Agenda Item
City Council
Item #: 7.1. 9/26/2023 File #: 23-0612
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Tom Kisela, City Manager
1. SUBJECT
Consideration of a two-year professional services agreement with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. for grant writing and legislative advocacy services.
2. SUMMARY
The California State Legislature introduces thousands of bills each legislative session with varying degrees of potential impact on local agencies. Over the past year, Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. has provided excellent services to the Orange community, bringing the City’sattention to consequential grants and legislation. In considering the benefits Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. has brought to the City coupled with their understanding of the community’sneeds, it is recommended the City Council approve a two-year agreement with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc.
3. RECOMMENDED ACTION
Approve a two-year agreement with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. in the amount of $216,000 for legislative advocacy and grant writing services expended from account number 100.0201.51780.00000, and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the two-year agreement on behalf of the City.
4. FISCAL IMPACT
The total expenditure for FY24 is $81,000 which will be paid through the General Fund, account number 100.0201.51780.00000.
5. STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Goal 2: Be a Fiscally Healthy Community
b. Analyze future fiscal needs and potential revenue opportunities.
Goal 3: Enhance and Promote Quality of Life in the Community e. Develop and strengthen collaborative partnerships to enhance and promote quality of life programs, projects, and services.
6. DISCUSSION AND BACKGROUND
On October 11, 2022, the Orange City Council approved a one-year, $96,000 professional services agreement (PSA) with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. (TPA) for legislative advocacy and grant writing services. Upon entering into a PSA, City representatives met with TPA to identify legislative and grant priorities. In relying on their experience, professional network, and legislative acumen, TPA was able City of Orange Printed on 9/21/2023Page 1 of 2
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Item #: 7.1. 9/26/2023 File #: 23-0612
priorities. In relying on their experience, professional network, and legislative acumen, TPA was able to strategize a clear plan and produce significant benefits for the Orange Community.
While competitive grants, the California State budget process, and the federal appropriations process are excellent methods to secure proceeds for community projects, thousands of projects are submitted for consideration. TPA has demonstrated a clear understanding of the best methods to employ in order to secure funding through these processes. The TPA team worked with City staff to identify projects with the greatest likelihood of grant or earmark selections. As a result of these efforts, TPA secured $3,189,950 through various funding opportunities (with over $3,000,000 in additional funds pending approval).
The total proposed annual agreement amount represents only 3% of the funding secured through TPA in the past year. Additionally, continued investment provides the City of Orange a significant opportunity to advance important community projects. With TPA’srecent success and demonstrated understanding of the Orange community, City staff recommends the City Council approve a two-year agreement with TPA totaling $216,000. The proposed two-year agreement locks in a $1,000 per month increase to more proactively engage in securing funding on behalf of the City through the State and Federal funding cycles. It should also be noted that despite the $1,000 per month increase, TPA’s rate remains lower than the other proposals received last year for all-inclusive services (i.e., legislative advocacy and grant writing) making TPA the most cost-effective, responsible bidder.
Should the City Council approve this agreement, City staff will continue to work with TPA on identifying viable funding opportunities while ensuring Orange has a greater legislative voice in Sacramento.
7. ATTACHMENTS
· Townsend Public Affairs Agreement
· Listing of Awarded Projects and Funding Programs
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