Title
Resolution to Approve a Professional Services Agreement with G.O. Williams & Associates, L.L.C. for Circular Economy Planning and Stakeholder Engagement ($80,000.00)
Memorandum
One of the six core strategies in the A2ZERO Plan focuses on advancing a circular economy. Over the last year, staff in the Office of Sustainability and Innovations and Public Works have been working, via a grant, with G.O. Williams & Associates, L.L.C. to design an equitable public engagement process that could be implemented to help create a living circular economy strategy for the City. This work culminated in a report, informed by nearly a dozen local stakeholders, outlining authentic and strategic approaches to more equitably engage community members in shaping what a circular economy in Ann Arbor could look like and what it could include.
In the fall of 2023, G.O. Williams & Associates, L.L.C. generated a short report summarizing the findings of this multi-month engagement process, which included a series of recommendations on next steps. Staff reviewed these recommendations and used them to inform a scope of work to advance circular economy planning and stakeholder engagement.
Due to previous work in this space plus the relational work that was developed through the equitable engagement process, staff identified G.O. Williams & Associates, L.L.C. as the preferred vendor to execute this updated scope of work. G.O. Williams & Associates, L.L.C. was approached about continuing these efforts, expressed an interest, and submitted a proposal to continue this work.
Staff reviewed the proposal, made slight modifications in tandem with G.O. Williams & Associates and landed on the final scope of services which is included in the Council packet. This scope of services includes five main tasks:
1. Establish and Organize the City's Internal Planning Team
2. Resident Advisory Committee Formation and Meetings
3. Support Grant Fundraising Around the Circular Economy
4. Community Enga...
Click here for full text