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Last Waav StudiosAPRIL 2025 CITY OF LA QUINTA PAAV S I U D I City of La Quinta ATTN: Marcie Graham, Marketing Manager 78495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, California 92253 DEAR MARCIE, Thank you for the opportunity to submit a proposal for the City of La Quinta's Website Design and Maintenance Services. On behalf of Last Waav Studios, I want to express how excited we are at the prospect of partnering with your team. As a California -based studio with decades of experience in the civic space, we understand the unique challenge cities face: building digital tools that not only serve residents, but also support businesses, inspire visitors, and meet a growing list of legal and technical requirements. We've been in the trenches, collaborating with City staff, balancing diverse priorities, and ensuring compliance with WCAG, ADA, and evolving state regulations, without losing sight of beauty and ease -of -use. We approach our work with a deep respect for partnership. We know that amicable, responsive relationships between internal teams and external partners are key to a successful project. Our goal is to make the process feel smooth, collaborative, and enjoyable, from kickoff through launch and long after. All information and pricing included in this proposal is valid for a minimum of ninety (90) days. We also affirm that every individual who would perform work on behalf of the City is free of any actual or perceived conflict of interest. We look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with the City of La Quinta and to bring your next website to life in a way that reflects your unique spirit and serves your community well. Amanda Molinaro, Co -Founder & Head of Brand M THE DIFFERENCE: It's not about flash. It's about focus. COMPANY OVERVIEW OCalifornia n Certified Small Business; Women -Owned (EIN: 33-2401763) We started Last Waav Studios because we wanted to work differently, and better. After decades inside top agencies, we knew the rhythm: the polish, the process, the need for seamless delivery. But we also saw the pitfalls: too many layers, too much red tape, and too often, too little connection between the people doing the work and the people it's for. At Last Waav, we've stripped all that back. We're a senior -led collective, tight -knit by design. You'll never wonder who's working on your project, we're right there, rolling up our sleeves, solving problems in real-time. We bring deep experience in public sector work, destination marketing, and digital platforms for high -stakes audiences. We know how to move smart, stay flexible, and never lose sight of the goal. ......................... BUILT ON EXPERIENCE We established Last Waav Studios in January 2025, but bring 30+ years of combined experience shaping strategy and creative for brands that serve the public, all while staying embedded in California's creative, travel, and hospitality landscape. .......................................... DRIVEN BY CURIOSITY We're a senior -level collective with no full-time employees and no rigid org chart, on purpose. Every team is custom-built to fit the project. This keeps us lean, adaptable, and collaborative by default. .................................................. DESIGNED FOR ACTION We're 100% remote with roots all over California and partnerships across the globe. Our model has no geographic limits, we bring in the right talent, wherever they are. What matters most is speed and follow-through. 3 UNDERSTANDING THE PROJECT SIMPLIFY THE PROCESS The City of La Quinta is ready to reimagine its website to make it easier for people to find what they need, when they need it. The current site is limited by a proprietary platform that's difficult to update and navigate. Our goal is to simplify everything from how users interact with the site to how staff manage content behind the scenes. That means designing a site that's intuitive, well -organized, and built with both residents and City staff in mind. MODERNIZE THE PLATFORM This project is about more than a visual refresh, it's about building a flexible, scalable website on a modern CMS that meets today's accessibility and security standards. The new site will be mobile -first, ADA-compliant, and fully integrated with tools like Laserfiche. We'll bring in current best practices around user experience, SEO, and data privacy to ensure the City's digital presence reflects its forward -thinking approach. PLAN FOR WHAT'S NEXT La Quinta's new website won't just solve today's problems, it will be ready for tomorrow's needs. From built-in flexibility for new features to staff training and long-term maintenance, our approach is built around sustainability. We'll empower City teams to manage the site confidently and provide continued support to help the platform evolve as technology and community expectations change. 