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TITLE: |
Consideration and Approval of Contract: State Lobbying Professional Services Contract with Nexxus Consulting in the amount of $78,000 annually. |
STAFF RECOMMENDED ACTION: |
- Approve the State Lobbying Professional Services Contract with Nexxus Consulting to provide state lobbying services for the City of Flagstaff for a monthly fee of six thousand five hundred dollars ($6,500), which includes all applicable expenses billed at cost, for a total annual fee of seventy-eight thousand dollars ($78,000); and
- Authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents.
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Executive Summary: |
The City contracts for state lobbying services to advocate and monitor specific legislation impacting the City's interests and established priorities. The City’s lobbyist is required to provide regular and timely information to the City Manager and weekly updates to the City during Legislative Sessions, and conduct a post session recap for City Council at public meetings. The lobbyist is responsible for ongoing communication throughout the Legislative session as well as seeking direction regarding important bills, amendments, developments, and other direction provided from the City. Each year, the City Council adopts priorities to provide necessary direction to staff and the lobbyist.
The City's Purchasing Section conducted a Request for Proposals (RFP) solicitation and advertised the RFP twice in the Arizona Daily Sun on July 19 and July 26, 2023. The RFP was also posted to the PlanetBids website on July 14, 2023, which is a third-party bidding site with hundreds of registered Vendors throughout the country. Proposal responses were due no later than August 13, 2023. The City received a total of two (2) responses from Nexxus Consulting and Husch Blackwell Strategies. The evaluation committee was comprised of six (6) evaluators, with all evaluators being within the City organization. Once the evaluation and scoring was completed, the scores were aggregated into a matrix. The evaluation committee determined Nexxus Consulting to be both responsive and responsible with high scores given by all six (6) evaluators.
Nexxus Consulting is partnering with Brian Murray of Cornerstone Public Affairs as a subcontractor to provide state lobbying services for the City of Flagstaff. Cornerstone Public Affairs brings together over 75 years of very strong bipartisan experience focused on public policy and business development in Arizona. Mr. Murray is a founding partner at Cornerstone and has over 24 years of legislative experience. Mr. Murray has had recent success in securing significant appropriations for the City of Flagstaff, Lowell Observatory, ASU, and Pinal County. |
Financial Impact: |
The contract for state lobbying services is a three-year contract with two additional one-year extensions. Funding for state lobbying services is included in the FY2023-24 adopted budget in account 001-01-017-0070-1-4206 in the General Fund within the Communication and Civic Engagement Division. |
Policy Impact: |
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Connection to PBB Priorities/Objectives, Carbon Neutrality Plan & Regional Plan: |
State lobbyist supports and advocates on all priorities and objectives as necessary. |
Has There Been Previous Council Decision on This: |
Previous Council decision on a contract for state lobbying services occurred in November 2015 and September 2019. |
Options and Alternatives: |
- Approve the State Lobbying Professional Services Contract with Nexxus Consulting, as recommended; or
- Direct staff to conduct another Request for Proposals (RFP) procurement process; or
- Discontinue the use of any professional lobbying services.
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Background and History: |
The City of Flagstaff’s Intergovernmental Relations Program coordinates the City's dealings with the federal, state, tribal, and other local governments and seeks to foster constructive links between the City and these entities. The Intergovernmental Relations Program works to advocate for the Flagstaff community by fostering and maintaining relationships with individuals and entities that affect the City’s interests.
The Intergovernmental Relations Program keeps the Mayor and Council informed about intergovernmental issues and assists in representing the City's interests in these matters. The Intergovernmental Relations Program is part of the Communication and Civic Engagement Division and serves all City departments, the Flagstaff City Council and the Mayor.
The City contracts lobbying services to advocate and monitor specific legislation impacting to the City's interest and established priorities. The City adopts state and federal legislative priorities to establish City positions on issues, policies and projects of legislative interest. The City’s lobbyist is in constant communication with staff. Together, the lobbyist and staff brief the Mayor and City Council throughout the legislative session. While the adopted priorities provide necessary direction, ongoing communication is also critical throughout the session to seek direction regarding important bills, amendments and project developments.
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Community Involvement: |
Community benefits of the State Lobbying Professional Services Contract may include additional or enhanced funding resources as well as policy actions that may enhance essential services or quality of life for Flagstaff residents, businesses, public agencies and visitors.
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