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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9306INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9306 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council October 5, 2010 Page 1 of 2 SUBJECT: THIRD PARTY LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANT CONTRACTS r rrTa Historically, it has been vital to ensure that the City of Fort Worth is properly represented before the United States Congress, key federal agencies, the Texas Legislature and key state agencies both during years in which a legislative session is conducted and during interim years when committee meetings are held. Thus, the City has established and maintained contracts with Washington, D.C. (1), Austin, TX (4) and Fort Worth, TX (1) firms to work with and assist City staff to develop and maintain relationships and positions regarding important federal, state and regional issues. March 9, 2010, City Council approved a federal program that is focused on securing funding for the following projects: • Tower 55 - $2.5 million • Equipment for anew police and fire training academy - $10.0 million • The homeless initiative - $4.0 million Working through The Franklin Partnership, LLC, the Mayor, members of City Council and the City Manager have travelled to Washington, D.C. to meet with members of Congress to discuss the importance of our three projects for which funding is being requested. In addition, members of the City Council have traveled to Washington, D.C. to serve on various committees for the National League of Cities or for other important policy initiatives. At the state level, the 2011 Texas legislative session promises to be a session of unparalleled challenges for cities. Among the issues that will confront the legislature, and consequently may have a significant impact on cities during the course of the 2011 session, are: • The state budget for which current projections estimate an $18 to $21 million deficit • Related to the budget, unfunded mandates that could be imposed upon cities • Redistricting • Immigration issues • Gaming • Voter Identification • The Sunset review process that will impact 28 agencies, many of which have a direct bearing on cities • Securing continued funding for the homelessness initiative of the City of Fort Worth and other major Texas cities To ensure proper federal and state representation, the City of Fort Worth is renewing the contracts of five firms with whom it has experienced successful and fruitful relationships in Washington and Austin. Those contracts are: ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9306 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council October 5, 2010 Te"�o Page 2 of 2 L • SUBJECT: THIRD PARTY LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANT CONTRACTS r far% Name Term Amount Charles W. Evans 10/01/10 through 09/30/11 $ 48,034 Walter Fisher and Associates 10/01 /10 through 09/30111 $ 37,180 Lawrence Collins 10/01/10 through 09/30/11 $ 55,270 * Patrick A. Svacina 10/01/10 through 09/30/11 $ 59,616 * The Franklin Partnership, LLC 10/01/10 through 09/30/11 $170,980 * City staff recently undertook a Request for Proposal process for the purpose of selecting a fourth firm to assist with the Texas legislative program during the 2011 session. Through that process, eleven firms responded and a panel consisting of City staff and staff from the Fort Worth Black Chamber, the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber and the Fort Worth Chamber assessed those responses and developed a short list of three firms for interview. On September 15, the panel interviewed the three finalist firms and selected HillCo Partners, LLC of Austin. The agreed upon contract price is $61,000 ( *) which includes an expense allowance of $1,000 for approved expenses. On Tuesday, September 21, 2010, the Legislative and I ntergovem mental Affairs Committee unanimously approved bringing forward to the full Council for its consideration and approval a contract between the City of Fort Worth and HillCo Partners, LLC of Austin. The proposed contract will be for the contract amount as mentioned above and for a one -year term beginning October 1, 2010 and ending September 30, 2011, with an option to renew for one additional year. An M &C approving these terms is on the Council agenda for this week. It is important to note that the Fisher, Collins and Evans contracts reflect a 33% reduction for the current year and an additional 10% reduction for this next fiscal year. The Franklin Partnership, LLC and Svacina contracts represent a 20% reduction for the current year and an additional 10% reduction for this next fiscal year. The HillCo Partners, LLC of Austin contract represents approximately a 34% reduction from their last contract. All of these contracts reflect reductions requested and recognition by these firms of the city's budget constraints over the past few years. Attachment A reflects a historical account of the annual budget for the Governmental Relations Division including contractual commitments made by the City of Fort Worth to federal and state third party consulting firms. * Because the Collins, Svacina, The Franklin Partnership, LLC and HillCo Partners, LLC of Austin contracts exceed $50,000, M &Cs approving each contract are on the City Council agenda for thi week. Dale A. Fis a er, P.E. City Manager Attachment ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS IR: Third Party Consultant Contracts Attachment A Government Relations Budget Adopted Budget 2009 Adopted Budget 2010 Adopted Budget 2011 Staff and Related Expenses $717,764.00 $399,577.00 $534,859.00 State Consultants $466,285.00 $286,912.00 $289,020.00 Federal Consultants $220,000.00 $187,200.00 $170,980.00 Total 1 $1,404,049.00 $873,689.00 $994,859.00