0 DISCOVERY In Weeks 1-2, we gather insights from key stakeholders and analyze the site's structure, content, and performance. This phase includes, user journey mapping, and a content audit to ensure we fully understand the City's goals and user needs. The outcome is a strategic plan that outlines the site's architecture, functionality, and success metrics. 02 \11_� DESIGN In Weeks 3-5, using insights from Discovery, we create wireframes and high-fidelity mockups for key pages, focusing on usability, accessibility, and alignment with La Quinta's brand. We collaborate closely with the City for feedback and approvals to ensure the design direction reflects both internal vision and community expectations. 03 � 04 � 05 DEVELOPMENT DEPLOYMENT SUPPORT In Weeks 6-10, once the design is approved, we build the site on a modern, ADA-compliant CMS. This includes setting up page templates, migrating content, integrating with tools like Laserfiche, and implementing SEO and security best practices. The site is tested across devices and browsers to ensure consistent performance. In Weeks 11-12, after thorough quality assurance and final reviews, we launch the new site. This includes staff training on how to use the CMS, setting up analytics, and running final performance checks. We handle DNS updates and ensure a smooth transition from the old site to the new one, with minimal downtime. Post -launch, we provide continuous support for hosting, maintenance, content updates, and platform updates. We offer a flexible maintenance plan tailored to the City's needs and are available for enhancements or troubleshooting as the site evolves. DISCOVERY PHASE The Discovery phase is all about listening, learning, and laying the foundation. We'll meet with City stakeholders, assess the current website, and dive into user behavior, analytics, and pain points. This ensures our strategy is aligned with both organizational goals and the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors. Key Objectives: • Conduct stakeholder interviews and/or workshops. • Audit current site structure, content, and analytics. • Identify user personas and key user journeys. • Define technical requirements and platform constraints. Deliverable: Discovery Brief outlining goals, audience insights, technical scope, and strategic recommendations. DESIGN We translate Discovery insights into a thoughtful visual and UX direction. Wireframes come first to establish layout and functionality, followed by fully designed mockups that bring La Quinta's identity to life online. Accessibility, mobile responsiveness, and usability guide every creative decision. Key Objectives: • Develop UX wireframes for primary page templates. • Create high-fidelity visual mockups reflecting the City's brand. • Plan responsive layouts for mobile, tablet, and desktop. • Present and refine based on City feedback. Deliverable: Approved design system and mockups for key page templates. DEVELOPMENT With designs approved, we build the site on a secure, ADA-compliant, and easy -to -manage CMS. templates, integrates third -party tools like Laserfiche, and ensures all content is migrated cleanly accessibility are built in from day one. Key Objectives: • Develop custom, accessible page templates on selected CMS. • Migrate and format all existing content. • Integrate with Laserfiche and other City systems. • Implement on -page SEO and technical best practices. Deliverable: Fully developed staging site ready for internal review and testing. Our team develops custom . SEO, performance, and DEPLOYMENT This phase is focused on go -live readiness. We conduct quality assurance, gather final approvals, and train City staff on using the CMS. After final polishing, we'll launch the new website, seamlessly transitioning from the current platform to the new digital experience. Key Objectives: • Conduct QA testing across devices, browsers, and screen readers. • Provide CMS training sessions and documentation. • Finalize site configuration and set-up analytics. • Launch the new site with minimal downtime. Deliverable: Live public website + CMS documentation and training materials. SUPPORT After launch, we continue to support the City through regular maintenance, hosting, and technical updates. We're also available for future enhancements and help with content, analytics, and user feedback as the platform evolves. Key Objectives: • Ensure hosting, uptime, and backups are reliable. • Monitor performance, accessibility, and security. • Offer flexible support for content updates or new features. • Provide ongoing analytics and optimization support. BUDGET BREAKDOWN Design +Development TOTAL $759250 14 Weeks