Tamarac reviews 2025 federal priorities as contract renewal for Ferguson Group advances to commission

Valerie Masullo, a senior advisor with the Ferguson Group, summarized Tamarac’s federal legislative agenda and recent federal funding efforts during the City Commission workshop on Feb. 10.

The presentation outlined priorities for 2025 including economic development, infrastructure (water treatment, canal wall improvements and transit), affordable housing, public safety, disaster preparedness and green initiatives. Masullo highlighted about $1.1 million in Community Project Funding (earmark) pending for the Eastside Water Distribution Expansion Project and reminded the commission that earmarks may be lost if Congress uses a continuing resolution rather than passing full appropriations.

The Ferguson Group representative said lobbyists help build relationships in Washington, D.C.; analyze new federal initiatives and funding freezes; and assist with applying to discretionary and formula grant programs. She noted Tamarac’s recent federal wins, including earmarks and a Department of Energy award for electric-vehicle charging stations, and said the new federal Department of Government Efficiency (referred to in the presentation as “DOGE”) is changing the grant landscape.

Tanya Williams, Tamarac’s Grants and Governmental Affairs Manager, reviewed the city’s long relationship with the Ferguson Group, noting the firm has supported the city’s annual legislative agenda, prepared briefing materials and coordinated congressional and agency meetings. She said the current contract term rate of $85,500 per year dates back to 2010 and that the contract renewal would be on the Feb. 12 commission meeting agenda.

Commissioners asked detailed questions about how much federal funding the city received that was attributable to earmarks versus formula and discretionary grants, the firm’s role in assembling requests for Congress, whether earmarks will continue under the new Congress and administration, and whether staff had been receiving consistent proactive briefings about unfolding federal policy changes. Masullo said she would increase individualized outreach to commissioners and work with staff to provide clarifying, short-format updates on immediate federal developments such as freezes on funding or executive-order-driven policy changes.

Several commissioners said they value the relationships Ferguson has built and noted substantial federal dollars the city has received in recent years, but others raised concerns about timing, communications and whether the city should request proposals from other federal-relations firms. Commissioners discussed the scheduling of the renewal vote and requested cost comparisons and a month-to-month pricing option from the Ferguson Group before the Feb. 12 vote. Ferguson Group representatives said they were open to adjusting reporting and meeting with commissioners individually to better match priorities.

The commission did not take a vote during the workshop. Staff confirmed the Ferguson Group contract renewal would appear on the Feb. 12 agenda; commissioners asked staff to return pricing for a month-to-month alternative and to prepare a written summary of recent federal funding (earmarks versus other sources) as background before that meeting.

Commissioners also used the presentation as an occasion to ask for clearer, more consistent short updates on fast-moving federal matters (for example executive actions affecting DEI policies and temporary funding freezes) and to discuss how the city’s grants and lobbying work can support the city’s capital improvement priorities and grant pipeline going into 2025.