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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESPONSE - RFP - 7517 CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATIONREQUEST FOR PROPOSALS # 7517: CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION PREPARED FOR CITY OF FORT COLLINS BY: June 28, 2013 Financial Services Purchasing Division 215 N. Mason St., 2nd Floor, PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 Dear Ms. Bigner and Mr. Bonnette: On behalf of our team, Brendle Group is pleased to submit our proposal to provide consulting services for Climate Change Adaptation Planning Facilitation for the City of Fort Collins. Brendle Group has partnered with the Geos Institute to bring what we believe are significant and valuable synergies to this project. We have assembled a team with a unique combination of strengths in: 1) familiarity with the City’s municipal operations from over a decade of work with the City; and 2) risk analysis and adaptation planning, backed by a strong understanding of the science driving such analysis and planning. Brendle Group has been a collaborative partner with the City of Fort Collins for over a decade on various climate, energy, water, and sustainability projects. We have developed strong relationships and familiarity with a wide range of City departments and municipal operations – from Planning to Economic Health, and from Parks to Streets. We understand the City’s major planning efforts, budgeting processes, and how they relate to one another – insight that provides a strong foundation from which to build an effective adaptation framework and strategies. The Geos Institute is a national leader in assessing vulnerability of natural and socioeconomic resources to climate change and other ongoing stressors. They facilitate dialogue and drive solutions for climate adaptation customized to the needs of local leaders and municipal operations. These customized assessments and workshops provide cities with a better understanding of likely climate change impacts at the local level; help identify locally-specific risks and vulnerabilities; and lead to specific and prioritized adaptation strategies for municipal operations and communities. As a team comprised of a small firm and a small organization, we commit senior leadership to your project knowing their active involvement will be valuable to infuse transformative thinking in developing an effective adaptation framework and strategies. Our team also provides cost effective services with competitive billing rates and a commitment to provide you with an outcome that is comprehensive, pragmatic, and well-matched to the City’s needs and priorities. We are excited by the opportunity to help the City take its climate adaptation efforts to the next level and look forward to the opportunity to discuss our qualifications and approach in more detail. Sincerely, Judy Dorsey, P.E., LEED-AP, CEM President and Principal Engineer 970.207.0058 jdorsey@BrendleGroup.com TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Methods and Approach ......................................................................................................................... 1 2. Scope Of Work Deliverables ................................................................................................................. 9 3. Qualifications and Experience ............................................................................................................. 10 4. Project Personnel ................................................................................................................................ 16 5. Organization Chart And Proposed Project Team ................................................................................ 22 6. Availability And Flexibility ................................................................................................................... 23 7. Estimated Hours By Task ..................................................................................................................... 23 8. Schedule Of Rates And Cost By Task ................................................................................................... 24 Vendor Statement ....................................................................................................................................... 25 CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 1 1. METHODS AND APPROACH Fort Collins was among the first communities in the nation to confront the issue of climate change and commit to a path of setting goals and taking actions to reduce community greenhouse gas emissions. Fort Collins has built a legacy among communities nationally and internationally for its efforts to reduce emissions - from bike/transit infrastructure to innovative energy projects such as FortZED; to municipal efficiency initiatives, and waste diversion programs. In fact, Brendle Group has been involved in many of these efforts over the years. Now, with an increasing number of communities turning their attention to an already-changing climate, Fort Collins is again leading the way – particularly in the Western U.S, where it is collaborating with other communities through organizations such as the Western Utilities Climate Alliance. Being one of the 50 initial signatories to the Resilient Communities for America Agreement also shows the City’s leadership in this space. The City has already assessed its risks and vulnerabilities with respect to its utility services through Fort Collins Utilities; now, it is turning its attention to other departments to build a framework for response and resiliency in the face of climate change – albeit with uncertainty as to how future scenarios will unfold. We propose to implement a process, based on four primary steps, to assist nine municipal departments in planning for climate change with the intent that the framework developed could also be applied across all city departments and used by regional partners. It will build on – rather than replicate – past efforts by Fort Collins Utilities to compile the science of climate change and what it means to Fort Collins, focusing on the five possible scenarios already explored for the City. From here, our team’s effort will be focused on what such scenarios actually mean for vulnerability and risk for each participating department - and how they can best prepare and respond with a set of goals, strategies, and decision-making steps. For each task below, we also define task deliverables and outline our assumptions and expectations for staff interaction. Task 1: Project Kickoff The first step in the project will be to convene a project kickoff meeting to introduce team members and roles, discuss goals and expectations, and outline a timeline and deliverables for the project. During the project kickoff we will also refine our plan for proposed facilitated workshops to ensure the appropriate departments and regional external stakeholders are included to provide a good cross-section of participants. For example, one department we would recommend adding to the list provided would be Communications, knowing the important role they played