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AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT WITH CLARITY PARTNERS, LLC FOR WEBSITE HOSTING, MAINTENANCE, AND SUPPORT
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To the Honorable Board of Commissioners of Chicago Park District:
I. Recommendation
Pursuant to Chapter XI, Section C.3.a. and Chapter XI, Section D.7.a. of the Code of the Chicago Park District (“Code”), the Director of Purchasing and the Director of Information Technology recommend that the Board of Commissioners of the Chicago Park District (the “Board”) authorize the General Superintendent or their designee (collectively, the “General Superintendent”) to amend the contract with Clarity Partners, LLC (the “Current Contract”), which Current Contract provides website hosting, maintenance and support to the Chicago Park District, as follows: (1) to increase the not-to-exceed amount of the Current Contract’s initial term by $700,000; and (2) to increase the not-to-exceed amount for the Current Contract’s two (2) one (1) year extension periods by $65,000 per extension period.
II. Contract Amendment Information
Contractor: Clarity Partners, LLC
20 N. Clark Street, Suite 3600
Chicago IL. 60602
Majority Interests: David Namkung 51%
Rodney Zech 49%
Contract Period: The Current Contract term will end December 19, 2026. There are two (2) one (1) year extension periods available.
Original Authorized Amount: Not-to-exceed $1,247,500 for the Current Contract’s initial term. If extension options are exercised, the annual not-to-exceed amount will be $235,000.
Amended Authorized Amount: Not-to-exceed $1,947,500 ($1,247,500 + $700,000) for the Current Contract’s initial term. With respect to the additional $700,000, $223,331.42 is for services rendered in 2025 and shall be paid for out of 2025 funds. The remainder of the additional $700,000 shall be for services rendered in 2026 and shall be paid for out of 2026 funds. If extension options are exercised, the annual not-to-exceed amount will be $300,000 ($235,000 + $65,000).
Scope of Services: Website hosting, maintenance and support
Compliance Goals: The Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) participation for this contract meets the compliance goals of 25% MBE participation and 5% WBE participation. The proposal for this authorization includes 95% participation with Clarity Partners, LLC as a MBE, self-preforming vendor and 5% WBE participation.
Authorization: Authorize the General Superintendent to amend the Current Contract to increase the Current Contract’s amount as set forth in the Amended Authorized Amount above (the “Amendment”). Authorize the General Counsel to include other relevant terms and conditions in Amendment. Authorize the General Superintendent to execute the Amendment and the Secretary to attest the signing of the Amendment and keep an original copy of the Amendment on file.
III. Budget and Financial Information
Budget Classification: Operating
Fiscal Year: 2025-2026
Source of Funds: 001.8230.8230.623020.00001.01.01.00001
IV. Explanation
Since 2012, Clarity Partners, LLC (“Clarity”), a certified MBE contractor, has provided web hosting, support and maintenance services for the Chicago Park District website (www.chicagoparkdistrict.com). Most recently, Clarity has provided these services pursuant to Board approval on October 12, 2022, whereby the Board authorized that the Chicago Park District (“Park District”) could use cooperative purchasing to join Cook County’s contract with Clarity. Pursuant to this Board approval, the Park District and Clarity entered into the current contract on October 12, 2022.
In the spring of 2024, the Park District and Clarity initiated a website redesign project set to be completed by spring of 2025. The redesign aimed at creating an updated, accessible, user friendly and mobile first website. The redesign also sought to add new features, functionality and design trends that would echo the “Exceptional Experience” and “Parks for All” initiatives highlighted in the Park District’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan. These new features included advanced compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Level 2.1,AA standards, which all public institutions must comply with by April 2026. Since the redesigned website’s launch in May of 2025, the Chicago Park District website has won numerous awards for design and innovation for community and cultural institutions.
While the scope of work for the website redesign is within the scope of services for the current contract, the not-to-exceed amount set forth in the current contract for the initial term does not reflect the increased costs of these major site enhancements and improvements. It also does not reflect increased costs for maintenance and operation of the website or further website-driven initiatives as set forth in the more detailed cost breakdown below.
Cost Breakdown for Recommended Not-to-Exceed Amount Increase to Current Contract’s Initial Term:
• Remainder of 2025 invoices for both website redesign project and website maintenance: $223,331.42
As noted above, the recommended increase to the not-to-exceed amount for the current contract’s initial term reflects the remaining cost of the major site enhancements and improvements related to the website redesign project which was separately scoped in alignment with the current contract.
• 2026 website hosting and operating budget: $398,405.00
The recommended increase to the not-to-exceed amount for the current contract includes the Park District’s 2026 website hosting and operating budget. This amount is included in the 2026 Park District budget approved by the Board on December 12, 2025. However, due to the not-to-exceed amount for the initial term of the current contract, the Department of Information Technology cannot use money without the Board also authorizing the recommended increase to the not-to-exceed amount. The 2026 website hosting and operating budget includes the continuation of the Park District’s commitment to broaden web accessibility and consideration of artificial intelligence advancements. The 2026 website hosting and operating budget also allows for spend on hosting, web maintenance and support for the remainder of the current contract’s initial term.
• PCI Compliance Credit Card Installation Project: $14,763.58
The recommended increase to the not-to-exceed amount for the current contract also includes funds for the Clarity team to continue Park District efforts to replace aging credit card readers at 146 park locations. New card readers will ensure that payments made at Park District parks continue to be PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliant while utilizing new forms of payment including; chip, contactless (tap), and mobile payment (Apple Pay).
• Other Departmental Needs (e.g., Marketing, Finance): $63,500
The recommended increase to the not-to-increase amount for the Current Contract includes funding for web associated development, project management, and design services utilized by other departments. For example, Clarity has created a nightly import of Park District programs and events to the City of Chicago’s data portal. This makes it easy for third party applications (such as My CHI My Future) or websites to pull a feed of Park District programming and events, eliminating the need for Park District staff to prepare excel sheets of static data.
The Park District’s redesign not only increased website hosting and maintenance costs for the current contract’s initial term but also for any extension periods as explained in more detail below.
Cost Breakdown for Recommended Not-to-Exceed Amount Increase to Current Contract’s Extension Periods:
• Website hosting costs are relational to website visits, website features, and data center hosting costs. Over the past year, the Park District’s website traffic has increased exponentially due to the website redesign and Department of Information Technology efforts like added park kiosks and the Parks FREE WiFi project that connects users immediately to the Park District website.
In short, in order to continue to build, innovate, and maintain the Park District’s largest marketing tool and its point-of-sale system, it is in the best interest of the Park District to amend the current contract with Clarity.
V. General Conditions
1. Conflicts: The Amendment shall not be legally binding on the Chicago Park District if entered into in violation of the provisions of 50 ILCS 105, the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act.
2. Ethics: The Current Contract contains a provision requiring Contractor to comply with all laws, included but not limited to the Chicago Park District’s Ethics Code, Chapter III of the Code of the Chicago Park District.
3. Contingent Liability: Any agreement authorized herein that has a term of more than one year shall be executory only for the amounts for which the Park District may become liable in succeeding fiscal years pursuant to Section 17(i) of the Chicago Park District Act, 70 ILCS 1505/0.01 et seq.
4. Economic Disclosure Statement (“EDS”): Contractor has submitted a full and complete EDS prior to submission of this recommendation to the Board.