TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Kim Summers, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Isaac Bravo, Management Analyst
SUBJECT:
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Approval of Second Amendment with The Alchemy Group, Inc. for Federal Legislative Advocacy and Fourth Amendment with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. for Grant Writing and Legislative Advocacy
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RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Approve the Second Amendment to the Agreement with The Alchemy Group, Inc. for an amount not-to-exceed $60,000 for federal legislative advocacy services for an additional year;
Approve the Fourth Amendment to the Agreement with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. for an amount not to exceed $126,000 for grant writing and legislative advocacy services;
Authorize the City Manager to execute the amendments in a form approved by the City Attorney; and
Amend the Fiscal Year 2024/25 Operating Budget to establish an appropriation of $65,500 in 1101600-60480 from the General Fund Unassigned Fund Balance.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
On December 17, 2019, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 19-4189, approving an agreement with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. for grant consulting services, for an amount not-to-exceed $54,000 (Vote: 5-0).
On April 20, 2021, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 21-4391, authorizing the First Amendment to the Agreement with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. to include federal legislative advocacy services, effective April 5, 2021, and increasing the contract amount not-to-exceed to $90,000 (Vote: 5-0).
On March 31, 2023, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 23-4650 extending the agreement with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. to December 31, 2024, increasing the not-to-exceed amount to $126,000, and adding inclusion of state legislative advocacy service (Vote: 5-0).
On August 17, 2023, the City Manager entered into an agreement with The Alchemy Group, Inc. for federal legislative advocacy services in the amount not-to-exceed of $25,000.
On June 24, 2024, the City Manager authorized an amendment to the agreement with The Alchemy Group, Inc., extending the agreement to December 31, 2024, and increased the not-to-exceed amount to $75,000.
CITY COUNCIL GOAL
Maintain a high performing organization that values fiscal sustainability, transparency, accountability and organizational efficiency.
BACKGROUND
The City has historically contracted for both legislative advocacy and grant writing professional services. As of 2024, the City has contracted with two firms, Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. (TPA) and The Alchemy Group, Inc. (The Alchemy Group), for grant writing and legislative advocacy services. While both firms offer similar scopes, each firm offers distinct services to the City.
Townsend Public Affairs
In 2019, TPA was originally selected after a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process for grant writing services by the City. The contract with TPA was expanded in 2021 to include federal legislative advocacy, and in 2023, to include state legislative advocacy. TPA has worked with the City to organize and coordinate legislative trips to both Sacramento and Washinton, D.C., and helped the City secured over $4 million of state and federal grant funding for the City for various uses, including public safety, transportation, and infrastructure improvements.
TPA routinely informs the City of various state and federal grant opportunities, as well as potential legislation that may adversely impact the City or aligns with its legislative platform.
The Alchemy Group
The City Manager’s Office contracted The Alchemy Group to augment and specifically focus on federal representatives and initiatives. Following federal redistricting for the United States House of Representatives, the City was moved from CA-41 (Ken Calvert, (R)) to CA-48 (Darrell Issa, (R)). The Alchemy Group has had tremendous success in helping the City build and establish a positive working relationship with the new Congressional representative’s office. This relationship is critical to the City, especially with major projects on the horizon, including the Interstate 215 at Keller Road project.
City staff are assigned to grants administration and legislative affairs; the same staff perform other duties. As such, the availability of staff to dedicate time to the performance of the critical work of coordinating and performing advocacy at the state and federal levels is limited. Given the significance of the possible funding opportunities and the need to secure funding to complete key projects, such as roadway and infrastructure projects, and to establish and keep good working relationships with State and Federal representatives, staff recommends the City continue to engage both firms through 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT
Staff recommends that the City Council approve amendment of the Fiscal Year 2024/25 Operating Budget by establishing an appropriation of $65,500 in 1101600-60480 from the General Fund Unassigned Fund Balance to cover grant writing and legislative advocacy services through June 2025. The budget for the remaining contract amount will be included in the future biennial budget.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Second Amendment with The Alchemy Group, Inc. for Federal Legislative Advocacy
2. Fourth Amendment with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. for Grant Writing and Legislative Advocacy