Governance Planning
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C ONTRACT N UMBER C ‐ 2017‐ 0433 an independent research hub helping people thrive and nature flourish Q UALIFICATIONS AND P ROPOSAL CONSULTING SERVICES FOR GOVERNANCE PLANNING HOUSTON ADVANCED RESEARCH CENTER 8801 Gosling Road The Woodlands, TX 77381 T 281‐364‐6000 F 281‐364‐6001 www.HARCresearch.org Page 0 CONSULTING SERVICES FOR GOVERNANCE PLANNING Table of Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 2 About HARC ................................................................................................................................. 3 Project Partners & Key Personnel ................................................................................................... 5 EY (Ernst & Young) ....................................................................................................................... 6 Sam Houston State University (SHSU) ......................................................................................... 6 Walter P Moore ........................................................................................................................... 7 CAS Group with Rice University ................................................................................................... 8 adWhite Marketing & Design ...................................................................................................... 8 University of Houston .................................................................................................................. 8 Project Approach and Scope of Services ....................................................................................... 10 Task 1 – Financial Analysis ......................................................................................................... 11 Task 2 – Review of Law Enforcement Services .......................................................................... 12 Task 3 – Analysis of Street Conditions & MUDs ........................................................................ 15 Task 4 – Legal Analysis ............................................................................................................... 16 Task 5 – Community Analysis / Public Forums / Resident Feedback ........................................ 17 Cost Statement .............................................................................................................................. 20 Page 1 CONSULTING SERVICES FOR GOVERNANCE PLANNING List of Appendices Project Partners – Additional Information Appendix 1 – Supporting Materials for HARC Appendix 2 – Supporting Materials for EY Appendix 3 – Supporting Materials for Sam Houston State University Appendix 4 – Supporting Materials for Walter P Moore Appendix 5 – Supporting Materials for CAS Group Appendix 6 – Supporting Materials for Rice University Appendix 7 – Supporting Materials for adWhite Appendix 8 – Supporting Materials for University of Houston Appendix 9 – Letters of Reference Page 2 CONSULTING SERVICES FOR GOVERNANCE PLANNING Introduction The Woodlands Township (TWT) is a thriving community, developed as a special purpose district with many characteristics of an incorporated city. With a diverse base of population, commerce, and neighborhoods, The Woodlands has become known as a model community with superior services, ample amenities, gorgeous greenspaces, a clean and safe community with outstanding quality of life. Yet, as an unincorporated special purpose district there are limitations as to how TWT can effectively control certain significant aspects of the community. Introduction The question of incorporation has been a topic of great interest, importance, and controversy. To address questions and concerns of residents and businesses related to possible incorporation, TWT seeks to develop factual, unbiased, and comprehensive characterizations of aspects, attributes, and effects of a transition from special purpose district to incorporated city. Along with data and analysis, the public must be engaged and informed so that opinions and issues are understood and addressed. This process is essential in the path to placing the decision before voters. Issues of concern for the community are varied and complex. TWT has long enjoyed a high level of service and public safety, healthy, vibrant neighborhoods and numerous distributed public spaces. George Mitchell’s vision of a model community where residents can live, work, and play has been realized in many ways. As active new development now approaches a sunset, TWT is mature and well‐positioned to address the prospect of incorporation The Township has identified the major pervading issues in need of characterization and structure to inform a public decision on the question of incorporation. As defined in the solicitation, it is essential that these issues be addressed in a cogent, comprehensive study approach. HARC has enlisted a team of highly qualified partners with a wealth of subject matter knowledge and skills needed to carry out the anticipated tasks involved in a study of this nature. The qualifications of our partner organizations and key personnel identified in this proposal illustrate an understanding of the challenges and opportunities to be studied. The intent of the proposed study effort is to explore these issues and develop actionable information to facilitate institutional and public comprehension of many highly complex factors. Page 3 CONSULTING SERVICES FOR GOVERNANCE PLANNING It is our profound desire to be of service to The Woodlands in this important endeavor. HARC has a long and distinguished history in research and program management of vanguard works of science, engineering, and public policy. HARC offers the agile, critical thinking needed for an effort of this kind, with a home‐town perspective and passion for The Woodlands community. HARC About HARC The Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) is a nonprofit research hub providing independent analysis on technological, environmental, and institutional issues for people and organizations seeking unbiased, well‐reasoned, comprehensive scientific About answers. It focuses on building a sustainable future that helps people thrive and nature flourish. HARC is a 501(c)(3) organization, incorporated as Houston Advanced Research Center. Objective, unbiased science is essential to finding meaningful answers to complex questions. HARC owes its origins to the vision and initiative of Houston oilfield technology pioneer, real estate developer, and philanthropist George P. Mitchell, b. 1919 – d. 2013. It was established in 1982 as a not‐for‐profit university consortium that could act as a technology incubator to bridge basic research and market applications. In 2001, HARC re‐aligned its mission to concentrate the research focus on sustainable development. This resulted in significant organizational restructuring, recruitment of new leadership, implementation of integrated administrative processes, and an organization‐wide collaborative approach. HARC headquarters located at 8801 Gosling Road in The Woodlands, Texas Page 4 CONSULTING SERVICES FOR GOVERNANCE PLANNING Today, HARC engages in research into many varied disciplines. Our expertise and focus is the analytical exploration of the social, political, and technical dimensions of human civilization and the environment. Literally invested in The Woodlands, HARC recently completed construction of a new office facility. The building is certified by the US Green Building Council LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, at the highest ‘Platinum’ level. Taking responsibility for energy efficiency, water conservation, and cost‐effective use of environmentally friendly materials yields many benefits such as reduced utility bills, clean indoor HARC lobby – ample natural lighting air, ample natural lighting, and contented reduces energy consumption occupants. HARC and The Woodlands share a common heritage as part of the legacy of Founder, George P. Mitchell. It was his vision of a model community, safe, healthy, and enjoyable for all who live here, that was the inception of The Woodlands. HARC was founded because of his profound understanding of the need for independent research to identify challenges and opportunities in many endeavors. With a broad range of scientific and public policy expertise, HARC is uniquely qualified to provide the analyses needed for governance planning. As a non‐profit research institution, HARC has no commercial interests, focusing only on the interests of the public and the needs of our industry partners. Supporting information for HARC can be found in Appendix 1. HARC will lead the proposed study effort, aided by a team of highly qualified experts specializing in the various disciplines needed for As part of The Woodlands community successful execution. This team was for more than 35 years, HARC has the enlisted to support critical study perspective and vested interests of an aspects, including financial analysis, established home‐town institution. public safety review, transportation infrastructure assessment, utility services, public safety, and community engagement. Page 5 CONSULTING SERVICES FOR GOVERNANCE PLANNING Project Partners & Key Personnel The sections that follow elaborate on our Project Partners and Key Personnel in leadership roles. HARC is proud and honored to have the support of these exceptionally qualified organizations and the professional specialists involved