CITY OF MERCED
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Merced Civic Center
678 W. 18th Street
Merced, CA 95340
File #: 24-311 Meeting Date: 4/15/2024
Report Prepared by:
Sarah Knoester, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: Approval of a Professional Services Agreement with Renne Public Law Group, LLP dba Renee Public Policy Group in the Amount of $56,000 for Grant Writing Services
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers approving a sixteen-month contract with Renne Public Law Group, LLP dba Renne Public Policy Group (RPPG) in the amount of $56,000 for grant writing services.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving a Professional Services Agreement with Renee Public Law Group, LLP dba Renne Public Policy Group (RPPG) in the amount of $56,000 for grant writing services; and, B. Authorizing the City Manager to execute the necessary documents; and, C. Authorizing the Finance Officer to make the necessary budget adjustments.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommend by Staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by Staff; or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to Staff for reconsideration of specific items; or,
5. Continue to a future meeting.
AUTHORITY
Merced Municipal Code Title 3 Article III Purchases Over Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Applicable to all city council priorities.
DISCUSSION
As the City faces fiscal constraints and seeks ways to maximize resources, securing grants has become vital in providing services to our community. Grants have helped fund youth programs, pay for playground equipment, purchase vehicles, pay for additional staff, purchase safety equipment, replace or build sidewalks, fund the airport terminal replacement project, and build affordable CITY OF MERCED Printed on 4/11/2024Page 1 of 2
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78 File #:24-311 Meeting Date: 4/15/2024
housing.
Despite our efforts, some grant applications have not been selected. These include the Organized Retail Theft grant to deter large-scale retail theft, the Transformative Climate Communities grant to fund a community led development and infrastructure project in a disadvantaged community, and Prop 68 and other similar grants that would have provided funding to build parks.
Recognizing the importance of grants in advancing our city’s goals, we look to capitalize on available opportunities. To further leverage grant funding, we propose utilizing the expertise of Renne Public Policy Group (RPPG). With their knowledge and dedicated staff, RPPG can enhance our grant- seeking efforts, tapping into various funding sources and increasing our chances of success.
To this end, Staff requests approval of an Agreement to Professional Services for RPPG to expand our grant opportunities to benefit our community.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
At the February 20, 2024, City Council meeting, Council approved a supplemental appropriation of $14,000 from the unreserved, unencumbered general fund balance to cover the costs of grant writing services from March 2024 to June 2024. For fiscal year 2024/2025, City Manager staff has requested a budget allotment of $42,000 to cover the remaining portion of this contract.
ATTACHMENTS
1. RPPG Professional Services Agreement
CITY OF MERCED Printed on 4/11/2024Page 2 of 2
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79 AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into this 1st day of March, 2024, by and between the City of Merced, a California Charter Municipal Corporation, whose address of record is 678 West 18th Street, Merced, California 95340, (hereinafter referred to as "City") and Renne Public Law Group LLP, doing business as Renne Public Policy Group, a Limited Liability Partnership, whose address of record is 1127 11th Street, Suite 300, Sacramento, California 95814, (hereinafter referred to as "Consultant").
WHEREAS, City is undertaking a project for consultant services to provide grant writing services; and,
WHEREAS, Consultant represents that it possesses the professional skills to provide grant writing services in connection with said project.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter recited, hereby agree as follows:
1. SCOPE OF SERVICES. The Consultant shall furnish the following services: Consultant shall provide the grant writing services described in Exhibit "A" attached hereto.
No additional services shall be performed by Consultant unless approved in advance in writing by the City, stating the dollar value of the services, the method of payment, and any adjustment in contract time. All such services are to be coordinated with City and the results of the work shall be monitored by the City Manager or designee. However, the means by which the work is accomplished shall be the sole responsibility of the Consultant.
2. TIME OF PERFORMANCE. All of the work outlined in the Scope of Services shall be completed in accordance with the Schedule outlined in Exhibit "A" attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. By mutual agreement and written addendum to this Agreement, the City and the Consultant may change the requirements in said Schedule.
3. TERM OF AGREEMENT. The term of this Agreement shall
commence upon the day first above written and end on June 30, 2025.
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89 PROPOSAL FOR GRANT WRITING SERVICES
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MERCED
Primary Contact:
Jake Whitaker
Director of Grant Services
[email protected]
(530) 681-9731
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REFERENCES
Anthony Valdez Address:
Assistant to the City Manager
City of Bakersfield
Phone: (661) 326-3029
Email: [email protected]
Grant Name
Clean California Grant
Program
Youth Workforce
Development Program
Active Transportation
Program
Urban Greening
Program
Water and Energy
Efficiency Grant
RAISE
Organized Retail Theft
Prevention Program
Transformative Climate
Communities
Agency
Caltrans
CA Volunteers
California
Transportation
Commission
California Natural
Resources Agency
U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation
U.S. Department of
Transportation
Board of State and
Community
Corrections
Strategic Growth
Council
18 City of Merced / Proposal for Grant Writing Services 1600 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93306
Amount
$1,491,250
$5,354,257
$2,950,000
$1,419,099
$499,829
$10,000,000
$6,203,009
$22,125,000
Submitted Status
2/1/2022 AWARDED
12/30/2021 AWARDED
6/15/2022 AWARDED
3/28/2022 AWARDED
7/28/2022 AWARDED
2/28/2023 AWARDED
7/7/2023 AWARDED
8/1/2023 AWARDED
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