Title
Planning and Building Department, Long Range Planning Unit, recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign Agreement for Services 4044 with Platinum Advisors, LLC in the amount of $36,000 for a term of three years, effective upon execution and expiring June 10, 2022, to conduct lobbying and consulting services on behalf of the County for the Lake Tahoe Basin.
FUNDING: Public Utility Franchise Fees (Discretionary Funds).
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On April 10, 2018, the Board authorized the Chair to sign an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the California Tahoe Alliance (Alliance) to encourage coordinated strategies on state funding legislation and to provide a mechanism to apply for funding that supports a broad range of environmental, restoration, and water quality and supply projects, while also supporting coordinated implementation of the Environmental Improvement Program.
The Alliance is a coalition of California agencies and jurisdictions (South Tahoe Public Utility District, Tahoe City Public Utility District, North Tahoe Public Utility District, Placer County, the League to Save Lake Tahoe, and the Tahoe Resource Conservation District) that are working together to identify, coordinate, and advocate for state funding for the Lake Tahoe Basin. Alliance members are expected to commit staff time necessary to meet the goals of the MOU (Attachment C). Alliance members are also pooling resources to engage Platinum Advisors in separate contracts to assist with lobbying efforts as outlined in the proposed contract in Attachment B.
On December 19, 2017, the Board approved and authorized the Chair to sign Agreement for Services 253-S1811 with Conservation Strategy Group (CSG), a Sacramento lobbying firm, in an amount not-to-exceed $36,000 for a term of three years effective December 19, 2017, and expiring on December 18, 2020 to conduct these services. However, key personnel left that firm and the County terminated the contract. To fill the void, the Alliance released a request for proposals (Attachment D) and interviewed lobbying firms. Platinum Advisors was selected by the Alliance as the most qualified firm.
The proposed contract with El Dorado County has a cost of approximately $1,000 per month. The lobbying services have the potential to secure millions of dollars in grant funding for the Lake Tahoe Basin. The selected firm was successful in helping to put Proposition 68, the Parks, Environment and Water Bond, on the ballot, which was approved by California State voters in November 2018, and dedicated $27 million to the California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC) for project funding in the Tahoe Basin.
ALTERNATIVES
The alternative would be to not approve the Agreement for Services with Platinum Advisors. This may impact the County’s ability to coordinate and cooperatively pursue future grant funding opportunities with Alliance members.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Tahoe Alliance MOU - Legistar # 18-0417 - April 10, 2018, Item # 11
Conservation Strategy Group Contract - Legistar # 15-0775 - December 19, 2017, Item # 30
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Chief Administrative Office, County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Sufficient appropriations have been included in the Fiscal Year 2019-20 Budget and will be recommended in future budgets for the term of the Agreement. The annual cost for this activity is estimated at $12,000, for a total cost of $36,000 over three years. For the current fiscal year, Public Utility Franchise Fees from PG&E and Southwest Gas are budgeted to fund the Agreement in the amount of $12,000.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk of the Board to obtain the Board Chair’s signature on two (2) originals of the Agreement for Services #4044 and return one (1) original to the Contracts Unit for distribution to the vendor, and one (1) original to Cindy Johnson, Planning & Building Department.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Good Governance - Promote the development of resources to identify and pursue additional revenue including local, state, federal and private funding for new and existing projects.
CONTACT
Brendan Ferry, Principal Planner
Planning and Building Department