BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:Title
Approve Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. A4578G with Lighthouse Public Affairs, LLC, for the State Lobbying Services 2021, Project No. 60231004, Increasing the Fee by $180,000 for a Revised Total Not-To-Exceed Fee of $360,000 and Extending the Agreement Term to December 3, 2023.
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RECOMMENDATION:Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. A4578G with Lighthouse Public Affairs, LLC, for the State Lobbying Services 2021, Project No. 60231004, increasing the fee by $180,000, for a revised total not-to-exceed fee of $360,000, and extending the Agreement term to December 3, 2023.
Body
SUMMARY:
Staff desires to extend the duration of the Agreement to December 3, 2023, and increase the total not-to-exceed fee to $360,000.
The Agreement was originally executed December 3, 2021, for a one-year period ending December 3, 2022, with an option for Valley Water to extend the Agreement for two additional one-year periods. The monthly fixed fee amount for services provided by the Consultant was $15,000 for a total not-to-exceed fixed fee of $180,000.
Project Background
The objective of the Agreement is for the Consultant to provide state lobbying services for Valley Water. The Consultant will supplement services provided by Valley Water’s staff in Sacramento and will coordinate all activities with Valley Water’s Sacramento office. The Consultant shall partner with Valley Water’s Project Manager (VWPM) to pursue the agency's legislative and regulatory objectives, including advocating in support or opposition of bills or amendments, state budget appropriations, regulatory changes, state grants, loans, reimbursements, or other funding.
In 2022, Valley Water’s first year of contracting with Lighthouse Public Affairs (LPA), the LPA team advocated for Valley Water and helped increase Valley Water’s profile in the Governor’s office and state administrative agencies, while also improving Valley Water’s access to state officials. That higher profile and improved access helped secure numerous meetings with Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot, Department of Water Resources Director Karla Nemeth, State Water Resources Control Board Chair Joaquin Esquivel, Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Chuck Bonham, and many other senior officials at these and other agencies. That increased access was instrumental in advancing Valley Water’s policy goals, including enacting an extension of the Proposition 1E flood subventions liquidation deadline that prevented the expiration of $149 million in funding with nearly $45 million earmarked for Valley Water. Collaborative advocacy with Valley Water staff also helped secure an additional $7.5 million through an inflation adjustment for the Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project. Valley Water’s increased profile also has the agency better positioned to secure funding for dam safety and potable reuse of recycled water in the FY 2023-24 State Budget.
Looking ahead to 2023, there likely will be a heavy legislative and regulatory workload stemming from an increased focus on water issues by the Newsom Administration and the Legislature. The Governor’s Water Supply Strategy released last August has created once-in-a-generation opportunities for permit streamlining and funding to address water supply shortages due to drought and climate change. Staff recommends extending the LPA contract and is evaluating bringing additional lobbying resources on board to advance Valley Water’s interests.
Amendment No. 1 to Agreement A4578G
Amendment No. 1 will increase the not-to-exceed fees from $180,000 by $180,000 resulting in a total not-to-exceed fee of $360,000 and extend the Agreement term to December 3, 2023. The monthly fixed fee amount for services provided by the Consultant will remain at $15,000/month during the extension term for December 3, 2023.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IMPACT:
There are no Environmental Justice impacts associated with this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Approval of Amendment No. 1 shall not exceed $360,000 through December 3, 2023. There are adequate funds in the Office of Government Relation’s Board-adopted FY 2022-2023 budget, Project 60231004 State Government Relations, to encumber the necessary fees to support the Consultant’s services through the remainder of the current fiscal year.
CEQA:
The recommended action does not constitute a project under CEQA because it does not have the potential for resulting in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Amendment No. 1
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER:Manager
Bart Broome, 408-630-4508