during last summer’s fire season. Finally, as part of this task we will also compile and review data and information on climate adaptation work done by the City to date to leverage that work and ensure we are not duplicating effort. Task Deliverables: Meeting agenda and notes, list of data and information, draft and final workshop plan. City Staff Interaction/Responsibilities: Provide existing data and documentation, participate in kickoff meeting, provide input on plan for workshops. CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 2 Task 2: Risk and Vulnerability Assessment by Department After strong cross-sector participants have been identified as part of Task 1, Task 2 will focus on department-specific risk and vulnerability assessments. Our team’s proposed approach for vulnerability assessments starts by assessing three main components of vulnerability - exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity1. Through a facilitated, day-long workshop format (Workshop 1) we will work with participants to identify priority resources, localities, populations, and systems to their individual departments and then populate a matrix of the exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity for each (Table 1). We will look to previous adaptation work conducted by the City as well as information and resources from local experts to inform the process. Vulnerability rankings will be developed to aid in prioritization of adaptation actions. The Geos Institute has conducted vulnerability assessments for numerous communities following a process that incorporates best available climate science; supporting research; expert input; and local knowledge, values, and goals. Trained in vulnerability assessment through the National Conservation Training Center, the Geos Institute has also trained others (U.S. Forest Service resource planners, for example) and led numerous assessments. Of particular value is their cross-sector approach that determines not only what the direct vulnerabilities are, but also what the indirect vulnerabilities might be based impacts and actions in some sectors that affect resources and populations in other sectors. Our team’s approach to the vulnerability analysis is described in more detail below. Exposure – In order to assess exposure, we will compile a science assessment that builds on what Fort Collins Utilities has already compiled as part of their adaptation planning effort, but that also further outlines any other climate change projections and relevant secondary impacts that have emerged since that project. We will provide supplemental maps and graphs for such variables as temperature, precipitation, snowpack, hydrology, vegetation, wildfire, and others, as needed. Based on the model projections for mid- and late-century, we will update as needed future scenarios that represent potential future conditions, building off of the scenario planning and analysis completed by and for Fort Collins Utilities. During the workshop, we will have leading climate scientists on hand to provide additional information and answer questions about exposure. This is especially helpful in moving non- scientists past issues of uncertainty so they can begin to make informed decisions. Sensitivity – Our assessment of sensitivity will consider how different resources, populations, or systems will respond to expected impacts. In addition, we will consider the contribution from other stressors or trends to this response. For instance, Fort Collins Parks may need to consider how its parks and natural areas will respond to increases in wildfire potential. In addition, they will need to assess the contribution of other stressors in contributing to the overall level of sensitivity. Finally, how those 1 Glick, P., B. Stein, and N. A. Edelson, Editors. 2011. Scanning the Conservation Horizon: A Guide to Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment. National Wildlife Federation, Washington D.C. CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 3 stressors might change, or what new stressors might emerge based on climate change should be included in considerations. Adaptive Capacity – Some resources, populations, or systems have more capacity to adapt to change than others, and this contributes to their overall level of vulnerability. For instance, water users in Los Angeles have shown great adaptive capacity over time to increasingly scarce water supplies, as users change their landscaping and water use behaviors to accommodate changes in water pricing. People living in fire prone areas - an issue that is applicable to Fort Collins - can adapt by managing vegetation and roofing materials. Other populations, such as low-income populations may have lower adaptive capacity in the face of climate change due to limited resources. They often lack vehicles for evacuation or lack funds for housing updates. Language barriers can create a lag in response. Overall Vulnerability and Ranking – During Workshop 1 we will guide participating City departments to assign a weight for each of the three components of vulnerability, ranking each resource, population, or system of interest on a scale from 1-5 (1 is least vulnerable, least sensitive, or greatest adaptive capacity). Scores are additive, but can be adjusted based on expert input about local values, importance of success, or other factors. Together, the workshop participants will develop a list of prioritized resources, populations, or systems based on their overall vulnerability. Some groups choose to focus on those with highest vulnerabilities for implementing adaptation strategies, but others have prioritized those with medium vulnerability, instead choosing to maximize the potential for success. Table 1 provides an example of what such a vulnerability matrix may look like- for this project, such matrices will be customized to each department. Dynamic Workshop Facilitation Process: Brendle Group has extensive experience facilitating planning workshops for a variety of audiences and will be able to clearly and effectively translate climate data and trends to the layperson and gather the necessary information to inform the adaptation planning process. Tools may include brainstorming techniques, keypad polling, or other tactics. In this first workshop we propose a general structure that would include a facilitated whole group exercise on what we mean by risks and vulnerabilities. From there, break out groups - in a department and cross-department format - will be used to help each group self-identify their relevant risks and vulnerabilities. CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 4 Table 1. Example Matrix Structure Used for Vulnerability Assessment Across Sectors2 RESOURCE OR POPULATION TRENDS EXPOSURE SENSITIVITY ADAPTIVE CAPACITY Businesses and residences in flood prone areas (identify which areas, specifically) Increased storm severity and runoff could increase frequency of flooding and flood-related damage High exposure to changes in precipitation and runoff Medium sensitivity – only extreme storms will cause damage and safety issues Low because of floodplain development upstream, but restoration opportunities