PHASE DURATION COST Discovery Planning 2 Weeks $12,000 UX & UI Design 2 Weeks $12,000 Development 4 Weeks $20,000 Automation + QA 2 Weeks $10,000 Deployment + Acceptance Testing 2 Weeks $2,500 Staff Training + Documentation 2 Weeks $5,000 Hosting/Server (Annual) N/A $1,500 Agency Fee N/A $12,250 11 OUR APPROACH Ongoing Workflow� -44. To ensure the continued performance and reliability of the platform, and knowing the engagement is expected to be a multi -year plan, we offer three tiered packages for ongoing support designed to meet a range of needs and budgets. Through our Monthly Maintenance & SEO packages, we provide tailored solutions that scale with your system and business. Each package option includes defined scope of services with the flexibility to adapt as priorities and requirements evolve. Monthly Maintenance Packages 01 02 03 Essential Maintenance: $2,000/Month Fundamental support to keep the website secure, optimized, and running smoothly. • 8 Hours/Month • General site optimization • Website security monitoring & updates • Bug fixes & troubleshooting • Plugin, CMS updates • Basic on -page SEO adjustments (meta tags, image alt text, etc.) • Manage Calendar or Content Hub updates • Email -based support with 2-business day response time Growth Maintenance: $4,000/Month Enhance website performance with ongoing content optimizations. Includes everything in Essential, plus • 16 Hours/Month Total • Content Audit (Quarterly) • Monthly content optimizations (keyword updates, metadata improvements, linking) • Conversion rate optimization (CRO) recommendations (Forms) • Advanced performance improvements (lazy loading, caching strategies, etc.) • Performance monitoring & optimization (speed, uptime, etc.) • Monthly Analytics Snapshot • Add 5 templated Landing/Secondary Pages • Priority Response Time (I -Business Day) Full -Service Optimization: $6,000/Month Comprehensive website support and ongoing content strategy. Includes everything in Growth plus: • 24 Hours/Month Total • Content SEO Audit (Bi-Monthly, up to 6 Annual) • Up to 5 unique Landing Pages • A/B testing for key pages to improve conversions • Real -Time Threat Monitoring & Intrusion Prevention: Web Application Firewalls (WAF) • Automatic Backups & Disaster Recovery Plans • CMS Retraining for Staff • Compliancy Checks: Ensures data privacy regulations are met • Acknowledgement of requests within 1-Hour of receipt and immediately log the issue into our development queue for triage and prioritization 13 � Monthly SEO Packages 01 02 03 Basic SEO Support: $1,500/Month Maintains your search visibility in an ever -changing algorithm landscape, protecting against unexpected ranking drops while steadily improving positions for key terms. This ongoing monitoring catches problems before they impact your revenue and keeps your site competitive against industry rivals. • Monthly technical audits • Quarterly optimization recommendations • Search performance monitoring • Standard monthly SEO Performance reports Standard SEO Program: $2,500/Month Unlocks the untapped potential of your existing digital assets through strategic optimization of your current content and technical structure. This methodical approach transforms underperforming pages into valuable conversion tools while maintaining your site's technical health. • Everything in Basic • Ongoing content optimization (5 pages) • Technical SEO maintenance • Quarterly SEO strategy • Monthly client -facing presentations Comprehensive SEO: $4,500/Month Elevates your online presence from competitive to dominant through strategic content planning and full -service implementation. With quarterly content roadmaps and professional briefs, your team creates content that both ranks and converts, while competitive monitoring reveals opportunities your rivals miss. • Everything in Standard • Quarterly Content Roadmap • 2 SEO content briefs • Competitive monitoring • Full -service implementation 14 Here when you need us. We know that a launch isn't the finish line. We're built to stick around, ready to support the City of La Quinta. Think of us as your on -call creative and digital task force: we can drop in to solve a specific challenge, then scale up or down as your needs evolve. We've included costs for post -launch maintenance and support, so there's no mystery in the budget. Whether it's a quick fix or a new feature, we're here to keep your team feeling confident and covered. Future projects or new creative initiatives deserve their own thoughtful scope and conversation, and we're happy to explore what's next whenever you are. No autopilot or radio silence, Last Waav is a response partner you can count on. Complementary Services Scalable By Design If additional expertise is required, we can quickly source and integrate the right talent. DISCIPLINE COST Copywriting $150/Hour Art Direction $175/Hour Animation $200/Hour Graphic Design $200/Hour Content Mapping $225/Hour Brand Strategy $250/Hour Media Buying % Based On Buy Research + Insights $250/Hour 16 PROPOSED PROGRAM OF WORK r a T DISCOVERY RWDESIGN DEVELOPMENT DEPLOYMENT SUPPORT t • M i MONTH 1 MONTH 2 MONTH 3 MONTH 4 WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK 1 2 3 4 6 6 7 8 9 1 10 11 12 13 14 *, -o. Aa . 