HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 3493
City of Palo Alto (ID # 3493)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Consent Calendar Meeting Date: 1/28/2013
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: Rail Legislative Advocacy Services with PEG
Title: Authorization for the City Manager to Enter Into a One-Year Contract
with the Professional Evaluation Group/The Ochoa & Moore Law Firm, P.C.
(PEG/OM) in a Total Amount Not to Exceed $125,000 for Rail Legislative
Advocacy Services
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Planning and Community Environment
Recommendation
The City Council Rail Committee (CCRC) recommends the City Council authorize the City
Manager to enter into a one-year contract with the Professional Evaluation Group/The Ochoa &
Moore Law Firm, P.C. (PEG/OM) in an amount not to exceed one-hundred and twenty-five
thousand dollars ($125,000) for state rail legislative advocacy services (Attachment A).
Executive Summary
The CCRC voted 3-0 (Vice Mayor Scharff absent) to recommend the City renew its contract with
PEG/OM for state rail legislative advocacy services. Staff is requesting the City Council
authorize the City Manager to enter into a one-year contract with PEG/OM in an amount not to
exceed one-hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars ($125,000) through the end of 2013.
The contract was not renewed prior to the start of 2013 because it was requested in December
that staff revise the scope of the contract to allow PEG/OM to do more legislative advocacy on
the City’s behalf related to possible California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) reform. The
start date of the contract is January 1, 2013 to cover services rendered in January of this year.
The City first retained professional services for rail legislative advocacy services in February
2010. The most recent contract with PEG/OM expired on December 31, 2012. The CCRC, after
conducting a review, recommended the contract with PEG/OM be renewed. The CCRC was
particularly impressed with this firm’s work over the last calendar year.
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In conjunction with the recommendation to move forward with contract renewal, the CCRC
gave direction related to CEQA legislation contract language and cost sharing opportunities.
Specifically, the CCRC directed that the contract scope be revised to allow for expanded CEQA
representation. This is due to the fact that CEQA reform will be a major focus of State
Legislators in 2013, and changes could impact the City of Palo Alto beyond just High Speed Rail.
Therefore, it is critical the City have an advocate that can keep the City informed about
potential comprehensive CEQA legislation, as well inform State Legislators about the City’s
concerns. Given the shared concerns with nearby jurisdictions, the CCRC also directed staff to
explore cost sharing opportunities with local cities. Staff has incorporated expanded CEQA
language in the attached contract and will be contacting nearby cities in early 2013 about cost
shearing opportunities.
John Garamendi Jr., principal of PEG, was formerly the Executive Associate Athletic Director,
External Affairs for U.C. California on an interim basis while he served as U.C. California’s
Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations. Mr. Ralph M. Ochoa, partner with OM, serves
on the Board of Trustees for the U.C. Merced Foundation.
Timeline and Resource Impacts
The contract term would be one-year from January to December 2013. The cost for this
contract is one-hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars ($125,000), including certain travel
expenses. The funds will be provided from the City Council Contingency fund. Staff will include
this contract for discussion during the mid-year budget review to replace the City Council
Contingency Fund. The City will incorporate provisions in the contract that if other cities in the
area decide to use the same firm for high-speed rail consulting then there will be a
corresponding reduction in cost to the City of Palo Alto.
Attachments:
A - C13148578 Signed by Consultant_1-2013 (PDF)