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City Council

Agenda Request

Agenda Of:

04-06-10

Agenda Request No:

iii-b

Initiated By:

Dale Rudick

Responsible Department:

Intergovernmental Relations

Presented By:

Dale Rudick

Department Head:

Dale Rudick, Director of Intergovernmental Relations  Dale's Initials

 

 

Additional Department. Head (s):

N/A

Subject / Proceeding:

State Legislative Consulting Agreement

Exhibits:

Agreement

Clearances

Approval

Legal:

Joe Morris

City Attorneyinitial

Executive Director:

N/A

Purchasing:

Todd Reed

Purchasing ManagerTodd Reed - initials_2

Asst. City Manager:

Karen GlynnINITIAL

Budget:

Bryan Guinn, Bryan Guinn - initials

Budget Manager

City Manager:

Allen BogardSIGNATUR

Budget

Expenditure Required:  $

86,400

Current Budget:  $

100,329 

Additional Funding:  $

0

Recommended Action

Approve State Legislative Consulting Agreement.

Executive Summary

Consistent with past practices and legislative planning, funds have been appropriated in the FY2011 Budget to hire a State legislative consultant for the purpose of promoting the City’s State Legislative Agenda.   At the March 23, 2010 Council workshop, IGR staff reviewed with Council the proposed 2011 State Legislative Program consisting of both a Legislative Agenda and a recommendation for a new legislative consulting firm in Austin. 

 

Attached is a two year agreement for professional services with Focused Advocacy to provide legislative services to the City that include, but are not limited to:  Consult with and represent the City with elected and appointed officials; provide analysis and tracking of legislative actions; advise the City on contemplated legislative actions; actively assist the City in the passage of proactive legislative initiatives; assist the City in the defeat of legislation or other initiatives that could have a negative impact on the City; assist in preparation of City officials who testify before the legislature; and assist in the coordination, development and implementation of the City’s legislative agenda.

 

The selection of Focused Advocacy was based upon an interview process performed by staff and reviewed by Council’s IGR Committee.  The consultants, Snapper Carr and Brandon Aghamalion, will be the City’s primary lobbyists representing the City and will work directly with staff.  These two individuals, along with the founder of the Focused Advocacy Curtis Seidlits, are well-known, reputable individuals in the halls of the Capitol.  The firm offers a vast array of knowledge in a number of different areas that will be of benefit to the City. These areas of expertise include general municipal issues, water and utility issues, and not only writing, but helping to pass legislation for their clients.  The representatives of Focused Advocacy were instrumental in the writing and passage of legislation in 2007 and 2009 as it relates to the Central Prison Unit and Smithville in Sugar Land along with an amendment in 2009 to the Texas Open Meetings Act as it relates to “items of community interest”.  Focused Advocacy will continue to push forward on Council’s pro-active legislative agenda such as the Texas Department of Criminal Justice property along with other pro-active matters that require the seeking of specific legislation. 

 

The agreement will pay the consultant for the above stated services a sum of $7,200 per month ($86,400/year) for the duration of the two-year agreement to begin in April 2010.   This is a four percent reduction from our previous state legislative consulting agreement.  Routine business expenses will be paid by the consultant up to and including two meetings per year outside of Austin.  Additional trips outside of Austin will be the responsibility of the City to reimburse the consultant. This contract provision is similar to the previous State legislative consultant agreement.

 

The City retains the right to end the contract in the event that the City feels a conflict of interest exists that cannot be resolved or the City fails to appropriate funds to make any required contract payment in successive fiscal years.  In the event that City Council does not appropriate funds for this contract in successive years and there are no funds available, then the contract will automatically terminate. 

 

Staff recommends City Council’s consideration and action on the professional services agreement with Focused Advocacy for monthly legislative consulting services for a maximum amount of $86,400 per year plus expenses (as stated in the agreement).  $100,329 is budgeted in FY 2010 for a State legislative consulting firm. 

 

 

Exhibits

 

                                                                                               Legislative Consulting Agreement