exist Local agriculture that supplies farmers markets Loss of water availability due to changes in precipitation and higher temperatures Medium in areas with irrigation Some crops more sensitive than others (fruit trees) Farmers with access to new technology and resources have greater adaptive capacity Area parks Changes in climate conditions expected to cause declines in native CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 5 Using our team’s extensive experience working with diverse entities on goal setting, we will work with City departments and external stakeholders to identify goals that reflect local circumstances and local priorities. Then, focusing on the key vulnerabilities identified in Task 2 and informed by the goals identified, in Workshop 2 we will guide City staff through a brainstorming exercise to develop a list of adaptation strategies/solutions. We will leverage our experience with other municipalities to develop a preliminary list of solutions and also gather input from the workshop participants to develop a comprehensive list of adaptation solutions for each of the key vulnerabilities identified for Fort Collins city departments. Important components of this process will be (1) working with City staff to review existing plans to determine how they may already be addressing climate change adaptation, (2) evaluating existing activities that may be reducing the City’s resilience, and (3) identifying opportunities where climate adaptation could be easily integrated into existing efforts. As part of this effort to align with existing plans, we will also leverage our team’s experience and familiarity with the City of Fort Collins’ Climate Action Plan update and social sustainability gap analysis efforts. For example, as shown by the example Venn Diagram from our work with another community, several climate planning strategies serve both adaptation and mitigation purposes and we will utilize our extensive knowledge of the City’s Climate Action Plan to identify these commonalities. Additionally, many climate planning strategies (support of vulnerable populations, health and local food initiatives, and outreach and education activities, as a few examples) have a social sustainability component and will link well with the City’s recent initiatives in this space. CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 6 While the ultimate adaptation actions will be determined through a facilitated process, potential adaptation solutions that could be considered for departments that are likely to participate include:  Planning – Incorporate climate change considerations into all City planning projects, updates to City Plan, neighborhood and corridor plans  Parks – Mitigate and anticipate climate impacts to parks, natural areas, and recreational facilities; develop wildfire rapid response plans  Forestry – Increase urban tree canopy to reduce urban heat island effect  Streets – Minimize impacts to roads from increased heat and flooding, considering road surface materials and bridges and overpasses of streams  Economic Health – Diversify the local economy to protect against climate impacts that affect some industries more than other  Poudre Fire Authority – Develop plans to reduce wildfire risk in wildland-urban interface areas, including fire-wise landscaping and changing building codes in the WUI; develop responses to heat-related health impacts to vulnerable populations (e.g., growing elderly population)  Police Services – Prepare for potential of increased public disturbances during extreme (heat, flooding) events by increasing number of volunteers and expanding communications networks After a list of adaptation solutions has been developed by workshop participants, our team will develop a qualitative evaluation framework with a number of decision criteria to help classify and prioritize solutions. The selection criteria will be determined with input from City staff; however, the list below outlines potential evaluation criteria that may be applicable:  Alignment with existing priorities;  Approximate timeframe required to implement action;  Level of effort required by staff to implement action;  Political feasibility as measured by the degree of political support for an action;  Technical feasibility;  Range of implementation costs;  Existing funding sources;  Climate mitigation co-benefits; and  Other co-benefits, such as job creation and other social equity benefits. Finally, we will also gather input from each department on how to integrate these adaptation solutions into their current processes. Through an organizational assessment we are able to identify capacity for plan implementation as well as governance/organizational opportunities and barriers. Understanding where and how decisions are made and how adaptation relates to the City’s Budgeting for Outcomes process, staffing, operations and maintenance, capital planning, and other functions will allow us to better develop a framework that can be used by the City moving forward for adaptation planning. CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 7 Brendle Group has evaluated over 100 different climate mitigation strategies as part of its support for the Fort Collins Climate Task Force and development of the City’s Climate Action Plan. Additionally, Geos Institute has extensive experience identifying adaptation solutions for various entities and can provide perspective on national best practices in this space. This combination of experience in strategy identification and evaluation along with our familiarity of the City’s operations will ensure successful completion of this task. Task Deliverables:  Facilitated Workshop 2: PowerPoint slide deck, notes, and facilitation materials.  Documented goals by department.  Documented decision criteria to apply to current and future strategies/solutions.  A list of prioritized strategies/solutions by department. City Staff Interaction/Responsibilities: Participate in workshops, City project manager to help arrange meeting locations and facilities and review and approve workshop materials in advance. Task 4: Framework to Incorporate into Decision Making Processes As part of this task our team will document the entire project process and develop a framework for the City to use in future planning efforts to ensure climate adaptation is integrated at the appropriate places in the planning process. The framework will include suggested triggers at major decision points in the City’s operations to prompt action as well as an outline of what steps to take to incorporate adaptation into the decision making process, staff members that need to be involved, and any associated costs to consider. More specifically the planning framework will include: 1. Guidance on how to fold in new information on risks and vulnerabilities 2. Decision/screening criteria that departments can apply for adaptation strategies 3. Recommendations for how to address adaptation in new plans, existing plans, maintenance and operation practices, staff training, budgeting We will also identify how this framework can best be integrated with other sustainability and planning frameworks and tools the City