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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-01-10 - AGENDA REPORTS - FED ADVOCACY SERVICES (2)CONSENT CALENDAR DATE: SUBJECT: DEPARTMENT: Agenda Item: 3 CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT City Manager Approval: Item to be presented by: January 10, 2012 Michael P. Murphy FEDERAL ADVOCACY SERVICES: MURRAY, MONTGOMERY, AND O'DONNELL City Manager's Office RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council authorize the City Manager or designee to execute, subject to City Attorney approval, a contract for continuation of professional services with Murray, Montgomery and O'Donnell, Inc. for the period of January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2012, with the option to renew annually for a maximum of two additional years. BACKGROUND The City retains the Washington, D.C. based firm of Murray, Montgomery and O'Donnell (MMO) for federal advocacy services, for all issues with the exception of the proposed Soledad Canyon mine. Murray, Montgomery and O'Donnell's current three year contract expired on December 31, 2011. The City Council is requested to authorize continuation of professional services with MMO for the period of January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2012, with the option to renew annually for a maximum of two additional years. This one year extension would run concurrent with the remaining year of the 112th Congress and enable the City to retain continuity of legislative advocacy services for the current session of Congress. MMO's monthly retainer is $6,000, plus reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, not to exceed $5,000 annually. The funding is included in the adopted 2011/2012 City budget. During the time Murray, Montgomery and O'Donnell has been under' contract with the City, the firm has been instrumental in securing favorable Congressional action on two major, multi-year City Council priorities: the construction of the Cross Valley Connector and the protection of Elsmere Canyon from being used as a landfill. During the term of the current contract, MMO P' D has successfully worked on behalf of the City in the following priority areas: • Secured $500,000 for Emergency Operations Center seismic retrofit of City Hall Building and then protected funding through Federal Emergency Management Agency for use on another eligible project, when full project funding was obtained through an alternate source. • Favorably positioned the City with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, leading to securing $825,000 for seismic retrofit of City Hall Building. • Protected $1,023,763 in Fiscal Year 2011 Community Development Block Grant funding against further funding reductions in an effort to reduce the federal deficit. • Advocated for full funding in the National Park Service's budget to initiate and continue the Rim of the Valley Corridor Study, as authorized under Public Law 110-229. This study includes Elsmere Canyon and the proposed Soledad Canyon mine location. • Secured $300,000 in appropriations funding for McBean Regional Transit Facility. • Worked with California Governor's Office and Congressional delegation to ensure that $1,187,000 in Neighborhood Stabilization Funds were allocated directly to the City, as opposed to pooling of funds under eligibility rules initially promulgated by California Department of Housing and Community Development. • Reviewed Federal Communication Commission Declaratory Ruling regarding local zoning authority for wireless towers or antenna sites and worked with City staff to determine that City practices are in conformance with FCC rulemaking. • Advocated for extension of Alternate Fuel Tax Credit, which resulted in City receiving $240,000 for Santa Clarita Transit. The following are.some of the issue areas which Murray, Montgomery and O'Donnell are working on during the current Congressional session: • Working with Department of Treasury and Department of Defense to secure federal participation toward resolution of Whittaker-Bermite issue. • Advocating to ensure that adequate funding is available for freight corridors of national significance through federal surface transportation act reauthorization to enable advancement of Interstate 5 truck lane project. • Ensuring that in the absence of Congressionally directed spending, appropriate funding levels are included within the federal surface transportation reauthorization for transit, regional rail and local highway projects for City transportation priorities. • Seeking extension of Alternate Fuels Tax Credit. It is the recommendation of City staff that the contract with Murray, Montgomery and O'Donnell, Inc. be renewed for another year, for the period of January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2012, with the option to renew annually for a maximum of two additional years. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS 1. Award contract for a period of time other than one year in duration. 2. Not award a contract to Murray, Montgomery and O'Donnell and direct the City Council Legislative Committee to issue a request for proposal for federal advocacy services. 3. Other direction as determined by Council FISCAL IMPACT Approval of the recommended action will result in a total maximum expenditure of $77,000. Funds are available in Account 11000-5161.001.