City Council Staff Report Page 1 of 4 September 8, 2026 Staff Report
Agenda Item No. 3.1
DATE: September 8, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Joan Malloy, City Manager
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Consulting Services Agreement with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc., in an Amount Not to Exceed $102,000 for Legislative Advocacy and Grant Funding Research Services
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the Consulting Services Agreement with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. (“TPA”), in a form approved by the City Attorney, for a total amount not to exceed $102,000 through September 30, 2027, for legislative advocacy and grant funding research services (the “Agreement”).
With limited local resources to address the City’s capital, infrastructure, programmatic, and community needs, legislative advocacy and grant funding assistance provide an important means of securing external resources and reducing pressure on the General Fund. These efforts also strengthen the City’s ability to advance its priorities with state and federal policymakers and agencies.
The City’s Legislative Platform (Resolution No. 2025-065), adopted in May 2025 (Attachment 1), provides the framework for these efforts and ensures alignment with City Council priorities. Consistent with the Legislative Platform, TPA monitors state and federal legislation, recommends advocacy positions, prepares advocacy materials, maintains the City’s legislative matrix, represents the City before policymakers and agencies, and identifies and pursues funding opportunities.
The proposed Consulting Services Agreement (Attachment 2) is necessary as the current agreement with TPA is set to expire on September 30, 2026. The Agreement would be for a one-year term and increase the monthly retainer from $8,000 to $8,500, resulting in an annual contract amount of $102,000. Approval of the Agreement will allow the City to maintain continuity in its legislative advocacy efforts and continue pursuing state, federal, and other external funding opportunities for City projects, programs, and services. For these reasons, staff recommends that the City Council adopt the Agreement to continue Agenda Item No. 3.1
City Council Staff Report Page 2 of 4 September 8, 2026 TPA’s legislative advocacy and grant funding research services through September 30, 2027, at a total annual contract amount not to exceed $102,000.
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 intended to advance the goals and priorities identified in the Strategic Plan.
BACKGROUND
State and federal legislation can 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 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. The goal was to engage actively in the legislative process 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 term established under this agreement ran from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. The City Council subsequently adopted the updated State and Legislative Platform in May 2025, which continues to provide the mechanism for the City to monitor, analyze, and respond to complex, fast-moving legislation important to Union City.
The City subsequently entered into the First Amendment to the Consulting Services Agreement with TPA to continue providing legislative advocacy and grant funding research services through September 30, 2026.
DISCUSSION
TPA has continued to satisfactorily provide legislative advocacy, grant funding research, and related services on behalf of the City. The value of this partnership is demonstrated through measurable results to date. TPA’s efforts have helped secure $1,556,861 in federal and competitive grant funding for the City (Attachments 3 and 4). These funds have supported public safety, infrastructure, sustainability, and other City priorities, and have enabled the City to leverage external resources for projects and services that would otherwise require local funding.
Most significantly, TPA successfully advanced two City projects through the Fiscal Year 2026 federal appropriations process, resulting in $1.1 million in federal funding, including $850,000 toward the acquisition of a new fire engine and $250,000 for the City’s streetlight project. TPA’s advocacy included advancing the projects through the federal appropriations process and coordinating the City’s participation in a coalition of 45 California public agencies advocating for the preservation of community project funding.
Both Union City projects were ultimately included in the final federal appropriations legislation and signed into law.
Agenda Item No. 3.1
City Council Staff Report Page 3 of 4 September 8, 2026 TPA has also assisted the City in securing $456,861 in competitive grant awards. These awards include $226,252 from the California Board of State and Community Corrections for the Union City Police Department’s Public Safety Enhancement Initiative; $49,100 from the California Office of Traffic Safety for traffic collision data and analysis technology; $8,790 for LiDAR equipment to support traffic enforcement and pedestrian safety; $43,699 from the California Highway Patrol for cannabis education and outreach; and $129,020 from the U.S. Department of Energy for electric vehicle purchases. These awards provide additional resources for City departments to implement programs, purchase equipment, and advance projects, reducing reliance on local funding alone.
Beyond competitive grant funding and federal appropriations, TPA’s legislative advocacy efforts have also supported the City’s pursuit of direct state funding for critical infrastructure needs. Most recently, the approval of AB 113, California’s Budget Act, resulted in an appropriation of $1,040,000 to the City of Union City for necessary renovations at City fire stations. This significant state investment will help address critical facility needs while reducing the local funding otherwise required to complete these improvements.
TPA’s services extend beyond securing funding. Throughout 2026, TPA provided weekly legislative and regulatory updates and conducted bi-weekly meetings with City staff to monitor priority legislation, identify emerging issues, and coordinate advocacy strategies.
TPA also prepared policy analysis on issues directly affecting local government, including electric bicycle safety, illegal dumping, homelessness funding, wildfire and fire safety initiatives, tort reform, and other significant state policy proposals. These services allow City leadership to remain informed and engaged as legislative, regulatory, budget, and funding decisions affecting Union City are developed.
Under the Agreement, TPA’s monthly compensation would increase from $8,000 to $8,500, an increase of $500 per month, or 6.25 percent, resulting in an annual contract amount of $102,000. When evaluated against the $1,556,861 in federal and competitive grant funding secured to date, the financial benefits associated with TPA’s work exceed the annual cost of the proposed agreement. In addition, the City recently received a $1,040,000 state appropriation through AB 113 for necessary renovations at Union City fire stations, further demonstrating the value of sustained legislative advocacy in advancing City priorities and securing outside resources.
Continuing the partnership with TPA would allow the City to maintain the relationships, institutional knowledge, and advocacy momentum developed through the current agreement while continuing to pursue external resources for City projects, programs, and services. Given the City’s number of unfunded and underfunded priorities, continued legislative advocacy and grant funding assistance provide an important mechanism for leveraging state and federal resources, advancing City Council priorities, reducing the pressure on the General Fund, and maximizing the City’s ability to secure outside funding for the benefit of Union City residents.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no new fiscal impact to the General Fund as a result of the proposed action.
Agenda Item No. 3.1
City Council Staff Report Page 4 of 4 September 8, 2026 Legislative advocacy and grant funding research services have been budgeted and approved in the 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 proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the Agreement with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc., in a form approved by the City Attorney, in an amount not to exceed $102,000 through September 30, 2027, for legislative advocacy and grant funding research services.
Prepared by: Serenity Mlay, Management Analyst I
Submitted by: Joan Malloy, City Manager
Attachments
1. Attachment 1 – Union City 2025 State and Federal Legislative Platform
2. Attachment 2 - Consulting Services Agreement (through September 30, 2027)
3. Attachment 3 - 2026 Summary of Legislative Efforts – Townsend Public Affairs, Inc.
4. Attachment 4 – PowerPoint Presentation- City of Union City Summary of 2026 Legislative Efforts Presentation – Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. (September 8, 2026)
5. Draft Resolution