TeamCivX.com
Proposal for Communication and
Project Management Services
Prepared for: The City of Fontana
September 8, 2023 By: Joy Kummer, Partner TeamCivX
TeamCivX.com
2 Table of Contents
Firm Information .................................................................................................................... 3 Partner Biography .................................................................................................................. 4 Services .................................................................................................................................. 5 Fee Summary .......................................................................................................................... 7 References .............................................................................................................................. 8 TeamCivX.com
3 Firm Information On behalf of TeamCivX, I am appreciative of the opportunity to provide this proposal for services to the City of Fontana as you explore options to better provide services to your existing CFDs and the community, as well as strategies to fund road repairs impacted by traffic from your industrial zones. TeamCivX is a team of seasoned professionals with decades of experience helping Cities and other public agencies navigate the ballot measure process to achieve locally controlled funding for a variety of projects and community needs. We are project management and communications consultants with unmatched experience brining a team together, managing timelines, evaluating the feasibility of local funding measures, designing measures for the ballot that align with community priorities and implementing informational communication efforts to raise awareness of your needs and a potential ballot measure. We are respected in our industry as good “team players” that pay attention to the nuances of every community where we work to develop the customized strategies needed to meet our client’s needs. TeamCivX is uniquely positioned to support the City of Fontana for the following reasons: Unmatched Experience and Expertise. The partners at TeamCivX have been the leaders in helping California agencies develop and pass tax measures to fund operational, facility and infrastructure needs. Statewide, we’ve helped over 50 cities with sales taxes, TOT measures, business license tax measures, documentary/real estate transfer taxes, cannabis-related measures, Prop 218 measures and others. You can see our full client list at www.TeamCivX.com. Capacity to Serve You. TeamCiviX’s seasoned partners and well-trained staff have both the knowledge and the capacity to serve your needs throughout this process. I will be the main point of contact for the entire term and will be supported by one of our experienced Consultants who will help manage project logistics to ensure the plans I develop are executed on time, on budget and with precision. Experience with Information, Not Advocacy. We have extensive experience helping cities and other public agencies craft effective public informational materials that don’t cross the line into advocacy. The remainder of this proposal describes our scope of services for our services, fees and my biography. If you have questions or need additional information, please don’t hesitate to contact me on my cell phone at 510-914-0028 or [email protected]. Thank you, Joy Kummer, Partner
TeamCivX.com
4 Partner Biography Joy Kummer, Partner Joy is a founding partner of TeamCivX, and brings over 25 years of political, legal and community service experience to each of her clients and causes. Over the past several years, Joy has been successful in helping public agencies in all regions of California develop local public finance measures for the ballot and achieve voter support—raising billions of dollars for counties, cities, schools, hospitals, community colleges, special districts and other much-needed community projects. Joy is known as an industry leader working directly with Southern California Cities to help them develop and implement ballot funding measure strategies, including the City of Ontario, City of San Bernardino, City of Redlands, City of Barstow, City of Laguna Beach, City of Whittier, City of Murietta, City of Santa Fe Springs, and many more. Part of Joy’s success is in the relationships she builds with her clients, focusing in on their specific needs and working together to build a communication and community plan that allows them to reach their goals. She is known for her can-do attitude, friendly smile and willingness to listen and collaborate as a team to find the right solution. Joy has been a frequent presenter and expert panelist for a variety of conferences and symposiums, including the League of Cities, Association of Chief Business Officials (ACBO), County Financial Symposiums, the Coalition for Adequate School Housing (CASH), the California School Boards Association (CSBA) and California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO). Joy grew up in Montana, where she received her J.D. from the University of Montana School of Law and a B.A. in Communications from Montana State University–Billings. Prior to co-founding TeamCivX, Joy was a partner at her former consulting firm, served as Regional Field Director for U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) and as Field Director for the successful 49ers Stadium Campaign in Santa Clara, CA. Joy and her husband Todd live in Oakland where they enjoy cheering on the Golden State Warriors and Cal Bears. Joy is a proud mother and grandmother, occasional yoga instructor, slow and steady distance runner, roller coaster enthusiast and gluten-free baker. Joy Kummer, Partner [email protected] c: 510-914-0028 www.TeamCivX.com
TeamCivX.com
