SR-06-11-2013-3EYof i Council Report
Santa Monica
City Council Meeting: June 11, 2013
Agenda Item: 3 -E
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Kathryn Vernez, Deputy City Manager, Special Projects
Subject: Professional Services Agreement with ShawNoder/ Antwih, Inc. for State
Representative and Lobbying Services
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a five year professional services agreement with ShawNoder /Antwih, Inc., a
California -based company, in an amount not to exceed $229,556 for state
representative and lobbying services with future year funding contingent on Council
budget approval.
Executive Summary
Following a competitive process, staff recommends entering into a new contract with
ShawNoder /Antwih, Inc. to continue representing the City's legislative interests in
Sacramento. In April 2013, the City issued a Request for Proposals for a firm to
represent the City in legislative and administrative matters before the State Legislature,
Office of the Governor, and Executive Branch Agencies. ShawNoder /Antwih, Inc. is
recommended to provide State lobbyist services in the amount of $229,556.
Background
State lobbyists work to further the City's legislative, budgetary and administrative
objectives with the State Legislature, Office of the Governor, and Executive Branch
Agencies. They monitor state proposals, legislation, administrative regulations, and
other developments of interest, advising the City when City policy or program objectives
may be affected. Responsibilities include: providing detailed information on state
initiatives; maintaining liaison with members of the State Senate, Assembly and
Governor's Office; advising on City proposals pending before state regulatory or funding
agencies; and assisting City officials with appearances before legislative committees
and administrative agencies
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Shaw/Yoder /Antwih, Inc. has successfully represented the City's interests on state
legislative, regulatory, and funding issues, including:
• Redevelopment: Navigating the aftermath of the dissolution of redevelopment;
and protection of public infrastructure projects funded through 2011 bonds issued
by the former Redevelopment Agency.
• Housing: Efforts to create new revenues for affordable housing; and enhanced
protections for existing tenants and tenant rights.
• Transportation: Finding solutions for public transit bus weight compliance
challenges; fighting to keep public transit funds available for Expo Light Rail and
Big Blue Bus; enacting sponsored legislation authorizing new innovative BBB
revenue sources; supporting legislation to extend the Measure R transaction and
use tax to fund transportation projects in LA County; sponsoring and securing
enactment of legislation authorizing the California Transportation Commission to
relinquish to the City a portion of State Highway Route 1 (Lincoln Boulevard),
resulting in cost savings and service enhancement; and maintaining the dialogue
between the City, local communities and the state delegation on SMO issues.
® Environment: Enacting clear authority for rainwater capture; and lobbying for new
funding opportunities for local government projects and services from the new
Cap and Trade programs.
Of particular significance, the firm maintained almost daily contact with key City officials
during the fight to first defend RDAs from dissolution, and then, assisted the City in
anticipating the pathways for protecting public infrastructure investments given
dissolution, including advising on advocacy strategies that led to introduced legislation
this year potentially protecting tens of millions of dollars in project funding.
Discussion
Lobbyists monitor hundreds of pieces of legislation every year on a on topics such as:
air quality; arts /cultural resources, historic preservation; child care; coastal issues;
economic development; education; energy; environment; health; health insurance;
homeless /social services; housing; landlord /tenant; land use; parks and open space;
public safety; public libraries; rent control; state /local fiscal relationship; taxation;
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telecommunications; transportation; utilities; vehicles; wages; and water quality. The
services of a lobbyist firm are critical to ensure that the City is aware of legislation that
may impact the City's policy or program objectives and has the opportunity to advocate
for or against legislation as appropriate.
Contractor /Consultant Selection
In April 2013, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) from qualified consultants
for state representation and lobbying services. The RFP was posted on the City's on-
line bidding site and sent to two firms that are known to provide State lobbyist services
to cities. One proposal was received and reviewed by an interdepartmental team
composed of staff from the departments of Finance, Public Works, Big Blue Bus,
Housing and Economic Development, City Attorney's Office, and the City Manager's
Office. The proposal from ShawNoder, Inc. was responsive to the RFP. The
qualifications and personnel of the firm; strategy and plan to accomplish goals as the
state lobbyist; and compensation proposal are exceptional and competitively priced.
ShawNoder, Inc. is recommended to provide State lobbyist services.
