PISMO BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAF REPOR
Agenda Item #9.H
Meetin Date: June 2, 2026
TITLE:
Amendment #2 to the Agreement with Thorn Run Partners for Federal Legislative Advocacy Services
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute Amendment #2 to the agreement with Thorn Run Partners for federal legislative advocacy services, in an amount not to exceed $132,000 in Fiscal Years 2027 and 2028.
DISCUSSION:
Thorn Run Partners currently provides the City with grant writing and legislative advocacy services at the federal level. As part of its services, Thorn Run has formulated the City's Federal Legislative Agendas for several years and provided focused and effective grant writing and legislative advocacy services in accordance therewith. Thorn Run has been very successful in helping to obtain funds for various City priorities and acting as a liaison to federal legislators with respect to complex issues.
2026 Legislative Agenda
On December 16, 2025, the City Council adopted its 2026 Federal Legislative Agenda.
Agreement for Legislative Advocacy Services
The City Council originally approved the current agreement with Thorn Run on December 1, 2020, and approved Amendment 1 to the agreement on December 5, 2023. The current agreement term expires on June 30, 2026. Staff and Thorn Run both wish to extend the agreement, with the proposed Amendment #2 (Attachment 2) continuing the same scope of services and same cost through June 30, 2028.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Council adopt a resolution (Attachment 1) approving Amendment #2 to the contract with Thorn Run for federal legislative advocacy services through June 2027 in an amount not to exceed $5,500 per month, or a total of $132,000 in Fiscal Years 2027 and 2028.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact of adopting the subject resolution is $5,500 per month, for a total of $66,000 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 and $66,000 in FY 2028. This cost will be shared 50% in the General Fund and 50% in the Water and Wastewater Enterprise Funds. Of the 50% share in the Water and Wastewater Enterprise Funds, 33% of this will be allocated to the Water Enterprise Fund for the Central Coast Blue project and 67% of this will be allocated to the Wastewater Enterprise Fund for the Central Coast Blue project. There are sufficient budgeted amounts in FY 2027 to support the FY 2027 cost, while the FY 2028 budget will be developed next year.
Council Agenda 6-2-2026 9.H-1
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Amendment #2 to Agreement
Prepared by:
Erica Inderlied, City Clerk
Submitted by: Silas Clarke, Assistant City Manager
City Manager Approval:
Council Agenda 6-2-2026 9.H-2
RESOLUTION NO. R-2026-XXX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PISMO BEACH, CALIFORNIA AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AMENDMENT #2
TO THE AGREEMENT WITH THORN RUN PARTNERS FOR FEDERAL
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY SERVICES, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $132,000 IN FISCAL YEARS 2027 AND 2028
WHEREAS, Thorn Run Partners currently provides the City with grant writing and legislative advocacy services at the federal level; Thorn Run has formulated the City's Federal Legislative Agendas for several years and has been successful in helping to obtain funds for various City priorities and acting as a liaison to federal legislators with respect to complex issues; and
WHEREAS, the City Council, on December 16, 2025, adopted its calendar year 2026 Federal Legislative Agenda; and
WHEREAS, the current agreement term expires on June 30, 2026; staff and Thorn Run both wish to extend the agreement, with a proposed Amendment #2 continuing the same scope of services and same cost through June 30, 2028; and WHEREAS, there are sufficient funds in the adopted Fiscal Year 2027 budget to support the cost of the first year of this Amendment.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Pismo Beach hereby authorizes the City Manager to execute Amendment #2, in substantially the form attached to staff’s report dated June 2, 2026, to the agreement with Thorn Run Partners for federal grant writing and legislative advocacy services for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028 in an amount not to exceed $132,000 in FY 2027 and FY 2028.
UPON MOTION OF Council Member , seconded by Council Member , the foregoing resolution was adopted by the City Council of the City of Pismo Beach this 2nd day of June 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
RECUSED:
Approved: Attest:
________________________ ________________________
Ed Waage, Mayor Erica Inderlied, City Clerk
Council Agenda 6-2-2026 9.H-3
Attachment 1
AMENDMENT #2
to the
DECEMBER 23, 2020 AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PISMO BEACH
AND THORN RUN PARTNERS, LLC
Pursuant to the December 23, 2020 Agreement for Professional Services between the City of Pismo Beach, hereinafter referred to as “City,” and Thorn Run Partners, LLC, hereinafter referred to as “Vendor,” City and Vendor hereby agree as follows:
1.Continued services shall be performed, and compensation for and timing of said services shall be as set forth in Exhibit A and Exhibit B dated December 23, 2020, attached to Amendment 1 to this agreement and incorporated herein by reference.
2.To wit, compensation for the additional services shall not exceed the amount of five thousand five hundred dollars ($5,500) per month, or a total of sixty-six thousand dollars ($66,000) in Fiscal Year 2027, and sixty thousand dollars ($66,000) in Fiscal Year 2028, for a total of one hundred thirty-two thousand dollars ($132,000), without prior written approval of the City.
3.The revised fee under the December 23, 2020 contract, plus this addendum, is four hundred thirty-three thousand dollars ($435,000).
4.The agreement term end date is hereby revised to June 30, 2028.
5.All other provisions of the above agreement between City and Vendor shall remain in full force and effect.
Signatures begin on the following page.
Council Agenda 6-2-2026 9.H-4
Attachment 1.A
CITY:
City of Pismo Beach, a Municipal Corporation
Signed:
Name: Silas Clarke
Title: Assistant City Manager
Dated: ________________________________
Signed:
Name: Jorge E. Garcia
Title: City Manager
Dated: ________________________________
ATTEST:
Signed:
Name: Erica Inderlied
Title: City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Signed:
Name: Dean J. Pucci
Title: City Attorney
VENDOR:
Thorn Run Partners, LLC
Signed:
Name: ________________________________
Title: _________________________________
Dated: ________________________________
Address for giving notice:
(if changed from prior agreement)
______________________________________
______________________________________
Email address for official communications:
(if changed from prior agreement)
______________________________________
Vendor Representative:
(if changed from prior agreement)
Name/Title: ____________________________
Council Agenda 6-2-2026 9.H-5
Attachment 1.A