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Council approves extended contract with Townsend Public Affairs and Alchemy Group amendment
Summary
Council approved amendments to agreements for Townsend Public Affairs ($414,000 over three years) and a one‑year Alchemy Group contract to continue lobbying and grant‑writing services; Townsend representatives said the firm helped secure $18 million in grants for Murrieta since 2020. Vote: unanimous, 5-0.
The Murrieta City Council on Dec. 2 approved amendments to two professional-service contracts that provide federal/state advocacy and grant-writing support.
Staff described two agreements: a three-year amendment with Townsend Public Affairs totaling $414,000 that covers federal and state advocacy plus grant-writing services, and a one-year agreement with the Alchemy Group focused on a specific set of state relationships. Ben Goldeen, federal advocacy manager at Townsend, told the council the firm has worked with Murrieta since 2020 and “helped the city secure more than $18,000,000 in federal, state, and local grants.”
City Manager Justin Clifton noted Townsend negotiated a more modest increase than originally proposed because of the city's fiscal constraints and indicated the firm applied for more grant opportunities on Murrieta’s behalf than for many other clients.
Council discussed the scope and value of the services, had no public comment on the item, and then voted to approve the contract amendments; the motion carried unanimously, 5-0.
Ending: Staff will finalize contract documents and continue coordination with Townsend and the Alchemy Group on pending grant and advocacy work.
