Title
Adopt a Resolution Approving and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Consulting Services Agreement with Townsend Public Affairs for State Legislative Advocacy Services through June 30, 2024 for a Total Not to Exceed Amount of $96,000
Staffreport
COUNCIL PRIORITIES
• Public Safety
• Housing and Homelessness
• Infrastructure
• Sustainability & Resiliency
• Fiscal Sustainability and Transparency
• Community Engagement and Outreach
• Race and Equity Initiatives
• Community & Business Development
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council approve and authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Townsend Public Affairs (TPA) for state legislative advocacy and grant writing support services through June 30, 2024, in an amount not to exceed $96,000.
BACKGROUND
In October 2013, the City Council authorized the creation of a City Council ad-hoc committee to provide guidance on the development of a state legislative platform as well as a process through which a consultant could be selected to provide state-level advocacy services on behalf of the City.
Following a competitive request-for-proposals (RFP) process, on February 18, 2014, the City Council directed the City Manager to enter into a one-year consulting services agreement with Townsend Public Affairs for state level advocacy services, at a rate of $60,000 per year. Based upon the City’s satisfaction with Townsend’s performance, that contract was extended by the City Council each subsequent year at the same rate. Beginning two years ago, the City expanded the scope of services with TPA to also include grant writing support services, in the amount of $3,000 per month, for a grand total contract cost of $96,000 per year.
Over the course of its contract with the City, Townsend Public Affairs and its current Vice President, Niccolo De Luca, have continued to provide highly effective services to the City on a wide range of legislative matters.
Some recent examples of their support to the City over the past fiscal year include:
FY 2022-2023 Grant Awards Directly Supported by TPA (Grant / Project / Award Amount)
• California State Library Building Forward Infrastructure Grant / Mulford-Marina Branch Library / $4,597,100
• CalFire Urban Forestry Grant / Tree Resilient San Leandro / $1,499,400
• California State Library Building Forward Infrastructure Grant / Main Branch Library / $316,516
• California Resilience Challenge / Shoreline Master Plan/Sea Level Rise / $161,000
• California State Library Building Forward Infrastructure Grant / Manor Branch Library / $128,280
• California State Library Building Forward Infrastructure Grant / South Branch Library / $16,425
Total Grant Funding Awarded: $6,718,721
Highlights of actions during the FY 2022-23 Legislative Session
1. Ongoing, weekly legislative updates to the City’s executive team on priority legislation and other statewide matters
2. Detailed analysis of priority legislation
3. Supported drafting of the 2023 State Legislative Platform
4. Provided detailed summaries of the Governor’s 2023 Proposed Budget and the 2023 May Revised Budget
5. Helped draft and submit a 2023 State funding request
6. Multiple efforts related to the City’s efforts to address the unhoused and acquire the Nimitz Hotel property at 555 Lewelling Boulevard, including:
a. Briefing the Office of Senator Skinner on the City’s efforts related to addressing the unhoused, the need for funding for temporary housing, and the need for funding from the State.
b. Briefing the Office of Assembly Member Bonta on the City’s efforts related to addressing the unhoused, the need for funding for temporary housing, and the need for funding from the State.
c. Partnered with the City team to submit a FY 2022-23 State Budget Earmark request to purchase the motel at 555 Lewelling Boulevard.
d. Towards the end of the 2022 calendar year, the TPA team briefed our new Assembly Member Liz Ortega and her office on the City’s efforts related to addressing the unhoused, the need for funding for temporary housing, and the need for funding from the State.
e. Helped lead the efforts with the support of the Office of Senator Skinner and the Office of Assembly Member Ortega to successfully request changes to the Homekey RFP to ensure San Leandro’s project is more successful.
f. Helped provide support to the federal request for funding related to the property at 555 Lewelling Boulevard
Based upon TPA’s consistently responsive and quality services, staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute the proposed consulting services agreement with Townsend Public Affairs, at the same rate of $8,000 per month (including $5,000 per month for state legislative advocacy services and $3,000 per month for grant support), for a total not to exceed amount of $96,000 annually. Sufficient funds for the proposed contract renewal and expansion extension have already been programmed into the FY 2023-2024 budget.
The City and TPA have tentatively agreed to the terms of an agreement. Townsend provided a scope of work and compensation schedule, which staff attached for Council review and approval. Staff intends to incorporate these documents as exhibits in the final, fully executed agreement pending Council approval.
Legal Analysis
The City Attorney has reviewed the content of this report and proposed agreement, and they are approved as to form.
Financial Impacts
This General Fund program will cost $96,000, which was included in the FY2023-2024 Adopted Budget. The program will be funded as follows:
General Fund-Administration, Account 010-12-020: $96,000
Total $96,000
This proposed Council action will not impact the General Fund’s undesignated fund balance because there are sufficient funds available in the FY2022-23 adopted budget.
Attachment(s):
• Attachment A: Resolution for a Consulting Services Agreement with TPA
• Attachment B: Scope of Work
• Attachment C: Compensation Schedule
PREPARED BY:
Eric Engelbart, Deputy City Manager, City Manager’s Office