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City manager moves to put lobbyist services out to bid after long‑running renewal practice
Summary
After staff discovered the long‑running lobbyist contract had not been competitively bid since 2003, the city manager said an RFP will be released; commissioners criticized the timing and lack of prior consultation given the start of the legislative session.
City staff will put the city’s legislative/lobbyist services out to competitive bid after the manager disclosed on Jan. 15 that the city’s longtime lobbyist agreement (dating to 2003) had never been formally bid and that aggregate payments to the firm total about $1.19 million to date.
The city manager (S5) said the current annual contract had been about $72,500 and that the firm’s reports were not being reliably forwarded to commissioners in the recent session, prompting the decision to move to an RFP. The manager said the RFP would be released the next day and that staff would return with recommended proposals.
Several commissioners criticized the timing and process. “To leave us without representation was a big mistake,” Commissioner Joseph (S7) said; other commissioners asked why weekly reports were not forwarded during the session and urged that the commission be consulted before any final selection. Vice Mayor Alex Lama (S8) and others said the firm (named in the discussion) should be allowed to bid but that the commission should have input in evaluating proposals.
Staff said the city has been using in‑house resources and the city attorney’s firm for limited legislative support this cycle and that the manager’s decision to bid was intended to increase transparency and potentially save money. The manager noted use of the city attorney’s legislative support has cost roughly $9,000 recently versus the lobbyist annual amount.
Action and next steps: the city manager will release an RFP for lobbyist services and return with recommended finalists for commission consideration. Commissioners asked staff to ensure timely continuity of legislative monitoring while bids are evaluated.