ShawNoder /Antwih, Inc. has significant experience representing cities, counties and
associations throughout the state, with an emphasis on localities whose policy interests
and goals are similar to the City's. ShawNoder /Antwih, Inc.'s clientele include: City of
Beverly Hills; City of Los Angeles; City and County of San Francisco; Kern County;
Fresno County; Transportation Authority of Marin; California Transit Association; Los
Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority; San Mateo County Transit
District; San Mateo County Transportation Authority; Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit
District; Solano County; Solano Transportation Authority; and Sonoma County. They
also represent private companies and associations such as The Boeing Company and
they are a subcontractor to another lobbying firm for occasional work for the Aircraft
Owners & Pilots Association. See Attachment A for additional client list. To date, no
conflict of interest has arisen. The City has never requested the firm's assistance
regarding any matter involving Boeing. And with respect to the Aircraft Owners & Pilots
Association, neither the City nor the Association have been on opposing sides in
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Sacramento. Staff has assurances from Shaw/Yoder /Antwih, Inc. that should a
potential conflict of interest arise in the future, appropriate measures will be taken to
protect the City's interests throughout the term of the contract, which may include
waivers, firewalls, disengagement or retaining a separate lobbying firm depending on
the City's needs at the time.
The firm has a successful track record providing State lobbyist services to the City since
1986. Award of the existing agreement with the firm, which expires June 30, 2013, was
the result of a competitive process and Council approval on September 23, 2008. The
proposed agreement represents a minimal increase from the current amount of $42,882
per year.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The professional services agreement to be awarded to Shaw/Yoder, Inc. is for an
amount not to exceed $229,556 over a five year period, $43,238 for the first year with
future years subject to cost of living increases. Funds for the first two years have been
included in the proposed FY 2013 -15 budget in account number 01207.555060. Budget
authority for subsequent budget years will be requested in each budget for Council
approval. Future funding is contingent upon Council approval and budget adoption.
Prepared by: Kathryn Vernez, Deputy City Manager, Special Projects
Approved: Forwarded to Council:
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Kathryn ernez �r Rod Gould
Deputy City Manager, Special Projects City Manager
Attachment A: The Shaw / Yoder / Antwih, Inc. Clientele
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Attachment A
The Shaw / Yoder / Antwih, Inc. Clientele
Association Management Clients
California Association of County Treasurers and Tax Collectors *^
California Association for Nurse Practitioners
California Coalition on Workers' Compensation
California Probation, Parole and Correctional Association
California Transit Association *
California Transit Finance Authority
California Transit Finance Corporation
County Alcohol and Drug Program Administrators Association of California *^
State Association of California Retirement Systems A
Legislative Advocacy Clients
Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association
Amador County
Amador Regional Sanitation Authority
Beverly Hills, City of
The Boeing Company
Butte County"
California Association of County Treasurers and Tax Collectors *^
California Coalition on Workers' Compensation
California Faculty Association
California Financial Service Providers
California Mental Health Directors Association
California Moving and Storage Association
California Tax Education Council
California Transit Association
Chadmar Group, The o
Chula Vista, City of
City /County Association of Governments of San Mateo
County Alcohol and Drug Program Administrators of California *^
Feather River Recreation and Park District A
FedEx Corporation
Fresno County
Fresno County Transportation Authority
Grand Pacific Resorts
Huntington Beach, City of
Kern County
Korein Tillery LLC
Lodi Gas Storage, LLC
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Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Los Angeles World Airports
Mariposa County o
Madera County o
National Association of Computer Consultant Businesses o
Pacific Maritime Association o
Pacific Merchants Shipping Association o
Prudential, The o
Samaritan Ministries International
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District ^
San Mateo County Transit District
San Mateo County Transportation Authority
Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District
Santa Monica, City of
Siskiyou County ^
Solano County
Solano Transportation Authority
Solid Waste Association of North America, California Chapters (SWANA)
Sonoma County
Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA)
Tejon Ranch Corporation o
Transportation Authority of Marin
Tulare County "
Tulare County Association of Governments ^
Visalia, City of o
Western Propane Gas Association
Yolo County
Yuba County ^
* Shaw / Yoder / Antwih, Inc. is pleased to provide both legislative advocacy and
association management services to these clients.
^ Served by Strategic Local Government Services, LLC, co -owned by Shaw / Yoder /
Antwih, Inc.
o Shaw / Yoder / Antwih, Inc. is pleased to serve these clients through our strategic
alliance with Advocation, Inc.
It"
Reference Contract No.
9743 (CCS)