currently uses or is planning to develop, such as the Triple Bottom Line Framework currently being developed by the City. Task Deliverables:  An Excel-based framework/tool for integrating adaptation into short-term and long-term decision making, populated for sample solutions/projects identified by participating departments  A summary Word document of the project and process, and a narrative framework for City as a whole to use for future efforts City Staff Interaction/Responsibilities:  Review draft and final materials CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 8 Team Commitment to Sustainability Brendle Group’s company vision commits us to embody sustainability principles in our own operations so we can serve as a test bed for leading-edge sustainability tools and approaches that we can then share with our clients. To exercise its own corporate commitment to the sustainability, Brendle Group developed an award-winning Sustainability Management System, which was last updated in 2012. The goals in developing the SMS were to systematically and comprehensively evaluate the magnitude of our company’s impacts, determine priorities, set targets, implement strategies, and measure results. As part of the SMS, Brendle Group was the first carbon neutral organization in Colorado, is 100 percent wind powered, and in 2011 reached its target to become a zero waste organization. We also give preference to businesses that employ sustainability in their operations, support sustainability informed capital equipment and professional service purchases, and are committed to sharing our progress with the community through annual sustainability reports. In late 2010, Brendle Group moved into its new offices in Fort Collins, Colorado after a year-long renovation to make our new home a showcase for sustainability. The building, over 80 percent more energy efficient than similar buildings in our region, also includes a solar PV demonstration project, extensive use of salvaged and recycled materials, an energy demand management system, and low-water use techniques. Capping off the collaborative effort among our design and construction team members and Brendle Group staff, the building was certified as LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council. The Geos Institute is committed to sustainability in both their research and operations. They work locally to support renewable energy development and conservation efforts through multiple projects and partnerships in Oregon’s Rogue Valley. In day-to-day operations, Geos promotes sustainability through the lease of solar panels from the City of Ashland to power their building. The organization also went through an extensive weatherizing process and installed a 98 percent efficient heating system on the facility. Most employees bike or drive hybrid vehicles to work. Proposed Schedule Task July Aug Sept Oct Nov Task 1.Project Kickoff *Kickoff Meeting Task 2. Risk and Vulnerability Assessment by Department *Workshop 1 Task 3. Preparedness Goals and Adaptation Solutions *Workshop 2 Task 4. Framework to Incorporate into Decision Making Processes CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 9 2. SCOPE OF WORK DELIVERABLES Deliverables A summary of deliverables from our proposed Methods and Approach include:  An Excel-based risk and vulnerability assessment summary matrix for each department that participates in the workshop as well as guidelines for how to develop a similar matrix for future identified risks and other City departments;  An Excel-based framework/tool for integrating adaptation into short-term and long-term decision making, populated for sample solutions/projects identified by participating departments;  A summary Word document of the project and process, and a narrative framework for City as a whole to use for future efforts; and  All documents and notes from facilitated workshops (Powerpoint slide decks, notes in Word/PDF). Performance Measures Suggested performance measures for success:  Targets and measures for the number of people, and their expertise, from each City department that participate in the process, tracking those at the workshop and throughout the project;  Changes in City staff, planners, and partners’ understanding of climate change science prior to and after the vulnerability workshop through the use of brief web-based survey instruments; and  Changes in City staff, planners, and partners’ perceptions of how well prepared they are to plan for climate change in their day-to-day operations, near term planning, and long-term efforts. CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 10 3. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE Brendle Group Brendle Group is an engineering consulting firm that has been actively practicing sustainability for over 16 years, specializing in sustainability planning, economic development, energy management, climate protection, water conservation, and sustainable design. Founded in 1996, Brendle Group was a pioneer in the now flourishing field of sustainability. Among sustainability consultants, Brendle Group is a rare find, also having a dedicated business practice in economic development that includes bringing energy efficiency to scale and growing local jobs in the process; cluster-based cleantech initiatives; and downtown and urban districts. Brendle Group often partners with other engineering, environmental, planning, and sustainability consultants and is known for its ability to develop innovative solutions and build interdisciplinary teams to tackle projects of any size. Located in Fort Collins, Brendle Group serves clients nationwide and has completed or is working on over 200 projects for 100 customers across 20 states. Several of these clients are cities like Fort Collins that are actively seeking to address climate risk and vulnerability in their municipal operations and the community, and to develop forward-looking decision-making frameworks and specific response strategies. Brendle Group’s staff of 15 engineers, planners, economists, and management consultants offers its clients a unique combination of technical and strategic planning expertise. This mix enables the firm to help clients develop climate mitigation and adaptation solutions based on sound technical expertise as well as innovative approaches for engaging stakeholders and facilitating dialogue to produce effective outcomes. The firm is committed to understanding the unique needs of each client and providing the mix of services that will resonate with and move each client toward its goals. Brendle Group helps clients navigate the complex nature of climate protection, mitigation, and adaptation. The firm supports clients in developing strategies for increasing energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, designing and implementing climate programs, and developing long- term approaches for meeting energy and GHG reduction goals. Brendle Group also helps local governments prepare for a changing climate, with adaptation strategies that build on the science of climate change - along with organizational change strategies and risk/vulnerability analyses - to produce forward-looking