HERCULES CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION 25-___
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE LEW EDWARDS GROUP AND FM3 RESEARCH FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $142,250 FOR POLLING AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION SERVICES AND APPROVE AN APPROPRIATION OF $142,250 FROM THE GENERAL FUND RESERVES WHEREAS, on July 8, 2025, staff provided the Council with a comprehensive overview of various revenue-generating options aimed at establishing a long-term financial sustainability plan; and WHEREAS, this initiative seeks to address critical infrastructure needs that remain unfunded, as well as the rising costs associated with goods, services, and utilities, employee retention challenges, and necessary deferred maintenance; and WHEREAS, the City Council directed staff to initiate the process and engage a consultant to conduct a pre-election poll and provide strategic communication guidance regarding the proposed additional sales tax, assessing the feasibility of designating the City as a charter City to enhance the Real Property Transfer Tax (RPTT), and the evaluation of potential issuance of a General Obligation (GO) bonds; and WHEREAS, a Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued on August 5, 2025. The RFP allowed proposers to submit a proposal for Election Opinion Poll Services. Staff received four proposals responding to the RFP; and WHEREAS, an evaluation of the submitted proposals has concluded, and the City selected The Lew Edwards Group and FM3 Research following a competitive review process. The Lew Edwards Group and FM3 Research will be tasked with providing Polling and Strategic Communications services for the initiatives related to the additional sales tax, RPTT, and GO bonds; and WHEREAS, the Lew Edwards Group and FM3 Research have consistently demonstrated their expertise and effectiveness in providing valuable assistance to the City with numerous past ballot measures; and WHEREAS, staff is also requesting the approval of an appropriation of $142,250 from the General Fund Reserve to support this contract.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Hercules as follows:
That the City Council hereby authorizes the City Manager to execute an agreement with the Lew Edwards Group and FM3 Research for an amount not to exceed $142,250 to provide professional consulting services related to possible revenue enhancement measures for a future ballot.
2. That the City Council hereby authorizes the appropriation of $142,250 from the General Fund Reserve.
The foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Hercules held on the 23rd day of September 2025 by the following vote of the Council:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
________________________________ Dion Bailey, Mayor ATTEST:
________________________________
Eibleis Melendez, City Clerk