Proposers who have questions should send these to challenge@civstart.org at any time until [one (1) week prior] to the due date for proposals. All responses to questions will be posted on the Challenge page on CivStart’s website at: civstart.org/projects.

Responses to Questions

Can you please provide greater clarity regarding the strategic plan the City of Peoria is developing to provide businesses with the tools to locate suitable properties successfully? 

The strategic plan is a citywide priority exercise. Because the launch of the planning process begins in June. However, to the second part of your questions, ED staff is currently exploring better tools to for business to locate properties.

Is the City already working with or planning to retain a traditional strategic planning firm and this Challenge is designed to supplement those efforts, or is this Challenge intended to replace a traditional strategic planning process’ request for qualifications? 

The city hired Berry Dunn to support the strategic planning process. This Challenge will supplement the effort since the strategic plan will address all city operations and priority areas.

Can you please explain the relationship between this Challenge and The Big Table efforts in greater detail?  For example, what next steps identified during The Big Table efforts are currently being acted upon and should be incorporated into a scoping proposal?

Big Table GP is an annual event for the region to come together to discuss the challenges we face from a stakeholders perspective, including grassroots, the hope is that this information and the reports that arise will help us to better shape or CEDS as well as any other actionable opportunities in the focus areas.

Regarding costs, as currently envisioned this project would garner $500,000+ responses from traditional planning firms, such as Sasaki, Mackenzie, and Perkins + Will.  As the request is for a free or low-cost pilot, will there be opportunities, for example, for the startup to generate revenue from the successful execution of a plan it designs, such as through participation in tax-increment financing mechanisms, developer fees, special tax district (also known as “special service areas” in Illinois) assessments, and other success-driven elements it incorporates into the strategy? 

This would require more information, it is not in the city’s practice but would consider it.

Many of the analytics requests made by the Challenge do not require ongoing analysis.  As such, is it acceptable for a respondent to limit the pilot to analyze only certain factors and preserve value for a later awarded contract?  If so, what goals and objectives should be prioritized? 

Yes, I would like for the analysis to look at vacancies, I don't know if this is possible but also look at how buildings in the downtown can be repurposed for a different use.

Upon initial inspection, Peoria’s municipal data seems unavailable for public viewing, save for some geospatial information.  What data will be available to the startup to complete this challenge?  For example, will the startup have API access to regularly updated 311, code violation, building permit, business license, emergency service, housing court, real property assessment, county deed, fine, tax, and other similar datasets?  

Yes and No.  So some data that incorporates County too, can be located at https://gis.peoriacounty.gov/PeoriaCountyGIS/.  Outside that most city data like fines and business permits are in-house.

Many of the goals and objectives are finite projects. Can you please elaborate on your vision for an ongoing relationship between the City and Respondent post-pilot?

We would be open if the relationship makes sense and the data collected aligns with providing the city with some next-step opportunities.

Please elaborate on the planning and development support to be provided by the GPEDC?  Is the intent that they will support the Respondent’s efforts throughout the Challenge?

Yes, GPEDC will continue to support and engage on this work.