goals and strategies and build resiliency in municipal operations and the community in the face of an uncertain future. The Geos Institute The Geos Institute is a nonprofit organization and consulting firm that uses science to help people predict, mitigate, and prepare for climate change. Based in Ashland, Oregon, the Geos Institute brings the best available science to the community and natural resource planning processes through its CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 11 publications, community workshops, and bridge-building between respected scientists and decision makers. ClimateWise® is a scientific consulting firm at Geos Institute that helps communities assess the projected impacts of climate change in their locality and develop concrete actions to minimize and prepare for those impacts. Their climate change science assessments include the most up-to-date climate projections, presented in maps, graphs, and language appropriate for scientists and non- scientists. In addition, they conduct a thorough literature review and include information on ecological and socioeconomic trends expected from climate change. They work with leading experts to determine the relative vulnerability of natural and socioeconomic resources to climate change and other ongoing stressors. The firm also assesses sensitivity, exposure, and adaptive capacity of local resources in relation to climate change trends and uncertainty. The ClimateWise team of scientists and facilitators plans and implements workshops for local experts and leaders, elected officials, or the general public. Their workshops are customizable and result in better understanding of likely climate change impacts at the local level; identification of locally-specific vulnerabilities; and the development of specific and prioritized adaptation strategies for local communities, watersheds, or planning units. By combining all components of the ClimateWise process, they can create climate change preparedness plans that are comprehensive and cohesive across natural and human systems. Team Project Experience Our team brings to the City of Fort Collins experience deeply rooted in years of collaboration with the City and its various sustainability and climate-related efforts. Brendle Group’s climate and sustainability expertise in municipal operations - spanning over a decade in Fort Collins but also including municipalities nationwide - is complemented by the Geos Institute’s rich expertise in climate vulnerability and risk analysis and locally-customizable climate change adaptation strategies. A few select examples of our team’s relevant experience are provided below. For Brendle Group, these projects are in addition to all of the work the firm has completed with the City to date, such as:  Municipal Action Plan for Sustainability  On-call Assessments for Fort Collins Utilities/Climate Wise Program  Climate Task Force – Climate Action Plan  Green Building Program and Code Support  Fort ZED – RDSI and Fort ZED Planning Tool  Plan Fort Collins/City Plan “I want to thank Brendle Group for all the work you did to support the Climate Task Force. Having Brendle Group’s participation gave the project a high level of credibility that has been and will continue to be very valuable. I honor your deep commitment to advancing sustainability - it shines through professionally and personally. Brendle Group went above and beyond as usual.” LUCINDA SMITH CITY OF FORT COLLINS CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 12 City of Cleveland, Ohio Municipal Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (2012-13) Brendle Group is part of a team that supported the City of Cleveland’s Office of Sustainability in the development of a municipal sustainability action plan and community climate action plan. The planning process included three distinct phases: (1) a Municipal Sustainability Action Plan for the City’s internal municipal operations; (2) a greenhouse gas inventory for Cleveland city proper; and (3) a community-wide Climate Action Plan for Cleveland city proper. The Municipal Sustainability Action Plan was developed using a facilitated process with all of the City’s major departments, from utilities to transportation and from finance to planning. Climate adaptation was also addressed, working with Ohio’s Green City Blue Lake Institute. The plans also include guidance on implementation, monitoring progress, and communicating to stakeholders. Contact: Matt Gray, City of Cleveland Mayor’s Office of Sustainability Director; mgray@city.cleveland.oh.us; (216-664-2246) Aurora Water, Colorado Energy Plan (2010-2011) Brendle Group was part of a team identified to prepare an Energy Management Plan for Aurora Water. Brendle Group led the renewable energy study for this project with a focus on a feasibility level analysis for solar PV and wind applications at targeted Aurora Water facilities. Our team worked with various municipal departments at the City of Aurora to gather information about past renewable energy projects, conduct site visits of potential solar and wind sites, and discern the priorities and needs of each department to identify the most feasible solutions and site locations. Contact: Richard Vidmar, Water Resources Engineer; rvidmar@auroragov.org; (303-739-7326) City of Greensboro, Assessment of Sustainability Opportunities (2011) In collaboration with members of Orion Planning Group, Brendle Group also conducted an assessment of Greensboro’s existing codes, municipal operations, plans and policies for options to integrate sustainability across them as well as in an upcoming update of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The project included evaluation of over 25 codes, plans, and policies for municipal operations and the community to identify gaps and opportunities to incorporate sustainability as well as to align all codes and plans using the lens of sustainability so they work in tandem toward community outcomes for sustainability. Over 35 city staff members were also interviewed as part of the project to collect their input on how codes, plans, policies and implementation practices could be aligned to promote community sustainability, save taxpayer money, and streamline city staff processes. Final “Most communities are struggling with resources so spending the money on consulting work is a well- reviewed decision. In our experience, using our funds to hire Brendle Group has not just been about getting some projects completed, it has been an investment.” SUE SCHWARTZ Director, Housing and Community Development City of Greensboro, North Carolina CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 13 recommendations included broad suggestions for linking and aligning plans, as well as specific recommendations for topics such as energy efficiency, water resources, land use, transportation, and economic development. Contact: Sue Schwartz, Director of Housing and Community Development, sue.schwartz@greensboro- nc.gov, 336-373-2149 Spanish Fork, Utah Facilities Energy Audit and Sustainability Management Plan (2011) Brendle Group was selected to perform a two-phased project for Spanish Fork City, a small city