Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Government Operations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council hires Hilco Partners for legislative advocacy, severs relationship with Focus Advocacy
Summary
After debate over scope, performance and cost, the council voted to engage Hilco Partners for 2025 legislative lobbying related to TxDOT/toll and qualified-hotel legislation and to sever its contract with Focus Advocacy; the vote included recorded yes and no votes.
Pflugerville City Council voted Jan. 28 to engage Hilco Partners to provide targeted legislative advocacy on two priority items (TxDOT toll/tolling matters and qualified-hotel project legislation) and separately voted to terminate the city's contract with Focus Advocacy.
Staff presented three proposals: an amendment to the existing Focus Advocacy agreement (not-to-exceed $202,100), an engagement with CIRL Strategies ($80,500) and a proposal from Hilco Partners ($150,000). Staff said Focus Advocacy had provided general-defense services and earlier work on emergency-services-district issues, while CIRL and Hilco proposals were scoped primarily to the TxDOT/toll and qualified-hotel efforts.
Council members debated whether to retain Focus Advocacy for broad tracking and general defense or to hire a larger, more established firm for the specific high-stakes items. Some council members criticized past communication and responsiveness from Focus Advocacy; others said the firm had delivered in prior years. Supporters of Hilco cited its experience and relationships at the state level; proponents also said the higher cost matched market value for the specific services.
Council ultimately approved a motion to engage Hilco Partners and to terminate the Focus Advocacy contract. A voice roll call recorded multiple yes votes and at least 1 no vote; the motion carried. Council then passed a separate motion to sever the city's existing agreement with Focus Advocacy (vote recorded by roll call with a majority in favor).
Ending: Staff will implement the Hilco agreement and proceed with the severance of the Focus Advocacy contract; council directed staff to coordinate with the chosen firm and to continue tracking the legislative agenda.
