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AGENDA REPORT
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| | | | | | | | DATE:
| January 21, 2020
| TO:
| Mayor and City Council
| FROM:
| Stefan T. Chatwin, City Manager 
| | SUBJECT: | Resolution 2020-09 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield Approving Amendment No. 6 to a Federal Legislative Consultant Services Agreement Between the City of Fairfield, Solano Transportation Authority, the Cities of Vacaville and Vallejo, SolTrans, and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP |
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| | | | | | | | | RECOMMENDED ACTION | | Adopt resolution. |
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| | | | | | | | | STATEMENT OF ISSUE | | The attached resolution authorizes the City to extend an agreement with the cities of Vacaville and Vallejo, SolTrans, and the Solano Transportation Authority (STA) for federal lobbying efforts provided by Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP (Akin Gump). The current two-year contract (Amendment No. 5) expired December 31, 2019, and the proposed amendment will allow Akin Gump to continue their transportation advocacy efforts on behalf of the partnering agencies. |
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| | | | | | | | | DISCUSSION | Since 2001, the City of Fairfield partnered with the Cities of Vacaville and Vallejo, and the STA for federal lobbying efforts. Each agency had participated equally in the funding of the contract for federal advocacy services. The City of Dixon also participated in the past and SolTrans joined in 2018.
Federal advocacy efforts focus on guiding transportation policy and strategy, and obtaining funding sources for priority projects such as: 1) the 1-80/680/State Route 12 interchange, 2) Jepson Parkway/Travis Air Force Base Access Improvements, 3) the Fairfield/Vacaville Train Stain, and 4) Alternative Fuel SolanoExpress Buses.
Akin Gump continues to provide valuable assistance to the STA and member cities on federal matters, including researching federal grant opportunities for transportation projects. Experienced in transportation law, Akin Gump communicates with member agencies to provide timely information on transportation developments and strategic advice.
STA initially entered into a contract with Akin Gump February 15, 2008, through February 15, 2010. Amendment No. 1 was entered into extending the agreement from December 1, 2009, until December 31, 2011, and adding Dixon as a partnering agency. Amendments No. 2 through No. 5 each extended the agreement for an additional two-year term with Amendment No. 5 having expired on December 31, 2019.
The proposed two-year contract extension (Amendment No. 6) for federal legislative advocacy services with Akin Gump maintains an annual compensation of $120,000, inclusive of all expenses, in a monthly retainer of $10,000. The cost for the contract is equally distributed to the Cities of Fairfield, Vacaville, Vallejo, and STA in the amount of $2,083.33 per month or $25,000 per year, with SolTrans paying $1,666.66 per month, or $20,000 per year due to their focused interest in transit related issues.
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| | | | | | | | | FINANCIAL IMPACT | | The City of Fairfield’s share of the contract cost will be $2,083.33 per month for a total cost of $50,000 over the term of the 24-month contract period. The cost will be shared among the General Fund ($14,000 from Fund 011, Division and Responsibility Code 99203), Streets CIP funded through Gas Tax revenues ($25,000 from Fund 252, Division and Responsibility Code 99000), Transportation Local Fixed Route Fund ($5,390 from Fund 451, Division and Responsibility Code 76002), Transportation Commuter Fixed Route Fund ($3,850 from Fund 451, Division and Responsibility Code 76502), and Transportation Paratransit Fund ($1,760 from Fund 452, Division and Responsibility Code 76002). The total contract cost to the three cities, STA, and SolTrans will be $240,000 for the 24-month period. |
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| | | | | | | | | CITY COUNCIL WORKPLAN | Community Safety
| Community Infrastructure | Quality of Life | | Financial and Operational Sustainability | Economic Development | Travis Air Force Base |
| City Council Goal this item supports:
Community Infrastructure, Quality of Life |
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| | | | | | | | | PUBLIC CONTACT/ADVISORY BODY RECOMMENDATION | N/A
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| | | | | | | | | ALTERNATIVE ACTION | | If the City Council has any questions, the recommended action may be delayed so that staff may provide the necessary information. |
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| | | | | | | | | STAFF CONTACT | Paul V. Kaushal, Interim Public Works Director
707-428-7477
pkaushal@fairfield.ca.gov
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| REVIEWERS: | | Reviewer | Action | Date | | Panganiban, Ryan | Approved | 1/6/2020 - 7:41 PM | | Kaushal, Paul | Approved | 1/6/2020 - 7:59 PM | | Alexander, Amber | Approved | 1/7/2020 - 11:24 AM | | Answerer | Approved | 1/7/2020 - 12:03 PM |
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