along Utah’s Wasatch Front. Brendle Group conducted a resource assessment for the City, including a walkthrough of all City buildings and municipal operations to develop a preliminary list of potential energy and water saving opportunities and the related savings and implementation costs. Under Phase 2 of the project Brendle Group supported development of an overall Sustainability Management Plan for the City’s municipal operations to guide and prioritize the implementation of future sustainability efforts. The SMP focused on three areas energy (electricity and natural gas), water, and solid waste. A baseline and business as usual forecast was defined for each of these three focus areas, reduction goals were set, and strategies were identified to reach each of the goals. Additionally, estimates of cost savings and implementation cost were calculated to help the City in prioritizing the implementation of strategies moving forward. Contact: Bill Bushman, Buildings and Grounds Maintenance Supervisor; bbushman@spanishfork.org, (801-804-4618) City of Rio Rancho, Municipal Sustainability Plan (2009) Brendle Group was selected by the City of Rio Rancho, a city of approximately 50,000 in the metropolitan Albuquerque area of New Mexico, to prepare a sustainability plan for municipal operations using federal Recovery Act funds. Brendle Group facilitated a number of workshops with department leaders and staff to develop a framework for sustainability planning, goals, strategies, and implementation steps. Key areas in existing and new facility design, retrofitting, remodeling, or use were evaluated where changes could be made to improve electricity, natural gas, and water efficiency. A Sustainability Plan was developed, including a vision, guiding principles, and action plans that addressed elements such as energy use and greenhouse gas reductions, LEED building criteria, employee training and behavior change, water conservation, and waste reduction. Contact: Dyane Sonier, Parks Recreation and Community Services- Resource Development Manager; dsonier@ci.rio-rancho.nm.us; (505- 891-5015) CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 14 Sustainability Plan, Salt Lake City, Utah Brendle Group worked with a multi-stakeholder Carbon Advisory Group to develop a greenhouse gas inventory and comprehensive Energy and Transportation Sustainability Plan for Salt Lake City. Brendle Group developed greenhouse gas reduction goal options with comparisons to other relevant local, regional, and national goals. Existing City sustainability efforts were also reviewed and 25 strategies developed - including estimation of implementation cost, cost savings, and greenhouse gas reductions achieved. The final Plan includes a baseline of energy, climate, and sustainability activities; a process for selecting new and enhanced strategies; and a description and evaluation of strategies and implementation pathways. Contact: Renee Zollinger, Environmental Program Manager, Salt Lake City, Utah, 801.535.7215, renee.zollinger@slcgov.com San Luis Obispo County, California Integrated Climate Change Adaptation Planning (2009-2010) The Geos Institute worked with diverse partners throughout San Luis Obispo County to: (1) provide climate change model projections at scales that are useful for local planning; (2) identify climate change vulnerabilities in resources and populations throughout the county; and (3) develop and prioritize adaptation strategies to prepare the County for climate change. They worked across built (infrastructure), human (health, emergency response, vulnerable populations), economic (business, industry, agriculture), cultural (Native American traditions and resources), and natural (fish, wildlife, plants) systems to develop synergistic and integrated strategies. The plan was incorporated into the County’s Climate Action Plan (CAP), making it one of the most comprehensive CAPs in the state. Contact: James Caruso, Senior Planner, Dept. of Planning and Building, San Luis Obispo County; jcaruso@co.slo.ca.us, (805) 781-5702; 976 Missoula County, Montana Climate Action: Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Community (2010- 2011) This project was similar in scope to the San Luis Obispo County project (see description above); however, the Geos Institute was working throughout Missoula County, Montana. Additionally, they produced a climate change primer and a report on the climate change model projections for the region. They also worked closely with the Clark Fork Coalition. Contact: Jill Alban, Outreach Director; jill@clarkfork.org; (406) 542-0539, ext. 206 CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 15 Integrated Strategies for a Vibrant and Sustainable Fresno County, California (2010-2011) The Geos Institute worked closely with the Local Government Commission, many local leaders and decision makers of Fresno County. The organization worked throughout Fresno County, California on this project, which was similar in scope to the San Luis Obispo County project (see description above.) Contact: Due to the political nature of the issue, Geos did not have an official “client” organization (the work was grant funded) in the region. For a reference, please contact: Michelle Selmon, Climate Change Specialist, Department of Water Resources; mselmon@water.ca.gov. Previous Work Samples The following links provide examples and other reference material for a select few of the projects listed above.  City of Rio Rancho, New Mexico Sustainability Plan (Brendle Group)  City of Greensboro Top-to-Bottom Sustainability Analysis (Brendle Group)  San Luis Obispo County Integrated Climate Change Adaptation Plan (Geos Institute*)  Climate Action: Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Community (Geos Institute)  Report on climate change model projections for the 5 Central Valley Counties (Geos Institute) * Note that at the time of this project, the Geos Institute was named the “National Center for Conservation Science and Policy”. CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 16 4. PROJECT PERSONNEL Brendle Group’s team offers the City of Fort Collins a unique combination of facilitation, planning for municipal operations, adaptation, and risk assessment skills and expertise. This allows us to offer both depth in our pool of experience - from senior technical and program support to cost-effective staff-level services - as well as breadth across the four project tasks. The individuals listed in resumes on the following pages will be backed by a talented team of other sustainability engineers, planners, economists, and adaptation scientists – along with administrative and communications staff. References for previous assignments are the same as those listed under individual projects in Section 3. CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 17 Judy is a valued collaborator offering 21 years of executive leadership in sustainability, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Her specialties include district-scale and community-scale planning in climate and energy, clean energy, sustainable economic development, organizational development, ski industry and ski town