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This is a chronological summary of the types of municipal projects CH2M HILL OMI has been delivering since the company’s landmark partnership with Sandy Springs, Ga. – the broadest application of a public-private partnership for municipal management in the U.S. – in 2005.
- Sandy Springs, Ga. – A few short months before Sandy Springs opened its doors Dec. 1, 2005, city founders determined that the best way to manage the business of the city was to hire a business to help manage the city. Following a competitive process, CH2M HILL OMI was tasked with starting up the new city in less than 90 days, investing its own resources to put in place all of the systems, processes and tools necessary to run a complete city – initially without a formal contract. The company provides all major municipal services, except public safety. Georgia’s first new city in 50 years, Sandy Springs is the state’s sixth largest and is located just north of Atlanta. The city is home to almost 98,000 residents from around the world.
- Johns Creek, Ga., and Milton, Ga. – Following in the footsteps of the neighboring city of Sandy Springs citizens in unincorporated Milton and Johns Creek pushed for cityhood as a means of improving the level of service to citizens – and independently selected CH2M HILL OMI over the competition. Voters overwhelmingly approved ballot referendums in July 2006 that turned both communities into cities Dec. 1, 2006. The Governor’s Commission for the City of Johns Creek voted unanimously to enter into negotiations with CH2M HILL OMI for city operations services – one week after the Governor’s Commission for the City of Milton reached its own unanimous decision in favor of the firm. With scopes of work that include administration, public works and community development, both cities closely follow the model established in Sandy Springs, customized to meet their own unique community needs. In one year, the CH2M HILL OMI-Johns Creek partnership has yielded improved citizen responsiveness, increased revenue and a “green” city hall for this city of 70,000. The rural community of Milton has a population of approximately 20,000 and covers 23,000 acres.
- Castle Pines North, Colo. – The Citizens for the Preservation of Castle Pines North retained CH2M HILL OMI in 2007 to assess the financial viability of the proposed incorporation of Castle Pines North, a community just south of the company’s corporate headquarters. The group filed a petition in December 2006 to incorporate as the City of Castle Pines North in 2007, envisioning serving its citizens through a mix of city-offered services and services outsourced to other agencies and the private sector. Under the consulting agreement, CH2M HILL OMI developed a financial model and budget for the prospective city, including identifying potential revenue streams and forecasting expenses for services based on the combination of in-house and outsourced services. The new city held elected its first city council Feb. 12, 2008. The City of Castle Pines North issued a request for proposals for the management of all major city functions. On May 21, 2008, CH2M HILL OMI began providing interim community development services such as building permit and inspection. And on Aug. 15, 2008, CH2M HILL OMI began providing a full range of municipal services to citizens.
- Chattahoochee Hills, Ga. – Organizers of the new city selected CH2M HILL OMI to design, implement and operate all of the municipal processes and services that citizens would receive when the city of 2,500 formally opened Dec. 1, 2007. Voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum in June to create the new city as a means of improving levels of service to citizens, strengthening local control and preserving the 50-square-mile community’s rural character. Featuring rolling hills, tree-lined roadways and abundant recreation opportunities, Chattahoochee Hills includes about 33,000 acres in south Fulton County, between the Chattahoochee River and the city of Palmetto.
- Central, La. – The city unanimously selected CH2M HILL OMI Jan. 17, 2008, to deliver a full range of municipal services, following a competitive process. CH2M HILL OMI is responsible for operating nearly all city services for Central, including public works, planning and zoning, code enforcement and general administrative functions. A three-year contract, worth about $3.5 million per year, was signed, and work began March 1. Central is one of Louisiana’s newest cities, incorporated in April 2005. Covering roughly 66 square miles, Central is home to about 27,000 people.
- Centennial, Colo. – Striving to enhance the level of service it delivers to its citizens, City of Centennial leaders decided to let the private sector compete for services currently provided by Arapahoe County. Following a process that included proposals and interviews, the city unanimously selected CH2M HILL OMI April 14, 2008, as its partner for public works services. Since July 1, the company has managed all public works functions for the city – traffic engineering and operations, permit processing, inspections, administrative services, and street and roadside maintenance, including snow removal.
- Bonita Springs, Fla. – CH2M HILL OMI was selected Dec. 5, 2007, to become the city's partner for delivering community development services. The five-year contract – unanimously approved May 21, 2008 – covers a range of community development responsibilities, including planning, zoning, building permits, inspection services and related code enforcement. CH2M HILL OMI was selected over the competition due in part to the company’s broad community development capabilities. Bonita Springs is a city of about 40,000 people in southwest Florida, near Fort Myers.
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