City Council Staff Report Page 1 of 2 September 23, 2025 Agenda Item No. 6.1
DATE: September 23, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Jennifer Phan, Deputy City Manager
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the First Amendment to the Consulting Services Agreement with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. to Increase the Not-To-Exceed Amount and Extend the Agreement Term for Legislative Advocacy and Grant Funding Research Services
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the First Amendment to the Consulting Services Agreement with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc., in a form approved by the City Attorney, to increase the agreement amount by $96,000, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $192,000, and to extend the agreement term to September 30, 2026, for legislative advocacy and grant funding research services.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
This item is not identified in the City Council Strategic Plan, nor is it directly correlated to a specific priority area. However, an agreement for legislative advocacy and grant funding research services is with the intent of advancing the goals and priorities identified in the Strategic Plan.
BACKGROUND
State and federal legislation have the potential to have direct and significant impacts on a city’s fiscal, operational, and environmental stability. On September 12, 2023, the City Council authorized the City to enter into a Consulting Services Agreement with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. (TPA) for legislative advocacy and grant funding research services.
The established term for the initial agreement was from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024. In part, the goal is for active legislative engagement to protect and promote the interests of Union City’s constituents.
To allow for effective and sustained engagement in state and federal legislative processes, a new consulting services agreement was entered into with TPA on November 26, 2024. The established term under this agreement is from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025.
Agenda Item No. 6.1
City Council Staff Report Page 2 of 2 September 23, 2025 As part of the scope of services, each year, the City Council has adopted a Legislative Platform that represents Union City’s priorities in both Sacramento and Washington, DC.
The legislative platform has allowed City staff in coordination with TPA to proactively address legislation that may impact the City’s ability to operate effectively.
DISCUSSION
TPA has continued to satisfactorily provide its services under the terms and conditions of the current agreement. Thus far, TPA has been instrumental in assisting the City with strengthening its legislative advocacy and grant funding research efforts. Continuing to work with TPA would allow for an effective and sustained engagement in the state and federal legislative processes. This longevity is valuable as the legislative advocacy consultant becomes intimately familiar with the City's needs and priorities to represent the City’s interests effectively. TPA has agreed to continue its services under the terms and conditions of the original agreement, including the flat fee retainer amount of $8,000 per month, for a total of $96,000 per year.
As such, the City is recommending that the City Council authorize the City Manager to enter the First Amendment to the Agreement with TPA, to increase the agreement by $96,000, in order to continue legislative advocacy and grant funding research services for another year through September 30, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no new fiscal impact to the General Fund as a result of the proposed action.
Legislative advocacy and grant funding research services have been budgeted and approved in the FY 2025-2026 and FY 2026-2027 Adopted Biennial Budget in Account No. 110-11001-54110 (General Fund - City Council - Professional/Consulting Services.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the First Amendment to the Consulting Services Agreement with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc., in a form approved by the City Attorney, to increase the agreement amount by $96,000, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $192,000, and to extend the agreement term to September 30, 2026, for legislative advocacy and grant funding research services.
Prepared by: Jennifer Phan, Deputy City Manager
Submitted by: Jennifer Phan, Deputy City Manager
Attachments
1. Draft Resolution
2. First Amendment (through September 30, 2026)
3. Consulting Services Agreement (through September 30, 2025)
4. 2025 State and Federal Legislative Platform
5. City of Union City - Legislative Update Presentation (September 2025)