1950's and 1960's as a support community, vital to the mission of NOTS, by providing housing and services for Federal employees and contractors. The City incorporated in 1963.
The economic stability Ridgecrest has enjoyed as a service community for the NAWS has been essential to its successful emergence as a community in its own right. In addition, the same location characteristics that initially attracted the NAWS—vast uninhabited space, clean air, good water, highway accessibility, accessibility to multiple recreational sites, and proximity to Los Angeles and Bakersfield— continue to serve as an attraction to others to come to Ridgecrest.
As the only incorporated community in the Indian Wells Valley, Ridgecrest acts as the urban center for northeastern Kern County and boasts a thriving economy. Countywide, it is the second largest city in total area and third largest city in population. The City's incorporated area includes approximately 13,300 acres.
III.CFD INFORMATION
The City has identified over $125 million in infrastructure and quality of life projects, and seeks to fund a portion of those through a citywide community facilities district special tax. The City also has a goal of raising approximately $700,000/year for the maintenance of facilities. The City is in the process of retaining a pollster/election consultant to assist them in prioritizing a final project list and tax formula before the June 2003 election. It is anticipated that the tax will be levied on approximately 13,000 developed parcels in the city, excluding publicly owned and undeveloped parcels. Approximately two thirds of the city is residential and 30% is commercial/office. Total 2001/02 assessed valuation for the Ridgecrest Redevelopment Agency, which covers 98% of the developed City excluding the China Lakes Naval Weapons Station, was $777,978,248.
- SCOPE OF SERVICES
The services solicited for special tax consultant to the City will include, but are not limited to, providing assistance to the City in the following areas:
- Develop a polling methodology appropriate to the City’s project.
- Develop the appropriate questions.
- Conduct a survey.
- Prepare a report for the City’s consideration.
- Undertake such other tasks as appropriate
- STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS CONTENTS
1)Describe your firm, including your primary line of business, your ownership and management structure, a brief history, location(s) and number of employees.
2)Indicate the members of your firm that would be assigned to Ridgecrest, and include their resumes.
3)Describe your experience in polling and election consulting for voter-approved tax measures, preferably for cities or special districts. Note any particular complexities or other qualities particularly relevant to Ridgecrest. Identify the current staff from your firm that were assigned to these engagements.
4)Provide any preliminary thoughts on your approach to the engagement, such as proposed sampling technique, the number of people polled, selection of participants, and the survey process.
5)Comment on the scope of work outlined above, and suggest any clarifications or additional tasks.
6)Provide references from at least three clients, preferably clients with similar needs or profiles as Ridgecrest’s. Please provide a one line description of services provided with each reference, as well as the team member that provided the services.
7)Indicate your proposed fee structure, including expenses. Please indicate the extent to which your compensation would be contingent on a successful financing.
8)Provide proof that your firm maintains a current insurance policy of Errors and Omissions Liability, or can meet a net capitalization requirement of $50,000.
9)Include any other information that you think would be relevant to the City’s selection of consulting services.
VIQUALIFICATIONS SUBMITTAL
Copies of the Qualifications must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. October 17, 2002 at the following location. E-mail copies will be accepted.
By mail or courier:
James C. Winegardner (2 copies)
Director of Finance/City Treasurer
City of Ridgecrest
100 W California
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
Reference: Special Tax Consultant Qualifications
Marian Breitbart/David Brodsly (2 copies)
Kelling Northcross & Nobriga
1333 Broadway, Suite 1000
Oakland, CA 94612
By e-mail:
This Request for Qualifications does not commit the City of Ridgecrest to award any contract, to pay costs incurred in the preparation of any Statement of Qualifications nor to procure or pay for any service. The City, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to accept or reject any or all Qualifications received as a result of this request, to excuse informalities and irregularities and to request clarification from any firm without notice thereof to other firms, to negotiate with any qualified source, or to cancel in part or in its entirety this request.
The City will not disclose to any firm the basis upon which it makes its decision or any information regarding the content of a submittal of any other firm.
Questions may be addressed to Marian Breitbart or David Brodsly at the above address, or phone (510) 839-8200.
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