sr-081010-1kCity Council Meeting: August 10, 2010
Agenda Item: `- ~-
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Stephanie Negriff, Director of Transit Services
Subject: Big Blue Bus Washington Representative/Lobbying Services
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a modification to our professional services agreement with The Ferguson
Group, LLC in an amount not to exceed $35,000 for Federal representative and
lobbying services as part of the Municipal Transit Operators Coalition (MTOC). With
this agreement, the total contractual authority with the Ferguson Group for all Federal
representative and lobbying services will be $111,000.
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 City 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 Federal Section 5309 funds for
transit vehicles and facilities. The group, named the Municipal Transit Operators
Coalition recommends The Ferguson Group, LLC to represent its interests. The Big
Blue Bus' share of The Ferguson Group, LLC agreement with MTOC shall not exceed
$35,000.
Discussion
The Ferguson Group, LLC has worked extensively and successfully 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 the Safe, Accountable,
Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), the Big
Blue Bus received an earmark of $3.1 million which was one of the highest in the State
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of California. MTOC also received $400,000 through the FY 2010 Transportation
Appropriations process.
The Ferguson Group, LLC has effectively advocated on behalf of the City and MTOC.
The Big Blue Bus' share of the MTOC Agreement with the Ferguson Group, LLC for
lobbyist services will be for an amount not to exceed $35,000. The Ferguson Group,
LLC has a separate existing agreement with the City in an amount not to exceed
$76,000 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. Because a
competitive bid was awarded to the Ferguson Group, LLC on June 30, 2009, this
modification is not required to be competitively bid under Santa Monica Municipal Code
Section 2.24.080. With this agreement, the total contractual authority with the Ferguson
Group, LLC for all Federal representative and lobbying services will be $111,000.
Budget/Financial Impact
The professional services agreement amount to be awarded to The Ferguson Group,
LLC is $35,000. Funds are included in the FY 2010-11 Adopted Budget at account
41640.555062.
Prepared by: David Feinberg, Deputy Director of Transit Services
Approved: Forwarded to Council:
St~p anie Negriff Rod Gould
Dine for of Transit Service City Manager
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Reference Contract No.
9263 (CCS).