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10/16/2012 09 Proposed RFP for State Legislative and Administrative Advocacy Services BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. For Meeting of: October 16, 2012 ITEM TITLE: Consideration of the issuing of a Request for Proposals re: state legislative and administrative advocacy services SUBMITTED BY: Randy Beehler, Community Relations Manager CONTACT PERSON /TELEPHONE: Randy Beehler,Community Relations Manager - 575 -6092 SUMMARY EXPLANATION: Attached is a memorandum explaining the proposed issuing of a Request for Proposals ( "RFP ") regarding state legislative and administrative advocacy services. The City Council is being asked to approve the proposed issuing of the RFP. If authorized by the City Council, the RFP process is expected to be completed by early to mid December. At the conclusion of the RFP process, a recommendation for a preferred consultant or consultant team to provide state legislative and administrative advocacy services in 2013 would be presented to the City Council for its approval. Resolution Ordinance Other (specify) Contract: Mail to: Contract Term: Amount: Expiration Date: Insurance Required? No Funding Source: Phone: APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL: City Manager STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approve issuing a Request for Proposals regrading state legislative and administrative advocacy services. BOARD /COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: ATTACHMENTS: Click to download Memorandum - Proposed RFP re: State Legislative and Administrative Advocacy Services NEHORaINDUN To: Council Members From: Community Relations Manager Randy Beehler Subject: Proposed RFP re: State Legislative and Administrative Advocacy Services Date: October 9 201 Council members, For many years the City has engaged the services of a lobbying firm to assist it in advancing its agenda in Washington, D.C. with members of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate, as well as with federal agency staff. Those efforts have been very successful, as is reflected in the strong support the City has received for its federal priorities from both elected officials and agency staff in the nation's capitol. The result has been the securing of millions of dollars in federal funding for a wide range of City projects including increased police and fire staffing, major transportation upgrades, and economic development efforts. Equally valuable, key pieces of federal legislation important to Yakima have been affected because of the advice, assistance, and influence of the City's D.C. lobbying firm. Now, the City Council is being asked to give its approval to the issuing of a Request for Proposals ( "RFP ") by the City for similar lobbying services to be provided in Olympia. With the authorization of the Council and based on responses to the RFP, up to $50,000 would be included in the 2013 City budget for state legislative and administrative advocacy services. The results of the 2012 Yakima Citizen Survey clearly indicated citizens want the City to make improvements in public safety, the overall appearance of Yakima, government accountability, the area's sluggish economy, and the community's aging infrastructure. The survey results are crucial to the Council's development of a strategic plan and a 5 -year business plan, both of which will, in turn, guide the City's legislative and state administrative priorities. Through the RFP process, the City would identify a highly motivated and qualified consultant or consultant team to plan, develop, coordinate, and implement a strategy to advocate for the City's interests at the highest levels in the State of Washington through the Office of the Governor, the state legislature, and state agencies. The consultant or consultant team selected by the City would play a key role in advancing the City's efforts to meet the expectations of the community as reflected in the 2012 Yakima Citizen Survey results by building meaningful and successful relationships with state elected officials and state agency leaders. Specifically, the consultant or consultant team selected by the City would provide the City Council and City staff with the ability to navigate through the executive and legislative branches of state government and through the myriad state agencies in order to efficiently and effectively promote and accomplish objectives and to meet priorities identified by the City Council related to proposed, pending, and enacted legislation, rulemaking, and regulations. The consultant or consultant team would also assist the City in identifying potential state resources and in securing state funding to support City projects, initiatives, and programs. If authorized by the City Council, it is expected that the RFP process would be completed by early to mid December. At the conclusion of the RFP process, a recommendation for a preferred consultant or consultant team would be presented to the City Council for its approval. Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this issue.