4 - How We Work Together Our process is built on partnership. We're hereto help you make the right decisions. We bring structure, creativity, and care to every stage of a project, balancing big -picture thinking with practical day-to-day momentum. Here's how that looks in action. All In & All Aligned Milestones & Workflows We Don't Ghost You'll have a senior -level team tailored specifically to La Quinta, the same people who pitch are the ones who bring it to life. We embed ourselves in your vision and align on the why behind the work to stay invested, informed, and fully collaborative. We map out key milestones from kickoff to delivery with purpose. Each phase is deadline -driven with defined roles, clear goals, and flexible check -ins that keep things moving. Our process is transparent, intentional, and built to keep momentum high. We favor clarity and responsiveness. You'll know who to contact, what's happening next, and where we are in the process. We use shared project dashboards and weekly (or as -needed) status to keep everything moving. Notes In & Next Steps Out We invite input early and often, with room to iterate and refine. We'll outline where your feedback is most critical and ensure there's a structured path from concept to sign -off. Your priorities guide our pace. PRIMARY PERSONNEL Amanda Molinaro Co -Founder & Client Lead Amanda grew up in Newport Beach, steeped in the rhythm of Southern California's culture and tourism landscape, a connection that continues to inform her approach. She began her career on the client side, leading relationships with empathy and clarity before expanding into technical production and program management. This evolution gave her a rare ability to navigate both the creative and operational sides of a project, translating vision into actionable strategy. As a dedicated client steward and natural connector, Amanda builds lasting partnerships, keeps teams aligned, and ensures every brand feels truly seen and supported. Notable Clients: Visit California, Visit SLO CAL, San Diego Tourism Authority, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, LEGOLAND California, Walt Disney World, Mammoth Lakes Tourism, Visit Napa Valley, Alila Napa Valley, Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach, Hotel del Coronado, JSX, Tahiti Tourisme Kyle Vicioso Co -Founder & Head of Production Driven Producer, with a passion for motorcycle adventures and a knack for solving complex challenges with creative, results -driven solutions. With deep expertise in production management and client -facing services, Kyle excels at building and leading cross -functional teams to deliver innovative, high -impact projects. His technical proficiency spans website development, security management, and UX design, with a strong focus on crafting immersive digital experiences using AR/VR, VFX/CGI, and AI -driven generative technologies. Notable Clients: Visit California, California Grown, Visit SLO CAL, San Diego Tourism Authority, Department of Water Resources (Save Our Water), San Diego Gas & Electric, Mammoth Lakes Tourism, Visit Napa Valley, Yountville, Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach, JSX, Tahiti Tourisme Anton Morrison UX Strategy & Digital Innovation Anton has worked for 25 years in digital and over 10 in the travel and tourism industry. Bridging the gap between technology and UX design, he has worked with some of the biggest brands in the world including Pfizer, Google, and Disney in addition to some of the biggest names in the travel industry such as Visit California, British Airways, NYC & Company, and Air Canada. Anton is passionate about working with and mentoring teams to create the best possible outcome. Notable Clients: Visit California, British Airways, NYC & Company, Air Canada, Net -Zero Advisory Board, European Union Peers 19 THE PROOF: WHAT SETS US APART SEASONED CREATIVE MEETS MORE YOU'RE A DEEP PRODUCERS TECHNICAL, IMPACT, PRIORITY, CALIFORNIA AT THE HELM ALL IN ONE PLACE LESS NOT A LINE ITEM ROOTS WASTE With decades of production experience across digital and live content, we know how to move fast, stay flexible, and still deliver with polish. We solve problems before they reach your inbox. Bigger agencies often outsource key pieces, leading to misalignment. We keep all specialties in-house, ensuring