Consideration and Approval of Contract:  State Lobbying Professional Services Contract with Elevated Advocacy, LLC in the amount of $72,000 annually.

1. Approve the State Lobbying Professional Services Contract with Elevated Advocacy, LLC to provide state lobbying services for the City of Flagstaff for a monthly fee of six thousand dollars ($6,000), that includes all applicable expenses billed at cost, for a total annual fee of seventy-two thousand dollars ($72,000); and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents.

The City contracts for state lobbying services to advocate and monitor specific legislation impacting the City's interest and established priorities. The City’s lobbyist is required to provide regular and and timely information to the City Manager and weekly updates to the City during Legislative Sessions and conduct a post session recap for City Council at public meetings.   The lobbyist is responsible for ongoing communication throughout the Legislative session as well as seeking direction regarding important bills, amendments, developments and other direction provided from the city. Each year, the City Council adopts priorities to provide necessary direction to staff and the lobbyist.

Funding for state lobbying services is included in the adopted budget in account 001-09-402-1310-1-4206 Non-departmental.  The FY2020 budget for state lobbying services is $48,000.  If the recommended action is approved, the City would make up the $24,000 difference within the City's Non-departmental budget with reductions to other line items within the budget.  Staff will meet with Budget Team determine those reductions.

1. Grow and strengthen a more equitable and resilient economy.
2. Support development and increase the inventory of public and private affordable housing for renters and home owners   throughout the community.
3. Advance social justice in our community.
4. Deliver quality community assets and continue to advocate and implement a highly performing multi-model transportation system.
5. Revise the Zoning Code to remove ambiguities, and ensure it is consistent with community values and with the Regional Plan.
6. Take meaningful climate change action.
7. Become a national leader in water conservation in all sectors.
8. Actively manage and protect all environmental and natural resources.
9. Attract and retain quality staff.
10. Enhance public transparency and accessibility
11. Enhance relationships between the city and institutions of higher education.
12. Achieve comprehensive and equitable code compliance

Previous Council decision on a contract for state lobbying service occurred in October 2010 and November 2015.

1. Approve the State Lobbying Professional Services Contract with Elevated Advocacy, LLC, as recommended; or
2. Direct staff to conduct another Request for Proposals (RFP) procurement process; or
3. Discontinue the use of any professional lobbying services.

The City of Flagstaff’s Intergovernmental Relations Program coordinates the City's dealings with the federal, state, tribal and other local governments, and seeks to foster constructive links between the City and these entities.  The Intergovernmental Relations Program works to advocate for the Flagstaff community by fostering and maintaining relationships with individuals and entities that affect the City’s interests.    The Intergovernmental Relations Program keeps the Mayor and Council informed about intergovernmental issues and assists in representing the City's interests in these matters. The Intergovernmental Relations Program is part of the City Manager’s Office and serves all City departments, the Flagstaff City Council and the Mayor.   The City contracts lobbying services to advocate and monitor specific legislation impacting to the City's interest and established priorities. The City adopts state and federal legislative priorities to establish City positions on issues, policies and projects of legislative interest. The City Manager’s Office coordinates with the City’s lobbyists, Arizona League of Cities and Towns staff, and City staff to review proposed legislation and informs legislators, legislative staff and the governor’s office, federal agencies and stakeholders regarding those impacts.  Advocacy is also supported by Council adoption of guiding principles and partnerships.  Historically, the City's guiding principles are typically maintaining and protecting shared revenues, preserving local control and supporting adopted Council goals.   The Mayor and City Council approve a state agenda on an annual basis, which defines the City’s legislative priorities and guides the City’s lobbying activities.  The City’s lobbyist is in constant communication with staff.  Together, the lobbyist and staff brief the Mayor and City Council throughout the legislative session.   While the adopted priorities provide necessary direction, ongoing communication is also critical throughout the session to seek direction regarding important bills, amendments and project developments. The City's Purchasing Section conducted a Request for Proposals (RFP) and advertised the RFP in the Arizona Daily Sun on April 28th and May 5th. The RFP was also posted to the PlanetBids website, which is a third-party bidding site with hundreds of registered Vendors.  Proposal responses were due no later than May 16th.  The City received a total of one (1) response; from Elevated Advocacy, LLC. The evaluation committee was comprised of three (3) evaluators, with all evaluators being within the City organization. Once the evaluation and scoring was completed for state lobbying services and the scores were aggregated into a matrix, the evaluation committee determined Elevated Advocacy, LLC to be both responsive and responsible with high scores given by all three (3) evaluators.

City Purchasing staff utilized a formal competitive RFP process, and although the city only received one (1) proposal response, the evaluation committee determined Elevated Advocacy, LLC to be both responsive and responsible with a competitive annual fee that includes all reimbursable expenses.   The RFP was updated significantly in the summer 2015 to reflect current needs of the City as well as to accurately reflect the scope of services.  The RFP allowed for the evaluation of the following: experience and qualifications of the firm, project personnel assigned to the project, presented approach, proposed fee and meaningful knowledge of City of Flagstaff issues.  The initial term of the contract will be for a three (3)-year period, with the ability to renew for up to two (2) additional one (1)-year terms based on the successful performance of the Proposer and the needs of the City.   The City and Coconino County are currently under contract with Elevated Advocacy, LLC for state lobbying services and to date has been performing at high standards with the City and Coconino County.

None

Community benefits of the State Lobbying Professional Services Contract may include additional or enhanced funding resources as well as policy actions that may enhance essential services or quality of life for Flagstaff residents, businesses, public agencies and visitors. 
 

State lobbying services were discussed during the annual budget hearings.