Parkland Needs Assessment and Sustainable Funding Study

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

PURPOSE

The City of Surrey (the “City”) invites qualified and professional consultant (the “Consultant”) to provide parkland need assessment sustainable funding study (the “Study”) to review and evaluate the City’s current approach to planning for and funding parkland acquisition.

The Study will be conducted as a two-part process:
• Part One - Parkland Needs Assessment, will include a review of the current park classification system and standards for acquisition, how parkland is defined and propose alternative approaches to park planning; and
• Part Two - Sustainable Funding Study, will examine the current financial resources available for the purchase of parkland, explore alternate approaches to the funding of parkland purchases and propose changes to sustainably and acquire parkland over the long term.

The Consultant will provide a technical report in two phases to assess current practices and provide recommendations for sustainable changes for how the City establishes targets for park acquisition and the funding tools required to achieve the acquisitions.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES/DESIRED OUTCOMES

Part One - Parkland Needs Assessment will include an assessment of the current system in use in the City, as well as selected examples from comparable municipalities in Canada. If the study team deems it appropriate and relevant, international examples can be used. The outcome of Part One is a set of recommendations for changes to policy and process for:

(1) defining and classifying parkland types;
(2) alternatives to the current ratio model in determining parkland needs as the community grows and changes over time; and
(3) establishing parkland acquisition priorities.
(b) Part Two - Sustainable Funding Study, will include an assessment of the current funds available for parkland acquisition and the administrative practices currently in place regarding how funding sources are established, modified and managed by the City, within provincial legislative framework. This Sustainable Funding portion of the Study will recognize that parkland acquisitions are just one of several financial challenges in a complex municipal government environment.

The desired outcome of Part Two is a set of recommendations for changes to how parkland acquisitions are funded and how these funds are managed by the City.

ADDENDA

If the City determines that an amendment is required to this RFP, the City Representative will issue a written addendum by posting it on the BC Bid Website at www.bcbid.gov.bc.ca and the City Website at www.surrey.ca (collectively, the “Websites”), and upon posting, any addenda will form part of this RFP. It is the responsibility of Proponents to check the Websites for addenda. The only way this RFP may be added to, or amended in any way, is by a formal written addendum. No other communication, whether written or oral, from any person will affect or modify the terms of this RFP or may be relied upon by any Proponent. By delivery of a Proposal the Proponent is deemed to have received, accepted and understood the entire RFP, including any and all addenda.

All inquiries related to this RFP should be directed in writing to purchasing@surrey.ca