Ballot Measure Polling Consultant Services

Agency:	City of Foster City
State:	California
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	Q - Medical Services
Posted:	Dec 18, 2023
Due:	Jan 2, 2024
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

Date of Issuance: December 18, 2023

Due Date: January 2, 2024*

Ballot Measure Polling Consultant Services

CITY OF FOSTER CITY

A. INTRODUCTION

The City of Foster City (the “City”) is seeking proposals from qualified firms for professional

services to provide polling services pertaining to a potential ballot measure. The City is

seeking to modernize its business license tax structure that is fair and equitable among

businesses based on size and category.

B. FOSTER CITY OVERVIEW

Foster City is located midway between San Francisco and San Jose on the western shoreline

of the San Francisco Bay, east of U.S. 101, which provides convenient access to the San

Francisco Airport and San Francisco to the north and Santa Clara County to the south. The

City is bisected by State Route 92 (the J. Arthur Younger Freeway), which runs between Half

Moon Bay to the west and Highway 880 to the east via the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge. The

City encompasses 12,345 acres, of which 9,726 acres are part of San Francisco Bay and

Belmont Slough, and 2,619 acres are land area

South San

Francisco

San Francisco

International

Airport

San Mateo

Foster City

Location map; Source: Google Maps

The City of Foster City is a full-service, General Law City with a Council-Manager form of

government. The City Council also serves as the Board of Directors for the Estero Municipal

Improvement District (“District”). The District, although a separate legal entity, encompasses

the same geographical area, is inhabited by the same citizens and governed by the same

bodies and procedures as the City. The City/District collectively call (‘City”) has approximately

177 employees who deliver high quality municipal services to its 33,056 residents. The City’s

fiscal year 2023-24 appropriations for its General Fund is approximately $58.26 million.

Foster City Municipal Code requires that any person who engages in a business in the City

must obtain and maintain a valid business license (link).

C. BUSINESS LICENSE TAX OVERVIEW

The City of Foster City's Business License Tax (BLT) Ordinance was enacted in 1972, shortly

after the City's incorporation. Since that time, the BLT Ordinance has only been updated once

in 2013 (Attachment 1). Foster City Municipal Code Title 5 “Business Licenses and

RFP FOR POLLING CONSULTING SERVICES

Regulation” Chapters 5.04 to 5.40 outlines the provisions of the City's BLT. The model is

based on the gross receipts model with a single tax rate. The last update in November 2013

increased minimum tax and maximum revenue caps upon which the tax is calculated and was

phased in over a 3-year period from calendar year 2014 to 2016.

The City has approximately 1,700 Business License Tax licensees. Per its adopted 2023-24

Budget (link), the current tax rate is 0.075% with a gross receipts cap of $38,129,333 for a

maximum tax of $28,597 for the calendar year 2023. There are approximately 24 businesses

with gross receipts that exceed the cap. The gross receipts cap is adjusted annually based

on inflation. FY 2022-23 revenues were estimated at $1.58 million and projected to reach

$1.62 million in FY 2023-24, but still below the FY 2018-19 level of $1.76 million.

Earlier this year, City Council adopted its key priorities and initiatives for the calendar year

2023 (link).

The Goal 3.1, reads:

“Identify new revenue sources and strengthen existing resources to ensure Foster City

finances are more resilient to economic fluctuations and support city services.”

Under this goal, one of the metrics for the success is as follows:

Consideration of a 2024 ballot measure on Business License Tax (BLT)

Metrics/Outcome/Deliverables:

• Initiate and engage in ongoing dialogue with City businesses to build strong

relationships and assess their needs and understand their perspectives on a

BLT ballot measure.

• Research BLT methodologies and consider feasibility of various methodologies

(e.g., gross receipts, square footage, employee count) with presentation to

Council in January 2024.

To protect Foster City’s fiscal stability and maintain essential services, the City is looking to

explore possibility of increasing the gross receipts cap. BLT is considered a general tax that

would require a 2/3rd majority vote of the City Council (4 out of 5 Councilmembers) to be

placed on the ballot and a simple majority vote (50% + 1) of the voters to pass. Based on City

Council direction and following stakeholder engagement, the proposed BLT ballot measure

will be placed in the November 2024 General Election.

In order to adequately inform the City Council and the business community, City is

looking at polling amongst its residents and business community.

