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HomeMy WebLinkAboutContract 46066 ary sEcRETARY ��(� STATE OF TEXAS § CONTRACT RCS. COUNTY OF TARRANT § AGREEMENT This Agreement ("Agreement") is made and entered into by and between the City of Fort Worth ("City"), acting herein by and through its duly authorized Assistant City Manager, and Walter Fisher & Associates ("Consultant"), the person or entity whose personal services are to be retained hereunder, individually referred to as a "party," collectively referred to as the "parties." For and in consideration of the covenants and promises contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows: 1. General Provisions & Scope of Services For and in consideration of the payment of the amount of money set out in Section Five (5) below, Consultant agrees to represent the City concerning legislative and administrative matters in the form of communications to be used during the official session of the Texas Legislature and at other times during the term of this Agreement. More specifically, Consultant agrees to perform the personal services described in Exhibit "A," which is attached hereto and made a part of this Agreement for all purposes. 2. Term of Agreement This Agreement shall begin October 1, 2014 and terminate September 30, 2015 ("Initial Term"), unless terminated sooner as provided herein. The City shall have the option to renew and extend this Agreement up to four additional one-year terms, with the period beginning October 1, 2015. The terms and conditions of this Agreement are subject to re-negotiation upon mutual consent of both parties at the time of such renewal. 3. Point of Contact Consultant agrees to cooperate with the City's Director of Governmental Relations and the City Manager, who shall relate to Consultant requests from the City. For purposes of this Agreement, the term City Manager shall include the City Manager and his or her designee. Consultant will respond to requests made by the Mayor, the Chair of the Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, the City Manager, and the ,gy's Director of Governmental Relations. Consultant will coordinate all responses or actions taken on the C-)y's behalf through the Director of Governmental Relations or appropriate City staff. M M CD 0 C-) I ZND ca Of RIECORD CI7y SECRETARY Walter Fisher&Associates w kT, 2014-2015 Legislative Agreement Page 1 of 8 — 4. Independent Contractor Status Consultant shall perform all work and services hereunder as an independent contractor and not as an officer, agent, servant or employee of the City. Consultant shall have exclusive control of, and exclusive right to control, the details of the services performed hereunder and shall be solely responsible for the acts or omissions of his officers, agents, employees, and subconsultants. Nothing herein shall be construed as creating a partnership or joint enterprise between the City and Consultant, its officers, agents, employees, and subconsultants, and the doctrine of respondeat superior shall have no application as between the City and Consultant. 5. Payment, Expenses &Travel In full payment and consideration for all services provided hereunder, the City shall pay Consultant an amount not to exceed $5,583.00 per month. The City shall not pay any expenses. It is understood that said payments are due and payable by City upon receipt of an invoice from Consultant. Unless otherwise agreed to by the parties, payment under this Agreement shall not exceed the total amount of$67,000.00 for services and expenses. 6. Termination The City may terminate this Agreement at any time for breach of this Agreement by providing a ten (10) day written notice or the City may terminate this Agreement without cause by providing a thirty (30) day written notice to Consultant. Upon termination, all products prepared by Consultant hereunder whether completed or partially completed, shall become the property of the City, and shall be returned to the City immediately at no additional cost to the City. Upon termination, all payment obligations of the City under this Agreement shall end. 7. Work Product Consultant shall furnish the City periodic reports on its work at such time as the City may request. All of the reports, information and data prepared or assembled for City under this Agreement shall be kept confidential and shall not be made available to any individual or organization without the prior written approval of the City, except as such disclosure may be required by law. 8. Conflict of Interest & Other Clients Consultant shall inform the City of any other municipalities or counties or transit agencies it represents and any other of its clients that might represent a potential conflict of interest. If the City, in its sole discretion, believes that a conflict exists, such conflict shall be discussed by Consultant and the City and resolved to the satisfaction of the City. Consultant shall comply with Section 305.028 of the Texas Government Code. 9. Governing Law &Venue This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas. If any action, whether real or asserted, at law or in equity, arises on the basis of any provision of this Agreement, venue for Walter Fisher&Associates 2014-2015 Legislative Agreement Page 2 of 8 such action shall lie in state courts, located in Tarrant County, Texas or the Federal District courts of the Northern District of Texas. 