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 Covino Smith & Simon, Inc. for an amount not to exceed $210,600 for Professional Lobbying and Consulting Services in Washington DC. The term of this agreement is three years, with the option of a one-year extension.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve a consultant services agreement with Covino Smith & Simon, Inc. (Covino Smith & Simon), for an amount not to exceed $210,600 (70,200 annually) for three years with the option of a one-year extension.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Office of the City Manager and Mayor seeks City Council approval for a professional consultant services agreement with Covino Smith & Simon to perform professional lobbying and legislative services regarding federal government activities in Washington DC for three years, with a single one-year extension on the agreement of both parties. The City of Fresno (City) and Covino Smith & Simon have an existing agreement, expiring in April 2025, with no further extensions. The proposed agreement includes a locked-in three-year rate that is unchanged from the current agreement. If approved, the proposed agreement would go into effective April 21, 2025.
BACKGROUND
Since beginning operations in 1987, Covino Smith & Simon has developed a successful track record helping local governments take advantage of opportunities and solve problems within the federal legislative and executive branches. The City's relationship with Covino Smith & Simon dates to the 1990s and has proven beneficial, as the firm has grown to understand the many local needs and challenges - an understanding that only comes with a longstanding working relationship. This became especially clear when the world faced the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. Co...
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