Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Andrew J. Meyers
Department: County Attorney
Information
Requested Action
title
A. MOTION TO DISCUSS proposals submitted by universities to develop and provide redistricting maps as required by the Broward County Charter (“Charter”) and to select a university to provide such services.
ACTION: (T-4:13 PM) Commissioner Ryan made motion to direct Office of the County Attorney to negotiate a contract with FIU. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Bogen. (Refer to minutes for full discussion.) (See Yellow-Sheeted Additional Material, dated May 4, 2021, submitted at the request of Office of the County Attorney.)
VOTE: 9-0.
B. MOTION TO DIRECT Office of the County Attorney to negotiate a contract with the university selected by the Board, which contract shall be consistent in all critical terms with the proposal submitted by the applicable university, and to authorize the County Administrator to approve and execute such contract and to take all necessary and appropriate administrative and budgetary actions in connection with such contract.
ACTION: (T-4:13 PM) Commissioner Ryan made motion to direct Office of the County Attorney to negotiate a contract with FIU. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Bogen. (Refer to minutes for full discussion.) (See Yellow-Sheeted Additional Material, dated May 4, 2021, submitted at the request of Office of the County Attorney.)
VOTE: 9-0.
body
Why Action is Necessary
Advances the legally required redistricting process, which much be completed by the end of 2021.
What Action Accomplishes
Retention of a university to provide services required by the Charter.
Is this Action Goal Related
No
Previous Action Taken
Summary Explanation/Background
The Board is required to approve new County Commission districts by the end of 2021. Due to a 2018 amendment to Section 2.01(A) of the Charter, the County must retain a Florida four-year public college or university (“Academic Consultant”) to design the new districts.
On January 26, 2021, the Board adopted a selection process to retain an Academic Consultant to provide a minimum of four redistricting plans to the Board. The Board directed the County Attorney to send a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) to Academic Consultants with the apparent capability and experience to design the new districts; to evaluate the responses received; and to develop a recommended ranking of the responding Academic Consultants and provide a memorandum to the Board explaining the recommended ranking.
We sent an RFP to the University of Florida (“UF”), Florida State University, Florida Atlantic University (“FAU”), Florida International University (“FIU”), Broward College, the University of South Florida, and the University of North Florida. We received responses from only UF, FAU, and FIU. The responses are attached as Exhibits 1, 2, and 3, respectively.
We have preliminarily evaluated the responses and have also interviewed the university personnel who would perform the redistricting. We believe all three universities are qualified to provide the required services.
Exhibit 4 generally summarizes the qualifications and experience of the responding universities, their proposed cost for performing the required and optional services, and the location from which they expect to perform required services. We are continuing to discuss these proposals with the proposers and, therefore, as of the time this item is being printed, we have not yet developed our recommended ranking. We will discuss our ranking during individual agenda briefings, and expect to thereafter submit as additional material a memorandum containing and explaining our recommended ranking.
We have also confirmed that, if desired by any Board member, each of the universities is available during the May 4 Commission meeting to provide a brief (under 10 minutes) presentation and to answer any questions the Board may have.
Source of Additional Information
Joseph K. Jarone, Assistant County Attorney, 954-357-7600
Ben Salzillo, Senior Assistant County Attorney, 954-357-7600
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
The required base contractual services are expected to cost between $110,000 and $150,000, with additional costs (as shown on Exhibit 4) for preparing additional proposed maps, reprecincting services, and any required expert testimony in the event of subsequent litigation.