HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-23-2009 CC Item 16REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Background
HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
ROBERT A. BRADY
CITY MANAGER
JUNE 23, 2009
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH THE FERGUSON
GROUP FOR WASHINGTON, D.C. LOBBYING SERVICES
This item is to consider renewing a professional services agreement for Washington,
D.C. lobbying services with The Ferguson Group. The cost would remain at the current
discounted rate of $2,000 per month, from July 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009.
For fiscal year 2009, a total of $337,500 was secured in federal appropriations for two of
the City's top priorities including: .
• Emergency Operations Center $100,000
• 1-15/Railroad Canyon Road Interchange (right-of-way) $237,500
Discussion
Lobbying services are primarily used to prepare and deliver the City's Federal Agenda
requests, including travel and meeting arrangements with representatives in
Washington, D.C. once per year.
On December 23, 2008, the City Council authorized an interim agreement with The
Ferguson Group for legislative advocacy in Washington, D.C. to promote the City's
federal appropriations requests for federal fiscal year 2010, as shown in Attachment 'A'.
Because of the City's budget condition in FY 2008-09, The Ferguson Group agreed to a
discounted monthly service rate of $2,000 per month (reduced from $6,000/mo.), plus
expenses. This agreement will expire on June 30, 2009.
Under the current proposal, The Ferguson Group's discounted rate would continue in
effect from July 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009 under tier one of a two tier
agreement. As proposed for the second tier contract, service levels would return to the
original fee of $6,000 per month, beginning on January 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010.
CC June 23, 2009 Item No. 16
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Professional Services Agreement with The Ferguson Group
June 23, 2009
Page 2
The Ferguson Group is aware that the second tier of their contract proposal would have
to be reviewed separately for consideration by the City Council at the mid-year budget
in January, 2010, as this funding has not yet been allocated.
Furthermore, earlier this year, Congressman Darrell E. Issa (R-49th) stated publically
that he would suspend any requests for earmarks in the future. Based on this change in
position regarding certain federal appropriations requests, support for the City's 2010
Federal Agenda and future requests may be withheld indefinitely.
Fiscal Impact
The City's proposed operating budget for Fiscal Year 2009-2010 includes $12,000 in
funding to support lobbying services for City's 2010 Federal Agenda through the end of
December, 2009, should The Ferguson Group's services be continued at the
discounted rate of $2,000 per month between July 1 and December 31, 2009.
Funding has not yet been allocated in the FY 2009-2010 budget for the proposed tier
two contract rate of $6,000 per month, or $36,000 total, for services between January
through June 2010. Related expenses for this six month term would not exceed $3,000.
Recommendation
Alternative 1. Authorize the City Manager to enter into a professional services
agreement with The Ferguson Group from July 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009 at
the proposed tier one rate to support the City's pending FY 2010 federal agenda;
reconsider agreement service levels and rates at mid-year (effective January 1-June 30,
2010);
Alternative 2. Suspend Washington, D.C. lobbying services in FY 2009-2010, but
continue to monitor pending federal appropriations requests; evaluate federal FY 2011
Washington, D.C. lobbying strategies, alternatives and opportunities to consider at mid-
year or next fiscal year.
Prepared by: Mark Dennis "47-
Information/Communications Manager
Approved by: Robert A. Brady
City Manager
CC June 23, 2009 Item No. 16
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Professional Services Agreement with The Ferguson Group Attachment 'A'
June 23, 2009
Page 3
The City's active 2010 federal agenda requests are summarized below:
1-15/Railroad Canyon Road Interchange Improvements-the City seeks approximately
$8 million for ultimate ramp and circulation improvements to the 1-15 interchange at
Railroad Canyon Road. Matching funds are available through locally collected
Transportation Improvement Fees (TIF), locally collected area benefit district fees and
locally collected regional funds, or TUMF.
The Avenues Septic Tank Conversion Project-a $1 million request under the EPA-
STAG account, Department of the Interior. Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District
proposes to construct sanitary sewer facilities in the Avenues area, abandoning 400
septic systems within City limits. Phasing out septic systems in high risk areas by 2020
will reduce nitrate pollution and protect the groundwater basin. The total project cost is
$6.5 million. The City supports EVMWD as the lead agency for this appropriations
request.
Emergency Operations Center (EOC)-this project received a 2009 budget earmark of
$100,000 due to the efforts of Congressman Darrell Issa (R-49th District). Funds will be
used for information technology upgrades and needed improvements for equipping a
permanent EOC at the Lake Elsinore Police Department headquarters. Because the
federal 2009 budget has yet to be adopted by Congress, the City's full $250,000
appropriations request will again be sought in 2010.
Inlet Channel Stabilization and Dredging-this authorization request under the Water
Resources Development Act (WRDA) is for $2.6 million for erosion control and silt
removal in the Lake Type Inlet channel. Storm inflows have deposited an estimated
515,000 cubic yards of sediment at a depth ranging from 2 to 19 feet since the inlet
channel was completed, with 50% attributed to the 2005 flood event. Negative impacts
affect water quality, flood storage and altered hydraulics of future stormwater flows. This
project would restore the inlet to pre-storm damage condition. This project did not
receive federal funding in 2009 because the WRDA was not reauthorized by Congress.
WRDA is likely to be reauthorized in FY 2010.
SR-74/Riverside Drive/Gunnerson Avenue signalization and intersection improvement-
this is a new appropriations request for under $2 million to fund traffic signals, safety
turn lanes and intersection improvements at Gunnerson and Riverside Drive. Because
of past traffic fatalities at this location, staff has been working with Caltrans on approval
of the intersection improvement plan. (This is separate from the City's proposed
acquisition of SR-74 from Caltrans within City limits.)
Light Rail 1-15 Corridor-A non-earmark request (support only) for a future Metrolink
light rail spur from Corona to Lake Elsinore and further south on the 1-15. Support of this
item was originally recommended by Mayor Magee in his role as Riverside County
Transportation Commissioner to show the City's support for a project to meet the future
commuter rail needs of the region. The Riverside County Transportation Commission
has estimated between $217 and $249 million is needed for such a rail line extension.
By comparison, the Perris Valley Line is much further alo~g S0n~%8 Or m Wjg
Administration funding process. Construction on the Perris alley me shou %aApq
Professional Services Agreement with The Ferguson Group Attachment 'A'
June 23, 2009
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2009 and commuter trains will be in service by 2011. A California voter approved bond
measure last fall for high speed rail has spurred efforts by RCTC to rekindle federal
support for a rail extension down the 1-15 corridor.
CC June 23, 2009 Item No. 16
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