Civil Municipal Magazine - Nov 2023

14 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 11 a modest pace during 2017 for the seventh consecutive year based on states’ budgets. Despite these improvements, 32 states spent less in FY2016 than the pre-recession peak in 2008. At the same time, local governments are demonstrating leadership to increase infrastructure investments. Professionally- managed U.S. local governments of all sizes are particularly well-equipped to assess their deficiencies and then put into place and maintain the kind of P3s that can address those challenges. In light of their track record of efficient, cost- effective operations, professionally-managed communities are more likely to succeed in developing and implementing P3 projects. The IBM Global Business Services report, “Smarter, Faster, Cheaper” found that cities that operate under the council-manager form with a professional manager are nearly 10 percent more efficient than those that operate under the mayor- council form. The Equipt to Innovate initiative created by Governing magazine and Living Cities found that top-performing cities in all but one of seven key elements employ a professional manager and operate under council-manager government. Likewise, two-thirds of Moody’s Aaa- bond-rated cities benefit from having professional local government managers at the helm. Examples of successful P3 projects taking place among professionally managed communities abound. Following are two case studies from the compilation of success stories posted on ICMA’s Life Well Run website and another focused on the recipients of one of ICMA’s 2016 Community Partnership Excellence Award. Casa Grande, Arizona The Casa Grande Performance Institute, a public- private partnership between the city of Casa Grande, Arizona (pop. 51,478), and the Francisco Grande Resort & Hotel, was completed in just 119 days. The accelerated schedule was required to complete the project in time for the start of the inaugural season of the United Football League (UFL), when two of the UFL teams used the facility as their training and practice home. Four Major League Soccer teams have also trained at the CGPI, with more teams expected. The state-of-the-art, 59,000 square-foot sports complex—which includes six football and soccer fields—houses an 11,200-square- foot weight-training exercise area, eight semi-private therapy centers, and enough classrooms, locker rooms, meeting rooms, and laundry facilities for four teams. Siemens estimated that the solar array system helped save Merced County approximately $312,000 in energy expenses in the first year, with total estimated savings of $14 million over the next 25 years.