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City Manager Office <br />https://www.santa-ana.org/cm <br />Item # 30 <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br /> Staff Report <br />April 6, 2021 <br />TOPIC: Legislative Advocacy Services; Local, State, and Federal Government <br />Associations <br />AGENDA TITLE: <br />Approve Agreement with Townsend Public Affairs for State Legislative Advocacy <br />Services; Approve Amendment to Agreement with Holland & Knight for Federal <br />Legislative Advocacy Services; Provide Direction to Staff relating to Local, State, and <br />Federal Government Associations <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />1. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Townsend Public Affairs for <br />State legislative advocacy services for a three-year term, from April 6, 2021 through <br />March 31, 2024, with an option to extend the term for an additional one-year period, <br />for a four-year not-to-exceed amount of $252,000, subject to non-substantive changes <br />approved by the City Manager and City Attorney. <br />2. Approve an amendment to an agreement with Holland & Knight LLP for Federal <br />legislative advocacy services for a one-year term from April 1, 2021 through March <br />31, 2022, in an amount not to exceed $117,600, subject to non-substantive changes <br />approved by the City Manager and City Attorney. <br />3. Provide direction to staff relating to local, state, and federal government associations. <br />DISCUSSION <br />Local governments rely on the expertise of state and federal legislative advocacy firms to <br />represent their respective government agencies in Sacramento and Washington DC. This <br />service includes legislative monitoring and analysis, state budget advocacy, and grant <br />coordination and advocacy. These firms also provide monitoring of executive proposals <br />and legislation, as well as administrative rules and regulations that may affect cities. <br />Legislative advocacy services are also essential in identifying funding opportunities, grant <br />applications and other special programs for which the City may qualify. <br />After a competitive Request for Proposal (RFQ) process, staff has prepared a new three- <br />year agreement with Townsend Public Affairs for State legislative advocacy services.