10. Availability of Funds In the event no funds or insufficient funds are appropriated and budgeted or are otherwise unavailable by any means whatsoever in any fiscal period for payments due under this Agreement including any renewal periods, then the City will immediately notify Consultant of such occurrence and this Agreement shall be terminated on the last day of the fiscal period for which appropriations were received without penalty or expense to the City of any kind whatsoever, except to the portions of annual payments herein agreed upon for which funds shall have been appropriated and budgeted or are otherwise available. 11. Notices All written notices called for or required by this Agreement shall be addressed to the following, or such other party or address as either party designates in writing, by certified mail, postage prepaid, or by hand delivery: City: Consultant: City of Fort Worth Walter Fisher and Associates Attn: City Manager Attn: Walter Fisher 1000 Throckmorton 919 Congress Ave #1500 Fort Worth, TX 76102 Austin, Texas 78701 with copies to: The City Attorney and Governmental Relations Director at the same address 12. Access to Records; Audit Consultant agrees that the City shall, until the expiration of three (3) years after final payment under this Agreement, have access to and the right to examine any directly pertinent books, documents, papers and records involving transactions relating to this Agreement. Consultant agrees that the City shall have access during normal working hours to all necessary Consultant facilities and shall be provided adequate and appropriate workspace in order to conduct audits in compliance with the provisions of this section. The City shall give Consultant reasonable advance notice of intended audits. Consultant further agrees to include in all its subcontracts hereunder a provision to the effect that the subconsultants agree that the City shall, until the expiration of three (3) years after final payment under the subcontract, have access to and the right to examine any directly pertinent books, documents, papers and records of such subconsultant, involving transactions to the subcontract, and further, that City shall have access during normal working hours to all subconsultant facilities, and shall be provided adequate and appropriate work space, in order to conduct audits in compliance with the provisions of this article. City shall give subconsultant reasonable advance notice of intended audits. 13. Liability Walter Fisher&Associates 2014-2015 Legislative Agreement Page 3 of 8 CONSULTANT SHALL INDEMNIFY, DEFEND AND HOLD THE CITY HARMLESS FROM ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, CAUSES OF ACTION, LAWSUITS, DAMAGES, LOSSES, JUDGMENTS AND LIABILITIES, ARISING FROM CONSULTANT'S OWN NEGLIGENCE, WRONGFUL ACTS, ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INTENTIONAL MISCONDUCT AS A RESULT OF CONSUTLANT'S PERFORMANCE PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT. CONSULTANT SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES ARISING SOLELY FROM THE CITY'S NEGLIGENCE, WRONGFUL ACTS, ERRORS, OMISSIONS OR INTENTIONAL MISCONDUCT. 14. Entirety of Agreement This Agreement shall be the entire, full and complete agreement between the parties concerning the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all prior agreements. There are no valid or binding representations, inducements, promises or agreements, oral or otherwise, between the parties that are not embodied herein. No amendment, change, or variance of or from this Agreement shall be binding on either party unless agreed to in writing signed by both of the parties. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed an original and such counterparts together shall constitute the same agreement. 15. Headings not Controlling The headings appearing at the beginning of each paragraph of this Agreement are for convenience only and do not define, limit or construe the contents of any such paragraph. Whether expressly indicated or not, the singular usage includes the plural, and the neuter usage includes the masculine or the feminine or both the masculine and the feminine. 16. Waiver The City and the Consultant may waive an obligation of or restriction upon the other under this Agreement only in writing. No failure, refusal, neglect, delay, forbearance or omission of the City or the Consultant to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or to insist upon full compliance by the other with his, her or its obligation hereunder shall constitute a waiver of any provisions(s) of the Agreement. 