5 Services The partners and staff at TeamCivX have decades of experience helping public agencies navigate the ballot measure process to achieve locally controlled funding. We believe in the civic process and work hard to bring people together to build stronger communities. With unmatched experience managing project and evaluating the feasibility of local funding measures, we’ve been successful in virtually every economic and political climate, from economic downturns, partisan division, controversy and other challenges. Our recommended approach is outlined below, listed sequentially as we work towards placing a measure on the ballot. We’ve indicated rough timing for each phase to give you a sense of how this process might unfold over the next year in anticipation of a November 2024 election. Through the entire process, TeamCivX will create a master timeline with all revenant partners and act as the overall project manager from start to end. This helps ensure staff have the support they need every step of the way. Phase 1: Feasibility Assessment – Now–November 2023 During Phase 1, TeamCivX will work with your team to help you assess the basic viability of a potential revenue measure and identify the strategic elements needed to maximize the chances for success. We’ll help ensure you are asking the right strategic questions so that we can get an honest assessment of the options available to us and begin to develop a roadmap to a successful measure on a future ballot. Specifically, we’ll help you answer: • Does each revenue measure stand a reasonable chance success? At what passage threshold? • What potential tax rates and durations fit within the tolerances of your community? • What services and funding needs are the top priorities for your voters? • Does sufficient awareness of your funding needs exist, or is informational outreach needed? • How does projected voter turnout in upcoming elections impact a tax proposal? • What other competing measures or issues are on the horizon that could impact your measure? • How does the economy and political environment impact your measure? To help answer these questions, TeamCivX will conduct a thorough assessment of the local political landscape, analyze recent election results and work with FM3 as they design a statistically reliable opinion survey of your local voters. With key strategic questions answered through the feasibility assessment, our team will provide you with specific recommendations on how to structure your potential measures, when to go to the ballot, and communication strategies that are needed to support your efforts. If a revenue measure does not appear to be viable at the current time, we will tell you that.
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6 Phase 2: Awareness Building – December 2023–May 2024 Our next step is to develop and implement an informational communications plan to raise awareness of your needs, while also introducing your proposed measures and providing opportunities for community input. While cities and public agencies are legally prohibited from advocating for the passage of a revenue measure, you can educate and inform your community about your needs and plans. To build community awareness, TeamCivX will work with the City to implement an informational communications effort that will include the following components: • Develop informational messaging and fact sheets to be distributed in the community. • Provide talking points, frequently asked questions and a message training to city and community leaders who will be interfacing with the public on this issue. • Provide content related to your needs and proposed measures to be added to your website, used in social media, and included in email updates and newsletters. • Prepare PowerPoint presentations for public and community meetings. • Write design and produce mailings to inform local residents. • Develop plans to inform internal groups, including councilmembers, bargaining units, City staff. • Develop plans to inform external groups, including current and former elected leaders, business leaders, faith community leaders, ethnic community leaders, taxpayer groups and others. We will write all copy, handle the graphic design, coordinate print and mailing and handle any ad buys as needed. We will just need for you to review content and designs and make sure the information is accurate and has the right feel for your community. We will also need to coordinate with those who manage your various social media accounts. Phase 3: Measure Development – January–August 2024 Based on the results of the feasibility assessment and community input received during the awareness building efforts, we will help you develop each measure for the ballot so they align with your needs and the community’s priorities and sensitivities. Working with your team, city attorney and other experts to accomplish this work, we will: • Recommend final specifics for each measure. • Refine the final funding plans to reflect community priorities and ensuring programs eligible for funding are described in clear language the general public will understand. • Work with legal counsel to develop the 75-word ballot questions. • Work with legal counsel to develop and refine all language appearing in the ballot pamphlet mailed to all voters. • Attend council meetings as needed to provide updates, share information on measure development, first readings and eventual vote if they decide to move forward. • Work with local elections officials to ensure your measure qualifies for the ballot. * The deadline to qualify for the November 2024 ballot is August 9, 2024. With these steps complete, your measure will be on the ballot. Since public agencies cannot advocate for ballot measures, an independent campaign committee will need to be formed to run an advocacy campaign in support of the measure. TeamCivX provides campaign consulting services to independent campaign committees, but those services are not part of this proposal since an independent group must lead the campaign.