consistency, speed, and real-time collaboration. We don't have excess markup. Every dollar goes exactly where it should —into the work. We convert spend into real impact and deliver more without costing more, especially when it comes to ongoing maintenance and support. At a larger agency, you'd be one of many. Here, your work will get our full attention, and you won't get lost in the mix. We've lived, worked, and built brands across the state. We don't just market California, we've been part of its visitor profiles, shaped its customer journeys, and understand what makes travelers choose one destination over another. LAST WAAV i T7HAN kSERENCES: 1 Greg Carson Liz Ross President & COO, 62ABOVE VP Production, The Shipyard phone (916) 477-0258 phone (916) 549-6130 0 w_ email gregc@62above.com email boss@theshipyard.com FA N he[[o@[astwaaystudios.com (619) 405-6641 International Brand Strategj* phone 0049-15756669640 email jenny.barthe@gmail.com WN kk . 23, ,APPENDIX ADDITIONAL BIOS, RELEVANT WORK, & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS `� 22 SECONDARY PERSONNEL Myles O'Leary Lead UX & Ul Designer Myles has been a designer on the West Coast for over a decade and operating with the motto: always be curious. Whether tinkering with a UX concept, making some graphic art, or writing a song, there is joy in the process. He went from doing logos for local pizza places to designing full UX experiences for large organizations like TCL, Visit California, General Dynamics, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Notable Clients: TCL, Visit California, General Dynamics, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Net -Zero Advisory Board, European Union Peers Alex Hernandez Lead Developer Alex is a veteran -led digital strategist with over 20 years of experience spanning full -stack web development, cybersecurity, sales, and marketing. Known for bridging technical depth with business insight, he leads Agile teams in building secure, high -performing digital products that scale. His expertise in scalable architecture, user experience, and growth -focused solutions helps brands not only show up but stand out. From initial strategy to final deployment, Alex delivers results -driven digital ecosystems built for impact. Notable Clients: United States Air Force, State of California, Visit California, Department of Water Resources (Save Our Water), Crystal Geyser Water Company Krystal Profitt SEO Specialist Krystal brings deep cross -industry experience from education and eCommerce to entertainment, automotive, and healthcare. A true digital Swiss Army knife, her expertise spans web development, media planning, mobile, social, email, and event marketing. Whether she's driving big -picture strategy or dialing in the backend for peak search performance, Krystal brings a sharp SEO lens and a solutions -first mindset, always with zero ego. No problem is too complex or too small to tackle head-on. Notable Clients: Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Honda, Harrah's, Aveda, Rubio's, Chiquita, Old Dominion University 23 Building a Digital Sales Platform To Keep Your Yard Free of Unwanted Critters WEB DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT Thermacell Thermacell made the strategic decision to utilize its online retail partners for commerce and rethink its customer experience. We were engaged to help envision and define the directions for customer retention and site learning experiences across multiple digital channels and brand touchpoints. See More Here 7HERMIRACM 1R i \ E55 RECHARGEABLE MOSQUITO DEDELLER - •1 MAI THERMRCELL L---4 ,HEErob,,. s R )m AL _ THERMRCELL s 0 w TMElYAC�LL � Unmosquito your fife with the technology that's right for you. d r � S J 1_ r 100 t II A- ,� for Transforming Energy With Science at Scale WEB DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT Sila Nano 111111111110h.- Sila's nano -composite silicon anode is market -tested, delivering enhanced performance that unlocks product innovation for their customers. We have been working with Sila to build a website that responds and elevates a brand with a focus on showcasing high-performance battery material and of a quality big enough to impact both. See More Here 26 Flavor Fully Realized BRAND & WEB DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT Vermicular We were engaged by Vermicular's global leadership and brand team to envision and design the future of Vermicular's customer and cooking experience across categories, brands, and markets. We collaborated closely with Vermicular to design and develop a number of chef -generated solutions that drive significant growth for Vermicular's global business and product awareness. See More Here VOr Wil I ill •LI J*h� "Omwmict iron. REQUIRED ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Proprietary and Trade Secret Information. No portion of our submission contains proprietary or confidential information. Last Waav Studios acknowledges that our proposal will be retained as an official record and may be subject to public inspection in accordance with the California Public Records Act. We understand that, had any confidential content been included, it would have been clearly labeled and subject to the procedures outlined in the RFP regarding public records requests. Acknowledgement of Insurance Requirements. We acknowledge and accept the insurance requirements set forth in Exhibits E and F of the City's Agreement for Contract Services. If selected, Last Waav Studios will provide all required minimum insurance coverage and indemnification, as affirmed by the signed Attachment 2 form included in this proposal. Non -Collusion Affidavit. We affirm that this proposal has been prepared independently and without collusion with any other proposer. The required Non -Collusion Affidavit, executed by an authorized representative of Last Waav Studios, is included as Attachment 3. Acknowledgement of Addenda. If any addenda have been issued in connection with this RFP, Last Waav Studios acknowledges and has initialed the Acknowledgement of Addenda (Attachment 4) included herein as required. 30 0 ATTACHMENT 2 INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I, Amanda Molinaro Last Waav Studios Must be executed by proposer and submitted with the proposal (name) hereby acknowledge and confirm that (name of company) has reviewed the City's indemnification and minimum insurance requirements as listed in Exhibits E and F of the City's Agreement for Contract Services (Attachment 1); and declare that insurance certificates and endorsements verifying compliance will be provided if an agreement is awarded. am Co -Founder (Title) of Last Waav Studios , (Company) Commercial General Liability (at least as broad as ISO CG 0001) $1,000,000 (per occurrence); $2,000,000 (general aggregate) Must include the following endorsements: General Liability Additional Insured General Liability Primary and Noncontributory Commercial Auto Liability (at least as broad as ISO CA 0001) $1,000,000 (per accident) Personal Auto Declaration Page (if applicable) Cyber Liability $1,000,000 (per occurrence) $2,000,000(general aggregate) Worker's Compensation (per statutory requirements) Must include the following endorsement: Worker's Compensation Waiver of Subrogation Worker's Compensation Declaration of Sole Proprietor (if applicable) Page of 11 lam NON -COLLUSION AFFIDAVIT FORM Must be executed by proposer and submitted with the proposal Amanda Molinaro (Title) Co -Founder I_AiED]:IJ,1:4►11SCI (name) hereby declare as follows: Last Waav Studios of , (Company) the party making the foregoing proposal, that the proposal is not made in the interest of, or on behalf of, any undisclosed person, partnership, company, association, organization, or corporation; that the proposal is genuine and not collusive or sham; that the proposer has not directly or indirectly induced or solicited any other proposer to put in a false or sham proposal, and has not directly or indirectly colluded, conspired, connived, or agreed with any proposer or anyone else to put in a sham proposal, or that anyone shall refrain from proposing; that the proposer has not in any manner, directly or indirectly, sought by agreement, communication, or conference with anyone to fix the proposal price of the proposer or any other proposer, or to fix any overhead, profit, or cost element of the proposal price, or of that of any other proposer, or to secure any advantage against the public body awarding the agreement of anyone interested in the proposed agreement; that all statements contained in the proposal are true; and, further, that the proposer has not, directly or indirectly, submitted his or her proposal price or any breakdown thereof, or the contents thereof, or divulged information or data relative hereto, or paid, and will not pay, any fee to any corporation, partnership, company, association, organization, proposal depository, or to any member or agent thereof to effectuate a collusive or sham proposal. declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is true and correct. Proposer Signature: Proposer Name: Proposer Title: Company Name: Address: Amanda Molinaro Co -Founder Last Waav Studios 3924 J Street, Apt. 1, Sacramento, CA 95819 Page 10 of 11 ta ATTACHMENT 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT OF ADDENDA Must be executed by proposer and submitted with the proposal; If no addenda has been issued, mark "N/A" under Addendum No. indicating Not Applicable and sign ADDENDUM NO. SIGNATURE INDICATING RECEIPT Page 11 of 11