sustainability, and net zero energy and water initiatives. She has led the completion of 200+ sustainability projects for over 100 clients across 19 states including over a dozen sustainability plans for some of the nation’s most progressive communities and major cities. She also offers significant domain expertise in developing community sustainability indicators and dashboards and is a trained facilitator. Over the past 16 years, Judy grew Brendle Group’s five practice areas and four sectors into an award-winning consulting group. She co-founded the Colorado Clean Energy Cluster and helped spearhead two of its primary initiatives - the International Cleantech Network, a global network connecting the world’s leading cleantech clusters; and FortZED, an initiative to create one of the world’s largest active net zero energy districts. RELEVANT PROJECTS Municipal Sustainability Action Plan Cleveland, Ohio Municipal Sustainability Plan Rio Rancho, New Mexico Climate Action and Sustainability Plan Salt Lake City, Utah Climate Action Plan Task Force Fort Collins, Colorado Renewable and Distributed Systems Integration Fort Collins, Colorado Green Building Code Update Fort Collins, Colorado Colorado Clean Energy Cluster Colorado, Statewide Comprehensive Energy Management Plan Omaha, Nebraska Sustainability Assessment Greensboro, North Carolina JUDY DORSEY, PE, LEED-AP, CEM PRESIDENT AND PRINCIPAL ENGINEER PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS Master of Science Mechanical Engineering Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Bachelor of Science Mechanical Engineering Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois Professional Engineer Colorado SKILLS LEED Accredited Professional Certified Energy Manager AWARDS CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 18 Becky Fedak supports our team with her extensive experience as an energy and water resources engineer. She is well versed in community climate and energy planning and evaluation of climate and energy strategies. She has managed several of Brendle Group’s climate action planning and sustainability projects for municipal operations in cities such as Aurora, Colorado and Cleveland, Ohio. She also offers extensive experience in facilitation of stakeholder and advisory groups to develop goals and strategies for a variety of sustainability solutions. Becky also has a comprehensive set of business skills including project management, triple bottom line analysis, and business plan development. With an undergraduate degree in civil and environmental engineering, Becky continued her education with a Master of Science degree in Business Administration focusing on global, social, and sustainable enterprise. Her combination of engineering and business knowledge plays a major role in supporting many of Brendle Group’s engineering, climate, and sustainability projects. RELEVANT PROJECTS Municipal Sustainability Action Plan Cleveland, OH Climate and Sustainability Action Plan Salt Lake City, UT Aurora Water Energy Assessment Aurora, CO Comprehensive Energy Management Plan Omaha, NE Climate Action Plan Bennington College, VT Statewide On-call Energy Assessments Xcel Energy, Colorado, Statewide Water Cluster Mapping and Support City of Fort Collins, CO REBECCA L. FEDAK, PE, MBA ENGINEER PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS Master of Science in Business Administration Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO Bachelor of Science Civil Engineering Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO Professional Engineer Colorado SKILLS Professional Engineer Water Operations Modeling Water Resources Planning Project Management CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 19 With 13 years of experience, Patrick contributes to a variety of projects at Brendle Group utilizing his expertise and background in greenhouse gas product life cycle analyses, multi-cultural project management, and economic and policy feasibility analysis. He lends his expertise to many of Brendle Group's projects, including greenhouse gas inventories and sustainability action strategies for communities, businesses, school districts, and colleges and universities. He leverages his experience creating comprehensive greenhouse gas accounting models, and calculating carbon footprints, to advise on and analyze opportunities for improved performance. RELEVANT PROJECTS Climate Commitment City of Boulder, CO Energy Assessments Xcel Energy, Statewide, CO High Park Restoration Coalition Fort Collins, CO El Salvador Fuel-Efficient Cookstove Project El Salvador New Belgium Brewery Greenhouse Gas Accounting Fort Collins, CO Green Ox Cardboard Pallets Product Life Cycle Analysis Parker, CO PATRICK FLYNN PROGRAM MANAGER PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS Master’s of Business Administration Global Social & Sustainable Enterprise Colorado State University Bachelor of Science College of Natural Resources Colorado State University SKILLS Project Management Greenhouse Gas Analysis Fluent in Spanish AFFILIATIONS Trees, Water & People - Board of Directors Net Impact - Member CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 20 Marni joined the Geos Institute's staff after completing postdoctoral research with the U.S. Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Research Station. She takes a lead role in developing and executing ClimateWise® projects to help local communities and federal land managers prepare for a changing climate. She brings communities the science they need to make informed decisions and walks them through a process that results in climate change strategies that are integrated across both natural and human communities. Marni has also worked on developing climate- informed conservation blueprints for the Klamath-Siskiyou ecoregion and the Colorado Plateau. RELEVANT PROJECTS Climate Change Adaptation Planning Missoula County, Montana San Luis Obispo County, California Fresno County, California Deschutes Basin, Oregon Klamath Basin, Oregon Upper Willamette Basin, Oregon Vulnerability Assessments and Adaptation Strategies for Natural Resources of the Sierra Nevada, California Partnered with EcoAdapt and USDA Forest Service; funded by California Landscape Conservation Cooperative, USFWS Development of Performance Measures for the Landscape Conservation Cooperative Network USFWS Climate-informed Conservation Blueprints, Colorado Plateau and Puget Sound Sierra Club Handbook on Adaptation Planning National Wildlife Federation, USFWS, USGS, NOAA, NPS, USFS Marni E. Koopman, Ph.D. Climate Change Scientist PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS Post-doctoral Degree Zoology and Physiology University of Wyoming Laramie, WY Master of Science Wildland Resource Science University of California Berkeley, CA Bachelor of Arts Environmental Studies University of California Santa Barbara, CA SKILLS Adaptation planning and strategy development CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 21 Jessica directs the Geos Institute’s Spatial Analysis Program, with an emphasis on preparing local climate change projections for communities and agencies planning for climate change as part