SR-100-002-01 (9)~_ . .
City Councif Report
~ ~ity of
Santa Monica
City Council Meeting: January 23, 2007
Agenda Item: ~.- ~
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Stephanie Negriff, Director of Transit Services
Subject: Professional Services Agreement with The Ferguson Group, LLC for
Washington Representative/Lobbying Services for an amount not to
exceed $30,060
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a professional services agreement with The Ferguson Group, LLC in an
amount not to exceed $30,060 for Federal representative and lobbying services as part
of the Municipal Transit Operators Coalition.
Executive Summary
This report recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate
and execute a contract with The Ferguson Group, LLC to represent the Big Blue Bus on
transit discretionary funding issues in Washington, D.C. The Big Blue Bus works with
six other Los Angeles County municipal transit systems to obtain Section 5309 funds for
transit vehicles and facilities. The group, named Municipal Transit Operators Coalition
(MTOC) has selected The Ferguson Group, LLC to represent its interests.
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Discussion
Backqround
The Ferguson Group has worked extensively and successfuily for MTOC, which
consists of transit systems operated by the cities of Santa Monica, Commerce, Culver
City, Gardena, Montebello, Norwalk and Torrance. As part of last year's Safe,
Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users
(SAFETEA-LU), the Big Blue Bus received an earmark of slightly over $3.1 million
which was one of the highest in the State of California. The Municipal Transit Operators
Coalition received the highest earmark in Los Angeles County in the House version of
the FY 2007 Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations
Bill.
The Ferguson Group has effectively advocated on behalf of the City and MTOC.
Services will be provided to Santa Monica for an amount not to exceed $30,060. The
Ferguson group has a separate agreement in an amount not to exceed $70,885 to
monitor federal executive proposals, legislation, administrative regulation,
Congressional appropriation opportunities and other developments, advising the City
when non-transit City policy or program objectives may be affected. With this
agreement, the total contractual authority with the Ferguson Group for all Federal
representative and lobbying services will be $100,945.
Budqet/Financial Impact
Funds of $30,060 are available in account number 41640.555062.162W.
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Prepared by:
David Feinberg, Deputy Director of Transit Services
Approved: Forwarded to Council:
~t~anie Negriff U ~ P. L
Di ctor of Transit Services City
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