D. SCOPE OF SERVICES

The City seeks proposals for polling consultant services pertaining to Business License Tax

measure. The City desires to better understand residents and business community’s opinion,

ensure voters are accurately informed and understand the outcome of their vote(s) associated

with the ballot measures.

RFP FOR POLLING CONSULTING SERVICES

1. Develop/create a survey instrument and undertake a statistically valid online survey

and/or telephone poll related to the BLT measure. Provide statistical data from which

conclusions can be drawn and recommendations made relative to the number of

respondents and the effect on the margin of error. The sample size should yield a 90%

confidence level and a +/-5% accuracy level.

2. Coordinate with City staff to assess the results of the public opinion poll, discuss

implications, related issues and alternatives.

3. Prepare a draft and final written report and presentation of results outlining at a

minimum the framework and methodology used; the tabulation of all calls and/or

contracts made as part of the survey; the tabulation of survey results, key findings, and

detailed findings (i.e., top-lines, and cross tabs); and conclusions and

recommendations.

4. Present to the City Council the results of the findings.

The City seeks to complete the polling and a portion of the associated public outreach by June

2024 to provide ample time to share the results of the survey and outreach efforts with the

Council. Upon further direction from the Council, public education and outreach would

continue until approximately one month before the election.

E. PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE FOR RFP

The following is a preliminary schedule for the award of the contract.

Distribution of RFP

Deadline to Respond

December 18, 2023

5:00 pm January 2, 2024

Note that this schedule is preliminary. The schedule may be adjusted, as needed, by the City.

The deadline for submitting proposals may be extended if the City does not receive adequate

responses from qualified firms. Accordingly, the date for awarding the contract will change.

*Depending upon the proposal amount (if over $50k), the award of the contract will need to

go to the City Council for approval.

F. PROJECT BUDGET

All tasks within the enclosed Scope of Services shall be included within the proposal’s fee

schedule and itemized according to required and optional tasks.

G. PROPOSAL CONTENT

Consultant proposal must include the following and follow directions outlined in each section

below:

1. A cover letter with contact information

• A description and statement of the firm’s qualifications for this project, as well

as those of any subconsultants.

RFP FOR POLLING CONSULTING SERVICES

2. Project team

• Organizational chart of the project team.

• Names, qualifications and resumes of all project team members who will directly

participate in the project.

• Sub consultants. Identify any sub consultants that would be used and their

specific role. (All sub consultant costs, including any markup, must be included

in consultant’s cost proposals.)

3. Table of Contents. Each proposal shall include an index to the major topics contained

in the proposal and all pages shall be numbered.

4. Approach to Scope of Services.

a. Work Plan and Approach.

i. Discuss your firm’s understanding of the Scope of Services to be

performed.

ii. Describe the method for management of overall project costs, schedule,

quality assurance/quality control, responsiveness to City requests and

inquiries, and other issues critical to this project. Specifically address your

firm’s approach to resolving unanticipated issues efficiently and

effectively while maintaining project budget and schedule. In addition,

explain your team’s ability to adapt to changes in environment and/or

existing conditions throughout the process that may affect the program

outcome and schedule.

iii. Describe the needs from City staff. For example, what City staff expertise

is needed and how much time do you anticipate.

iv. Identify any “value-added” services that your firm may provide.

b. Schedule: Outline a proposed project schedule starting from a kickoff meeting

to development of draft documents and final report. Include any significant

milestone and resource needs such as staff, meeting space, reports, etc. from

the City.

5. Timeline. Provide a detailed timeline associated with each task listed “Scope of

Services,” specifically keeping in mind the date of election for ballot measure.

6. Qualifications Details

a. Provide experience/expertise of your firm in evaluating business license tax

ordinances and making recommendations on alternative business license tax

structures and proposing such recommendations to other similar governmental

agencies.

b. Provide details of your firm’s ability to meet the Scope of Services outlined.

7. References. Provide at least two (2) references for California agencies. The references

must have worked with the proposed project manager and other key staff proposed to

be assigned to the City’s project. References should include the following:

a. Name, address, and telephone number of the agency

b. Time period for the project

c. Brief description of the scope of the review

RFP FOR POLLING CONSULTING SERVICES

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Ballot Measure Polling Consultant Services

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