That the City Council approve and authorize the City Manager to execute a professional services agreement with Townsend Public Affairs (TPA) to conduct legislative advocacy and grant funding services for the City.

On March 1, 2021, the City Council adopted the City's Goals and Objectives for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 (Goals and Objectives).  Goals are achieved through the realization of recommended objectives across several broad categories, the fulfillment of which helps the City to realize its central mission of improving the quality of life within the community. 

Several of the Goals and Objectives emphasize the identification and pursuit of grant funding to augment or replace local funds used for municipal operations, such as the completion of projects listed on the City's Capital Improvement Program (CIP).  These include the following:
 

Goal	Objective
Goal 2 - Management of Public Revenues and Fiscal Assets	Objective C - "Identify and pursue funding opportunities for capital improvement projects, including City buildings, facilities, infrastructure, and recreational outlets"
	Objective H - "Seek grant funding where and when possible to supplement and/or replace City Funding"
Goal 3 - Maintenance of City Infrastructure and Facilities	Objective D - "Identify and pursue funding opportunities to design and construct recreational trails as part of the OC Loop Bicycle/Pedestrian Trail System"

 
Because CIP projects often require significant capital funding and occur over a longer time horizon, in some instances multiple years, it can be difficult for the City to satisfy the intent of the Goals and Objectives absent funding assistance from federal and/or state agencies. The recently completed splash pad projects at Brio and Oeste Parks are examples of capital projects that may not have been successfully completed without a direct allocation of outside funding from an outside government agency, in this case the State of California.  Although City staff has practice identifying and securing potential funding sources, the chance for success is increased when that effort also involves the retention of a professional firm with direct experience in legislative advocacy and grant writing.

In order to achieve the City Council's Goals and Objectives, staff has negotiated a proposed agreement with TPA for legislative advocacy and grant funding services.  Since its inception in 1998, TPA has built a well-earned reputation as a leader in the field, providing an exemplary level of service and leveraging the breadth and depth of their team, as well as their network of relationships with key stakeholders, policy-makers and legislators, to achieve the goals of their clients.  TPA has shepherded more than 100 legislative and regulatory proposals into law, and secured more than $1.8 billion in grants for its clients from federal, state, and other local government agencies, as well as from nonprofit foundations and private companies, in a variety of policy sectors, including transportation, water/sanitation, housing and community development, recreation/natural resources, cultural/historical resources, and public safety.  A copy of the proposed professional service agreement is attached (Attachment 1).

The cost of the proposed agreement with TPA is $3,500 per month for one year (a total commitment of $42,000).  The proposed term is one year, but if the relationship proves beneficial for the City, staff may seek an extension of the agreement at the conclusion of the initial term, subject to the future approval and authorization of the City Council.  There is adequate funding in the approved Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Administration budget for this proposed agreement.