of the ClimateWise® program. She has a wide range of GIS and cartographic experience at the municipal, planning, and scientific levels. Jessica also assists with the mapping needs of the rest of the programs at the Geos Institute, including Green Solutions and Banking on Forests. Jessica L. Leonard Spatial Analyst PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS Graduate Certificate Geographic Information Systems Portland State University Portland, OR Bachelor of Arts Geography Augustana College Rock Island, IL SKILLS Geographic Information Systems; Cartography and Analysis Using Esri ArcGIS Custom Geoprocessing Scripts Using Python Programming Language ArcHydro Watershed Analysis RELEVANT PROJECTS Climate Informed Conservation Blueprint Greater Puget Sound, Washington Projected Future Climate and Ecological Conditions San Luis Obispo, California Projected Future Conditions and Sector Background Information Deschutes River Basin, Oregon Projected Climate Conditions Missoula County, Montana Testing a Climate Change Adaptation Framework Yale School of Forestry, North America Pacific Coastal Rainforest Roadless Areas and Clean Water Pew Research Center, Statewide Colorado Identifying Potential Terrestrial Climate Change Refugia Greater Grand Canyon/Colorado Plateau Ecoregion CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 22 Brendle Group Judy Dorsey, PE, CEM, LEED-AP Executive Project Manager Becky Fedak, P.E. Project Manager Task 1: Kickoff Becky Fedak, Task Lead Task 2: Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Marni Koopman, Task Lead; Judy Dorsey, Facilitation; Jessica Leonard, Suuport Task 3: Goals and Strategies Becky Fedak, Task Lead; Judy Dorsey, Facilitation; Patrick Flynn & Marni Koopman, Support Task 4: Decision- making Framework Becky Fedak, Task Lead; Patrick Flynn, Support 5. ORGANIZATION CHART AND PROPOSED PROJECT TEAM The following organizational chart shows our proposed team organization and individual task leads. Overall, Brendle Group’s Becky Fedak will serve as Project Manager, with Executive Manager oversight by Judy Dorsey. Task leadership will be delegated to Brendle Group and Geos Institute as shown. CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 23 6. AVAILABILITY AND FLEXIBILITY Our team offers a depth of experience to ensure your plan receives the dedication of time and effort it needs for success. Altogether, our estimated core budget represents 490 hours of work for our team, spread over the course of an approximately 4-month project (assuming a late July start date) – meaning that across the key senior and support staff members below - plus our collective bench of staff level engineers, economists, planners, analysts, and communication specialists - we have ample capacity for the project. 7. ESTIMATED HOURS BY TASK TASK ESTIMATED HOURS Task 1: Project Kickoff 34 Task 2: Risk and Vulnerability Assessment by Department 238 Task 3: Preparedness Goals and Adaptation Solutions 154 Task 5: Framework to Incorporate into Decision Making Processes 64 TOTAL HOURS 490 CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 24 8. SCHEDULE OF RATES AND COST BY TASK The following tables show our proposed costs by task, total project cost, and team 2013 billing rates. We are flexible in our approach to the project and assumptions about staff and consultant roles; we would be happy to discuss how we can best match our scope to your needs and available resources. We also believe our team offers very competitive billing rates, meaning we can provide more value and more hours dedicated to project effort compared to some other firms and teams. TASK COST Task 1. Project Kickoff $3,580 Task 2. Risk and Vulnerability Assessment by Department $17,159 Task 3. Preparedness Goals and Adaptation Solutions $14,895 Task 4. Framework to Incorporate into Decision Making Processes $6,636 TOTAL $42,270 TITLE RATE Principal Engineer, Brendle Group $162 Senior Engineer, Brendle Group $135 Senior Program Manager, Brendle Group $100 Engineer II, Brendle Group $90 Engineer I, Brendle Group $78 Engineer Intern, Brendle Group $50 Technical Editing , Brendle Group $78 Administrative, Brendle Group $50 Climate Change Scientist, Geos Institute $62 Spatial Analyst, Geos Institute $45 CITY OF FORT COLLINS I CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PLANNING FACILITATION I 25 VENDOR STATEMENT I have read and understand the specifications and requirements for this bid and I agree to comply with such specifications and requirements. I further agree that the method of award is acceptable to my company. I also agree to complete PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT with the City of Fort Collins within 30 days of notice of award. If contract is not completed and signed within 30 days, City reserves the right to cancel and award to the next highest rated firm. FIRM NAME: Brendle Group ADDRESS: 212 West Mulberry Street, Fort Collins, CO 80521 EMAIL ADDRESS: jdorsey@BrendleGroup.com PHONE: 970.207.0058 BIDDER’S NAME: Judy Dorsey SIGNATURE: PRIMARY SERVICES ISSUES CONTACT: Dave Wortman TELEPHONE: 970.207.0058 CELL: 970.207.0058 EMAIL: dwortman@BrendleGroup.com Trained and experienced in Vulnerability Assessments for resource managers Workshop facilitation training for conservation professionals Climate science communication for scientists and non-scientists AFFILIATIONS American Society of Adaptation Professionals (ASAP) Triple Bottom Line Analysis AFFILIATIONS Colorado Water Wise ICI Committee Colorado Water Innovation Cluster – Economic Development Committee  Massachusetts Institute of Technology C3E Award for Entrepreneurship & Innovative Business Models  Climate Change Hero at the Aspen Climate Conference  Denver Business Journal Outstanding Women in Business species High based on model projections and current declines Ponderosa potentially less sensitive than lodgepole High because park managers can plant heat tolerant species, increase fire management Task Deliverables:  Facilitated Workshop 1: Powerpoint slide deck, notes, and facilitation materials.  An Excel-based risk and vulnerability assessment summary matrix for each department that participates in the workshop as well as guidelines for how to develop a similar matrix for future identified risks and other City departments City Staff Interaction/Responsibilities: Participate in workshops, City project manager to help arrange meeting locations and facilities and review and approve workshop materials in advance. Task 3: Preparedness Goals and Adaptation Solutions As part of this task our team will - through a facilitated process in a proposed Workshop 2 - establish preparedness goals and screening criteria to help City departments in selection of adaptation strategies and identification of specific strategies for the key vulnerabilities identified as part of Task 2. 2 Resources and populations are hypothetical examples only – workshop participants will fill in the matrix during breakout sessions. Additional information on where/how/when specific local resources are impacted is collected so that targeted adaptation strategies can be developed and mapped, preparing the community for implementation.