City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: April 16, 2024
From: Carlos Fandino, City Administrator
Department: City Administration
Submitted by: Angela Kimmey, Deputy City Administrator
Subject
Services Agreement with Renne Public Policy Group for Legislative and Regulatory Advocacy Recommendation
Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Renne Public Policy Group (RPPG), in substantially the same form as submitted, for legislative and regulatory advocacy services for a total amount not-to-exceed $447,000 for a three-year term.
Background
The City requires the services of a third-party firm to provide legislative, regulatory, and administrative advocacy on the full spectrum of legislative and regulatory proposals that could impact the City’s overall operations, specifically with expertise in public health and utility services.
Such advocacy services are necessary to remain apprised of important legislative and regional issues that may impact the City in a positive or negative way, to protect the City’s interests and to identify resources available to enhance City Services and programs. To that end, and pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code (VMC) Section 3.32.080, on January 25, 2024, City Administration issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Legislative and Regulatory Advocacy Services. In general, the scope of work included in the RFP consisted of monitoring legislation, providing testimony, developing strategy, working with California administrative agencies, attending and participating in legislative and regulatory conference calls and meetings, arranging meetings, and providing regular updates to City staff. Under the direction of the City Administrator, the selected firm will assist the City in developing and successfully pursuing its legislative and funding priorities.
Pursuant to VMC Section 3.32.130, the RFP was posted on the PlanetBids online platform and emailed to 13 qualified firms in compliance. In response to the RFP, four proposals were received by the March 4, 2024 deadline. The written proposals were subject to a review process by city staff with knowledge of the City’s legislative and regulatory needs. Individual scores were applied by members of the selection panel using the evaluation criteria set forth in the RFP. At the conclusion of the assessment, Renne Public Policy Group (RPPG) emerged as the best suited firm to meet the city’s legislative and regulatory advocacy needs as communicated through the RFP.
Based on the results of the RFP process, staff recommends approval of a three-year agreement with RPPG to provide legislative and regulatory advocacy services for the City. As noted in their proposal, RPPG is partnering with Emanuels Jones and Associates to meet the City’s diverse needs for expertise in general city legislation, and also specialty expertise in public health and utilities including support for grant funding identification. As noted in RPPG’s proposal, by the end of 2024, the Legislature will have fully turned over since 2012. This provides an opportunity for Vernon and VPU to establish new relationships both inside and outside the City’s legislative delegation. Increased legislative engagement will enable the city to develop robust relationships with legislative leaders, the Administration, key state agencies, staff, and regulatory bodies. To leverage this opportunity, RPPG will conduct an educational tour at the Capitol, guided by the City’s legislative priorities, to drive awareness on the issues of greatest importance to the city and promote the city’s efforts to grow and evolve. This will better position the city for successful funding requests.
The proposed agreement has been reviewed and approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office. City Council approval of the proposed agreement is required pursuant to VMC Section
3.32.030 (A) as it exceeds $100,000.
Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact is not-to-exceed $447,000 over the three-year term of the agreement. The cost for the proposed services agreement will be shared between City Administration and the Public Utilities Department (VPU) with a $49,000 annual cost allocated to City Administration and $100,000 to VPU. Sufficient funds are available in General Fund, City Administration Department, Professional Services Account No. 011-010-105-529215 and Electric Enterprise Fund, Professional Services Account No. 055-050-580-529215 for the current fiscal year and will be budgeted in subsequent years.
Attachments
1. Services Agreement – Renne Public Policy Group