Council hears state advocacy priorities; staff to direct contracted lobbyist

The Lindsay City Council heard a presentation from the city's selected state advocacy firm and reviewed a proposed legislative platform intended to guide the firm's outreach in Sacramento.

Staff said the city selected the Waco/Guapo Group (the city's contracted state advocacy team) after a request-for-proposal process. The group's representative (introduced by staff as Jack Walco) described priorities: opposing unfunded mandates, seeking grant and capital funding, pursuing climate resilience and transportation funding for rural communities, and streamlining grant application and matching-fund requirements for small cities.

Walco told the council, "We want to make sure that Lindsay is at the table as opposed to being on the menu," and urged a partnership approach with staff to identify priority bills and grant opportunities. The city manager said the platform would give the lobbyist direction on bills to support or oppose, while councilmembers can request council letters on specific measures as needed.

Council commented on transportation connectivity and local priorities; staff said the platform is intended as guidance and that any specific formal letters or positions on individual bills would come back to the council for direction if warranted.

Next steps: the platform will guide the advocacy team; staff will coordinate with the firm and return to council with any bill-specific recommendations or proposed formal letters.