HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 05152012 - C.43RECOMMENDATION(S):
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the County Administrator, or designee, to execute a contract amendment with Nielsen,
Merksamer, Parrinello, Gross and Leoni, to extend the contract term from March 31, 2012 to December 31, 2012 and
increase the payment limit by $135,000 to a new payment limit of $924,998 for continued state legislative
representative and advocacy services, as recommended by the Legislation Committee.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Monies for State legislative representative and advocacy services were included in the current fiscal year budget
(77.5% County General Fund, 12.5% Flood Control/Clean Water Funds).
BACKGROUND:
The law firm of Nielsen, Merksamer, Parrinello, Gross and Leoni (“Nielsen Merksamer”) has extensive experience in
the field of governmental advocacy regarding legislative, administrative and legal issues directly affecting counties.
Nielsen Merksamer is recognized for its expertise in the broad area of state and county relations, particularly fiscal
relationships.
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 05/15/2012 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
ABSENT:Gayle B. Uilkema, District II
Supervisor
Contact: Lara Delaney, 925-335-1097
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the
Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: May 15, 2012
David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: Stacey M. Boyd , Deputy
cc:
C.43
To:Board of Supervisors
From:David Twa, County Administrator
Date:May 15, 2012
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Contract Extension for State Legislative Representation/Advocacy
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
The firm has been instrumental in the development and advancement of the County's state legislative platform.
The County first contracted with Nielsen Merksamer for the period January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2005 and
renewed the contract in December 2005 for the period January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2007 in the amount of
$200,000 per year. The contract was subsequently renewed for the period January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010. In
March 2009, the contract was amended to decrease the annual payment limit to $180,000.
On January 4, 2011, the Board of Supervisors approved a contract extension for for an additional 6 month period.
Subsequent to that action, at its February 7, 2011 meeting, the Legislation Committee recommended that the contract
be extended for one year, while a Request for Proposals (RFP) for state and federal advocacy services be developed
and issued.
On September 28, 2011, the Legislation Committee directed the County Administrator's Office to extend the contract
through March 31, 2012 to allow sufficient time to conduct the RFP process.
More time is needed to complete the RFP process and on April 5, 2012 the Legislation Committee directed the
County Administrator's Office to extend the contract through December 31, 2012.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Without this contract extension, the County will not have state advocacy services and staff will not have sufficient
time to solicit for these critical services.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
None.