TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Beth Beatty, City Manager
SUBJECT:
title
Award of Professional Services Agreement for the Joliet Area African American Historic Context Study to Preservation Futures in an Amount not to Exceed $135,000.00
end
BACKGROUND:
At its February 20, 2024 the City Council approved several intergovernmental agreements that outlined funding commitments, roles and responsibilities to prepare a Joliet Area African American Historic Context Study that documents the history and culture of the Joliet area Black community.
The purpose of this project is to:
? document Joliet area Black history in an accurate narrative,
? acknowledge racial injustice using history,
? recognize historic properties important to the Black community,
? challenge misinformation about the Black experience
? record Black voices for future generations, and
? place Route 66 history in context with the history of the south side and black residents.
Through these agreements, the City and its partners including Joliet Township, Will County Historic Preservation Commission, Lockport Township and the State of Illinois committed $76,000 for this project. The City's commitment is $20,000 and will be paid from the Planning Division's and City Manager's 2024 budget.
DISCUSSION:
The City issued a Request for Qualifications on April 4, 2024 for professional services to prepare the context study. The Request for Qualifications is attached. Five qualifications were returned to the City by the May 17, 2024 deadline. These firms were:
? Altus Works
? Owen & Eastlake
? Post Oak Preservation
? AECOM
? Preservation Futures
A steering committee comprised of staff, Historic Preservation Commission members, and community members evaluated the submittals. This analysis included a detailed review of qualifications, experience, and proposed plan. The steering committee interviewed Owen & Eastlake, AECOM, and Preservation Futures for this contract. After conducting the interviews,...
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