17. Severability Each provision of this Agreement or part thereof shall be severable. If, for any reason, any provision or part thereof in this Agreement is finally determined to be invalid and contrary to, or in conflict with, any existing or future law or regulation, such determination shall not impair the operation or affect the remaining provisions of this Agreement, and such remaining provisions will continue to be given full force and effect and bind each party. Each invalid provision or part thereof shall be deemed not to be a part of this Agreement. 18. Assignment The Consultant may not assign or subcontract any of its rights or obligations without the prior consent of the City, which consent may be withheld in the City's sole and absolute discretion. 19. Force Majeure Walter Fisher&Associates 2014-2015 Legislative Agreement Page 4 of 8 It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties that if the performance of any obligations hereunder is delayed by reason of war; civil commotion; acts of God; inclement weather; governmental restrictions, regulations, or interferences; fires; strikes; lockouts, national disasters; riots; material or labor restrictions; transportation problems; or any other circumstances which are reasonably beyond the control of the party obligated or permitted under the terms of this Agreement to do or perform the same, regardless of whether any such circumstance is similar to any of those enumerated or not, the party so obligated or permitted shall be excused from doing or performing the same during such period of delay, so that the time period applicable to such obligation shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period such party was delayed. [Remainder Intentionally Left Blank] Walter Fisher&Associates 2014-2015 Legislative Agreement Page 5 of 8 Executed on this day of 2014. WALTER FISHER & ASSOCIATES: CITY OF FORT WORTH By: t+ CL By Walter Fisher ar W. Danie s j Assistant City Manager Date: /� /`�`'—^/ Date: /0:. 23.114— Atte e t: Approved as to F and Legality: 1 Mary Kayser Denis McElroy City Secretary Assistant City Attorney � ,0°�®� Contract Authorization; 060®°° e M&C: 7© Date Approved: J��s` O gTA S OFFICIAL RECOR CITY gRCRET Walter Fisher&Associates FT.WORT H, ,.�y w 2014-2015 Legislative Agreement Page 6 of 8 EXHIBIT "A" SCOPE OF SERVICES 1. Consultant will provide advice and counsel regarding those state agencies and commissions which interface with the City and will promote working relationships and goodwill between the City and key staff and board members of those state agencies and commissions, when requested by the City. 2. During the legislative session (2015), Consultant will work with City staff to ensure attendance at relevant interim committee meetings or hearings and legislative committee meetings or hearings and ensure that appropriate written reports are prepared. 3. Consultant will inform the City (generally by contacting the City Manager) of any legislative initiatives felt to be possibly detrimental to the interests of the City, the City's Comprehensive Plan or the City's State Legislative Agenda, as he becomes aware of any such initiative. 4. Consultant will assist the City Manager and other designated City staff in the development and coordination of the City's legislative program. 5. Consultant will generally cooperate with City Manager to promote the passage of proposed legislative initiatives included in the City Council adopted legislative agenda/packet, in cooperation with City representatives. Consultant will assist, when requested, in acquiring sponsors for bills in the packet. 6. Consultant will assist the City Manager and other designated City staff in defeating any legislation, amendments to legislation, appropriation or other action by the Texas Legislature that will erode, weaken, decrease or take away the City's authority to govern the municipal affairs of the City or that is detrimental to the interests of the City of Fort Worth. 7. Consultant will assist the City Manager and other designated City staff in the review and analysis of pending and proposed legislation as well rule proposals by state regulatory agencies, and provide the City with notification on issues of interest or concern on a proactive basis. 8. Consultant will assist the City Manager and other designated City staff in the development and evaluation of strategies for the support, defeat or amendment of pending legislation, policy, rules and funding opportunities. 9. Consultant will assist the City Manager and other designated City staff in the presentation of regular oral and written reports to the City Council and other stakeholders, as well as provision of requested reports on legislative action. 10. Consultant will assist the City Manager and other designated City staff periodically with logistical support for City Council members, City Management, City staff and the staffs thereof while said are in Austin attending conferences or public hearings and or meetings. 