REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: GEORGEANNE A. WHITE, City Manager
Office of the Mayor & City Manager
BY: JOHN ELLIS, Government Affairs Manager
Office of the Mayor & City Manager
SUBJECT
Title
Approve a Consultant Services Agreement with Lighthouse Public Affairs, LLC., for an amount not to exceed $396,000 for Professional Lobbying and Consulting Services in California, term is for three years with the option to extend for one year
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the consultant services agreement with Lighthouse Public Affairs, LLC., for an amount not to exceed $396,000 ($11,000/month). The term of the agreement is three years, with the option to extend for one year.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Office of the Mayor and City Manager seeks City Council approval to approve a professional consultant services agreement with Lighthouse Public Affairs, LLC., to perform professional lobbying and consulting activities regarding State governmental activities for 36 months, with a possible additional one year extension. The proposed agreement is exclusive, the City of Fresno will be the only municipal client with the firm.
BACKGROUND
All functions of the City are significantly affected by state legislative votes and administrative actions in Sacramento. From funding and revenue streams that can help ensure the City can build affordable housing and address homelessness, to support for local road, transit and trail programs, to tax issues and the City being home to the nation’s first High Speed Rail station, what happens in the state’s capital affects the entire state.
The City has previously engaged a state lobbyist, however, services were cancelled in November 2025. Over the years, this instrumental role has helped the City navigate state issues at a time of great change for local governments, including the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple efforts to change sales tax law and through efforts to address homelessness and revitalize Downtown Fresno and Chinatown. Continuing to have a voice on the ground in Sacramento is more important now than ever. As the state’s fifth-largest City - and one with a numerically small legislative delegation - it has often been difficult for Fresno to make its voice heard as it was often drowned out by the Bay Area and Los Angeles-area delegations. Today marks a change for the City - a new lobbying firm is being recommended for the first time in almost a decade. This new direction comes after a Request for Proposal was posted in December 2025, which resulted in multiple qualified firms responding, followed by interviews with the top applicants, after which Lighthouse was selected. Lighthouse is a well-established lobbying firm with more than three dozen clients and a strong background working with housing agencies such as Habitat for Humanity and the San Diego Housing Commission. Steve Hansen, managing partner of Lighthouse’s Sacramento Office, is an attorney and strategic thinker who will direct the firm’s overall strategy for Fresno. Hansen launched Lighthouse’s Sacramento Office in 2017 after a stint as Director of the Capital Center for Law and Policy at the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law. From 2012 to 2020, he served on the Sacramento City Council and was a leading voice for smart growth, multimodal transportation, public safety, and economic development. During his City Council tenure, served as on several regional bodies including the Sacramento Regional Transit District, the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, and the Sacramento Transportation Authority. This broad-based experience will help drive Fresno’s legislative agenda and gives the City a seasoned mind on critical state-level issues.
Working with Hansen will be Martin Radosevich, Keshav Kumar and Chris Micheli. Radosevich will be responsible for the day-to-day strategic direction, lead outreach to key legislative offices and agency staff, and coordinate development of City-specific advocacy material. He will be the City’s primary lobbyist in the Legislature and State Agencies. Kumar will manage the day-to-day lobbying program, including bill and budget tracking, meeting preparation, drafting of testimony, and coalition engagement. Micheli will serve as senior counsel and a subject-matter expert, particularly on taxation, business regulation, and complex legislative and regulatory matters.
These are unpredictable times in Sacramento, which is being buffeted by budget deficits at the State level and uncertainty at the federal level, including the possibility of funding cutbacks and additional regulatory oversight. As such, it is absolutely essential that the City have eyes and ears on the ground to ensure both that Fresno is at the table to secure badly needed funds for critical projects including homelessness and downtown revitalization. It is equally important for the other side of the coin - legislation or proposals that could rob the City of those funds or make other state-level changes that could adversely affect the budget.
As stated in the Scope of Services in the attached agreement, Lighthouse will oversee legislative and regulatory advocacy, relationship building and developing strategic communications, and doing policy analysis and offering strategic advice. As always, seeking significant discretionary funds will be a top priority. As part of Lighthouse’s lobbying effort, the firm will review all bills introduced and amended throughout the Legislative Session to identify those that affect the City, will make recommendations as to whether the City should support, oppose, seek amendments to, or simply monitor bills of interest. Lighthouse will have a focused lobbying strategy for each bill of interest to the City. When necessary, it will help build coalitions of cities or other entities that share our vision for certain legislative proposals - bad or good. This strategy has helped the City mount successful campaigns to defeat or win approval for important legislation. The firm will also maintain and build upon key relationships that will be vital to executing successful strategies on behalf of the City.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Approval of the consultant services agreement amendment is not a “project” within the meaning of Public Resources Code Section 21803 (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378) because the organizational and administrative activities as identified in the consultant agreement will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because no local firms responded to the Request for Proposal.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for the period beginning March 1, 2026, through the end of the current fiscal year will be covered by existing funds allocated for the City’s previous state governmental lobbyist. Funding for the ensuing contract term will be included in the respective fiscal year budgets.
Attachments:
Consultant Services Agreement