HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 1b: Contract to Ferguson Group for Legislative Advocacy ServicesDATE: November 3, 2009
TO:
Mayor and City Council
Arcadia Redevelopment Agency Board
FROM: Donald Penman, City Manager
By: Linda Garcia, Comm 4nications, Marketing and Special
Projects Manage
SUMMARY
DISCUSSION
STAFF REPORT
Office of the City Manager
SUBJECT: ONE -YEAR EXTENSION IN THE AMOUNT OF $65,000.00 TO
THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
CITY OF ARCADIA AND THE FERGUSON GROUP FOR
FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY SERVICES
Recommendation: Approve
The City of Arcadia has utilized the services of The Ferguson Group since 1996 for the
purpose of obtaining federal funding for City projects. The current Professional
Services Agreement with The Ferguson Group expires on December 31, 2009. Based
on the City's positive experience with the company and the desire to use their services
in the future, staff is recommending that the City Council approve a one -year extension
(Amendment No. 7) to the Professional Services Agreement between the City of
Arcadia and The Ferguson Group.
The depressed economic situation the country is facing has created serious challenges
for cities in terms of paying for capital expenditures, whether they be infrastructure or
equipment related. Arcadia's ability to bring to fruition certain infrastructure and facility
improvements, as well as to be able to purchase certain equipment, has been aided
significantly by the use of federal funds obtained with the assistance of The Ferguson
Group. Money has been received for law enforcement purposes, for the Ruth and
Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum, and the most significant and ongoing funding
has been for traffic and street improvements and the joint Arcadia /Sierra Madre water
improvement projects. Since the City first retained The Ferguson Group, millions of
dollars have been secured through our federal lobbying efforts.
Mayor and City Council PSA Extension for The Ferguson Group
November 3, 2009
Page 2
Staff believes that continuing the City's partnership with The Ferguson Group is a
worthwhile investment for Arcadia. Members of The Ferguson Group's team are
knowledgeable about the funding process and the type of money that is available.
Although the availability of funds for local projects varies from year to year, as does the
Washington, DC attitude about appropriations and earmarks, The Ferguson Group is
able to assist us in developing and carrying out a lobbying program that has the best
chance for success. Their familiarity and experience in navigating the Washington
political community has been, and will continue to be, very helpful. For these reasons,
staff is asking the City Council to authorize a one -year extension to the City's
Professional Services Agreement with The Ferguson Group.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Ferguson Group has agreed to maintain the current annual fee of 65,000.00. This
retainer includes unlimited hours of monthly service and overhead expenses. As in the
past, the cost will be shared among the General Fund (35 the Water Fund (50
and the Redevelopment Agency (15
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency Board
authorize the City Manager to execute a one -year extension in the amount of
$65,000.00 to the Professional Services Agreement between the City of Arcadia
and The Ferguson Group for federal legislative advocacy services.