11. Consultant will promote working relationships and goodwill between the City and members of the Legislature, the Executive Branch, state agency leadership, state Commission leadership, state board leadership and the staffs thereof, with particular emphasis on House and Senate leadership, key committee chairs and members, the Tarrant County delegation and members of state agencies, state commissions and state boards. Walter Fisher&Associates 2014-2015 Legislative Agreement Page 7 of 8 12. Consultant will assist in introducing City Manager or his/her designee to members of the Legislature and staff members, in particular the leadership and members of the Tarrant County legislative delegation and members of state agencies, state commissions and state boards. 13. Consultant will provide advice and counsel to City Manager or his/her designee, City Council or other City staff regarding legislative strategy and provide such background information as proponents, opponents, attitude of key legislators, and positions of related entities. 14. When requested by City Manager or his/her designee, Consultant will, communicate with written memorandum or telephonically, summarize contacts made with state legislators, state agency leadership, state board leadership and key staff on behalf of the City. As the need arises, he/she will discuss with City Manager or his/her designee coverage of key legislative committee hearings/meetings, state agency hearings/meetings, state board hearings/meetings and proposer will attend hearings/meetings upon request, as necessary and possible. Walter Fisher&Associates 2014-2015 Legislative Agreement Page 8 of 8 Ml?LC Review Page 1 of 2 Official site of the City of Fort Worth,Texas CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FORTH COUNCIL ACTION: Approved on 1011412014 DATE: 10/14/2014 REFERENCE NO.: **C-27022 LOG NAME: 02FISHER2015 CODE: C TYPE: CONSENT PUBLIC NO HEARING: SUBJECT: Authorize Execution of a Professional Services Agreement with Walter Fisher and Associates in the Amount of$67,000.00 for Professional Legislative Consulting Services and Representation of the City of Fort Worth on State Issues Before the Texas State Legislature, State Agencies, State Boards and Commissions and the Office of the Governor(ALL COUNCIL DISTRICTS) RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council authorize the execution of a Professional Services Agreement with Walter Fisher and Associates in the amount of$67,000.00 for professional legislative consulting services and representation of the City of Fort Worth before the Texas State Legislature, state agencies, state boards and commissions and the Office of the Governor. DISCUSSION: The City of Fort Worth (City) retains outside legislative consulting services in order to maintain resident expertise regarding the City's relationship with the State Legislature. The role of an outside consultant is to assist the City in promoting and protecting its legislative interests in Austin. Mr. Walter Fisher is the former Parliamentarian of the Texas State Senate and the former Assistant Parliamentarian for the Texas House of Representatives. He also served as the Director of Legislative Services for the Texas Municipal Leagl_-9 for several years. Given Mr. Fisher's unique background and qualifications, he has proved to be a very valuable member of the City's legislative team. He is well versed in the legislative process and understands City issues and challenges. Mr. Fisher will assist the City in accomplishing its state legislative initiatives as well as assisting with the interim activities of the Legislature when that body is not in session. In particular, Mr. Fisher is especially effective in working with the elected officials and the professional staff of the Texas Senate, and he is particularly suited to advise the City in procedural matters and the attitudes and beliefs of key Senate leadership. The Agreement requires Mr. Fisher to provide advice and counsel regarding state agencies and state boards and commissions as well as provide assistance in promoting passage of legislative initiatives for the City during legislative sessions and the interim sessions. The proposed Agreement requires the City to compensate Mr. Fisher a rate in the amount of$5,583.33 per month. Term; Renewal Options -The term of the Agreement will be from October 1, 2014 to September 30, 2015. This Agreement may be renewed for up to four additional one-year terms at the City's option. This action does not require specific City Council approval provided that the City Council has appropriated sufficient funds to satisfy the City's obligations during the renewal term. The terms are subject to re-negotiation upon mutual consent of both parties at the time of such renewal. FISCAL INFORMATION/CERTIFICATION: The Financial Management Services Director certifies that funds are available in the current operating budget, as appropriated, of the General Fund. http://apps.cfwnet.org/council_packet/mc_review.asp?ID=203 29&c ouncildate=10/14/2014 10/22/2014 M&C Review Page 2 of 2 TO Fund/AccounVCenters FROM Fund/Account/Centers GG01 531200 0029000 $67,000.00 Submitted for City Manager's Office by: Charles Daniels (6199) Originating Department Head: TJ Patterson (6168) Additional Information Contact: Evonia Daniels (7504) ATTACHMENTS http://apps.cfwnet.org/council 10/22/2014