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7 Fee Summary As is standard in our industry, TeamCivX contracts on a monthly fee basis during the period of our engagement. For a city the size of Fontana, our monthly consultant fee is $7,700, which includes all expenses related to travel for meetings. Our fee will not change regardless of how many times you need us on the phone, responding to emails or attending meetings. TeamCivX doesn’t want you to hesitate to call when you need us. Our contract can be canceled at any time should you decide not to move forward. Partial months of service would be prorated. As an optional service, we can produce and mail informational mailers to the community and develop and implement a digital advertising program. We estimate each informational mailer to all approximately 48,500 registered voters to cost between $36,500 - $40,500 depending on exact specifications and quantities. For reference, many of our client cities choose to do 2 or 3 informational mailings over the term of the contract. Digital programs can vary widely, but we estimate that a minimum of $20,000 would be needed to create a digital/social program to deliver information broadly to City voters & residents.
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8 References Shannon DeLong, Assistant City Manager, City of Whittier (562) 567-9301, [email protected] Danielle Garcia, Management Service Director, City of Redlands (951) 675-7490, [email protected] Scott Ocha, City Manager, City of Ontario (626) 524-4149, [email protected] TeamCivX.com
Joy Kummer, Partner Joy is a founding partner of TeamCivX, and brings over 25 years of political, legal and community service experience to each of her clients and causes. Over the past several years, Joy has been successful in helping public agencies in all regions of California develop local public finance measures for the ballot and achieve voter support—raising billions of dollars for counties, cities, schools, hospitals, community colleges, special districts and other much-needed community projects. Joy is known as an industry leader working directly with Southern California Cities to help them develop and implement ballot funding measure strategies. She has worked directly with San Bernardino County as well as several cities within the County, including the City of Ontario, City of San Bernardino, City of Redlands, City of Barstow, and several school districts in the county and region. Part of Joy’s success is in her skill to manage projects and keep them on schedule, as well as the relationships she builds with her clients, focusing in on their specific needs and working together to build a communication and community plan that allows them to reach their goals. She is known for her can-do attitude, friendly smile and willingness to listen and collaborate as a team to find the right solution. Joy has been a frequent presenter and expert panelist for a variety of conferences and symposiums, including the League of Cities, Association of Chief Business Officials (ACBO), County Financial Symposiums, the Coalition for Adequate School Housing (CASH), the California School Boards Association (CSBA) and California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO). Joy grew up in Montana, where she received her J.D. from the University of Montana School of Law and a B.A. in Communications from Montana State University–Billings. Prior to co-founding TeamCivX, Joy was a partner at her prior consulting firm, served as Regional Field Director for U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) and as Field Director for the successful 49ers Stadium Campaign in Santa Clara, CA. Joy and her husband Todd live in Oakland where they enjoy cheering on the Golden State Warriors and Cal Bears. Joy is a proud mother and grandmother, occasional yoga instructor, slow and steady distance runner, roller coaster enthusiast and gluten-free baker. Joy Kummer, Partner [email protected] c: 510-914-0028 www.TeamCivX.com
TeamCivX.com
Statewide Measures
Proposition 1 - Veterans and
Affordable Housing Act
Proposition 2 - Homeless Mental
Health Housing Act
