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Regular Agenda Item 3. D.

Regular BOS Meeting

Meeting Date:	05/18/2021
Submitted For:	Mary Springer	Submitted By:	Mary Springer, Finance Director
Department:	Finance
Fiscal Year:	FY21-22	Budgeted?:	Yes
Contract Dates Begin & End:	05182021 - 05172022	Grant?:	No
Matching Requirement?:	No	Fund?:	New

Information

Request/Subject

Professional Services Contract No. 05012021 with James M. Feezor for consulting services for the redistricting public process.

Background Information

A.R.S. § 11-212 and 11-252 (2) require the Board of Supervisors to meet following the decennial census and divide the County into supervisorial districts. Due to the census data delay by the federal government, the December 1, 2021 deadline has been extended to July 1, 2022. Thus, redistricting for Gila County will be completed in 2022. In order to manage the redistricting process through to completion, staff identified James Feezor as a consultant who was instrumental in gathering data and providing the final district maps that were presented to the Board and ultimately approved by the Department of Justice during the last redistricting process. During the last redistricting process, Mr. Feezor was appointed by the Board to serve on the Redistricting Advisory Committee where he developed a census database utilizing the information provided by the 2010 census. The knowledge and experience he gained through his efforts on the Committee ultimately provided the County with approved district maps for the County and the Gila County College Districts. Mr. Feezor is a resident of Gila County and possesses unique insight and past experience in the redistricting process which makes him an excellent fit to act as the consultant for this project.

Evaluation

Discussion with staff who participated in the last redistricting process identified having a dedicated consultant to spearhead the public participation process is critical to ensure transparency and the best possible outcomes for the mapping process. James M. Feezor was a volunteer during the last redistricting process and was instrumental in creating the data analysis tool that validated the population information as the new maps were evaluated and ultimately passed the Department of Justice submittal. Mr. Feezor's unique knowledge and experience from the last redistricting process along with the analytical tool he created makes him a single source local expert dedicated to assist Gila County in the redistricting process.

Conclusion

It is the determination by the Finance Director that Mr. Feezor possesses the unique experience and local expertise to be considered a sole source procurement. Approving a contract with James M. Feezor for consulting service with the redistricting process is in the best interest of Gila County for a transparent public process.

Recommendation

Staff recommends approval of Professional Services Contract No. 05012021.

Suggested Motion

Information/Discussion/Action to approve Professional Services Contract No. 05012021 with James M. Feezor for consulting services for the redistricting public process in a not to exceed amount of $50,000 with an option to renew the agreement for one year. (Mary Springer)

Attachments
Contract 05012021 James Feezor
Feezor SOQ
Redistricting ARS 11-212