REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Amendment No. 4 to the Agreement with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. for Legislative Advocacy Services
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Clara engages in a variety of legislative efforts that is consistent with Council Policy 052 Legislative Advocacy Position Policy, including developing an annual legislative platform through annually adopted Legislative Advocacy Positions, advancing the City's goals and policy positions with regional, state, and federal elected officials and agencies, participating in regional and state committees, boards, and commissions, responding to requests for legislative support or comments for bills, ballot measures, and initiatives, identifying budget opportunities and applying for grant funding to support City programs and infrastructure. In the absence of fulltime legislative City staff, consulting services enhances staff's ability to implement the City's legislative program.
In Fall 2019, the City conducted a competitive Request for Qualifications process for state and federal legislative advocacy services and selected Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. (Townsend) out of seven firms that submitted proposals. Townsend is a state and federal legislative advocacy and grant writing firm that provides lobbying and funding services to public agencies and non-profit organizations throughout California. Townsend has represented over 300 public agencies, including cities, counties, transportation agencies, water and sanitation districts, school districts, community college districts, park and recreation districts, and other special districts, as well as non-profit organizations. The firm has secured over $3.1 billion in public sector funding for its clients and has had over 150 client-sponsored bills signed into law.
In January 2020, the City entered into a one-year agreement with Townsend (Attachment 1) for state and federal legislative a...
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