Unified School Districts
Alameda USD
Albany USD
Amador County USD
Arcadia USD
Azusa USD
Baldwin Park USD
Bassett USD
Beaumont USD
Brea Olinda USD
Cabrillo USD
Capistrano USD
Carlsbad USD
Castro Valley USD
Charter Oak USD
Claremont USD
Conejo Valley USD
Corona-Norco USD
Cotati-Rohnert Park USD
Culver City USD
Davis Joint USD
Downey USD
Dublin USD
El Rancho USD
Fairfield-Suisun USD
Folsom Cordova USD
Fremont USD
Garden Grove USD
Glendale USD
Hayward USD
Irvine USD
Jurupa USD
Kerman USD
La Cañada USD
Lake Elsinore USD
Lammersville USD
Las Virgenes USD
Lompoc USD
Long Beach USD
Los Alamitos USD
Los Angeles USD
Madera USD
Manhattan Beach USD
Manteca Unified USD
Martinez USD
Milpitas USD
Monterey Peninsula USD
Moorpark USD
Moreno Valley USD
Morgan Hill USD
Morongo USD
Mount Diablo USD
Mountain Empire USD
Napa Valley USD
Newark USD
New Haven USD
Novato USD
Oak Park USD
Orange USD
Pajaro Valley USD
Palo Alto USD
Palos Verdes Peninsula USD
Paradise USD
Patterson Joint USD
Pleasanton USD
Poway USD
Riverside USD
Sacramento City USD
Saddleback Valley USD
San Jose USD
San Lorenzo Valley USD
San Marcos USD
San Marino USD
San Ramon Valley USD
Santa Ana USD
Santa Monica-Malibu USD
Simi Valley USD
Snowline Joint USD
Sonoma Valley USD
South Pasadena USD
South San Francisco USD
Tahoe Truckee USD
Tustin USD
Ukiah USD
Val Verde USD
Vallejo City USD
Vista USD
Walnut Valley USD
Washington USD
Westa Contra Costa USD
Woodland Joint USD
Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint USD
Elementary School Districts
Alisal Union SD
Alpine Union SD
Alta Loma SD
Alum Rock Union Elementary SD
Anahiem Elementary SD
Auburn Union SD
Beardsley SD
Belmont-Redwood Shores SD
Berryessa Union SD
Bonsall SD
Buena Park SD
Burlingame SD
Cambrian SD
Campbell Union SD
Castaic Union SD
Central SD
Centralia Elementary SD
Cupertino Union SD
Del Mar Union SD
Miller Creek SD
Fountain Valley SD
Franklin-McKinley SD
Fruitvale SD
Fullerton SD
Huntington Beach City SD
Jefferson Elementary SD
Kentfield SD
La Mesa-Spring Valley Union SD
Lakeside Union SD
Larkspur-Corte Madera SD
Live Oak SD
Loma Prieta Joint Union SD
Los Altos SD
Los Gatos Union SD
Lowell Joint SD
Menifee Union SD
Millbrae SD
Modesto City Elementary SD
Moraga SD
Moreland SD
Mountain View Whisman SD
Norris SD
North Sacramento SD
Oakley Union Elementary SD
Ocean View SD
Orinda Union SD
Pacifica SD
Palmdale SD
Perris Elementary SD
Petaluma City Elementary SD
Portola Valley SD
Ravenswood City SD
Redwood City SD
Reed Union SD
Romoland SD
Rosemead SD
Roseville City SD
San Carlos SD
San Mateo-Foster City SD
San Rafael Elementary SD
Santa Cruz City Elementary SD
Santa Rita Union SD
Santa Rosa Elementary SD
Saratoga Union SD
Saugus Union SD
Savanna SD
Soquel Union Elementary SD
Sulphur Springs Union SD
Union SD
Victor Elementary SD
Westminster SD
High School Districts
Campbell Union HSD
Chaffey Joint Union HSD
Delano Joint Union HSD
East Side Union HSD
El Dorado Union HSD
Fullerton Joint Union HSD
Galt Joint Union HSD
Jefferson Union HSD
Los Gatos-Saratoga Union HSD
Mountain View-Los Altos HSD
Nevada Joint Union HSD
Oxnard Union HSD
Perris Union HSD
Petaluma Joint Union HSD
Placer Union HSD
Roseville Joint Union HSD
San Benito HSD
San Dieguito Union HSD
San Mateo Union HSD
San Rafael HSD
Santa Cruz City HSD
Santa Rosa HSD
Sequoia Union HSD
Tamalpais Union HSD
William S. Hart Union HSD
Community College Districts
Allan Hancock College
Antelope Valley College
Cabrillo College
Chabot-Las Positas CCD
Chaffey College
College of the Canyons
College of Marin
College of the Siskiyous
Contra Costa CCD
Foothill-De Anza CCD
Gavilan College
Glendale College
Hartnell College
Lane Community College
Mendocino College
Merced CCD
MiraCosta College
Monterey Peninsula College
Napa Valley College
Pasadena City College
Peralta CCD
Mt. San Jacinto CCD
Rancho Santiago CCD
Riverside CCD
San Bernardino CCD
San Joaquin Delta CCD
Santa Barbara City College
Santa Monica College
Santa Rosa Junior College
Yuba College
Hospitals and Healthcare
Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare
System
Seton Medical Center
Valley Health System*
*private-side campaign only
The unmatched experience of TeamCivX’s five partners