Issue Statement: The City’s current contract for legislative lobbying consultant services with Russ Klenet & Associates expires on September 30, 2022.  Current contract services provide representation in advocating the City’s position with County, State, and Federal government agencies to the legislative and executive branches.

Recommended Action:     The City Commission approve an amendment to the Legislative Consulting Service Agreement with Russ Klenet & Associates extending the contract for the period of October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023, at the current annual cost. 

Background:  At the September 21, 2011, City Commission meeting, the City Commission awarded Request for Proposal (RFP) #071511 for Legislative Lobbying Services to Russ Klenet & Associates and authorized the attached agreement for Legislative Consulting Services.  The consultant’s scope of services is summarized in the attached agreement.  In 2016, the scope of services was amended to include representation at the County Commission, planning agencies, transportation agencies, and regional authorities such as the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA), the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC), and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). 

On May 18, 2022, the current Legislative Consulting Service Agreement was amended to include the optional service of “supplemental lobbying efforts” which was contemplated as part of the renewal of the Russ Klenet & Associates contract in September 2022, for the period October 2022 to September 2023.  The City is actively engaged in these lobbying efforts, and the supplemental services will end once that engagement is longer needed.

The City has been successful in working with Local, County and State regulatory issues and securing millions of dollars in grant funding for its capital improvement projects and initiatives.  The consultant, Russ Klenet & Associates, has been involved in advocating for the City on projects to seek grant funding at the County, State and Federal level.  Mr. Klenet assistance will ensure that these and other funding requests remain on track and are given attention by the funding agencies.

Russ Klenet & Associates has notified the City of its desire to extend the contract under the current terms and conditions. Section 8 of the RFP allows for an annual renewal at the City's discretion.  This renewal maintains the current cost of $62,000 annually, plus the supplemental services to end earlier if no longer needed.  Mr. Klenet has agreed to maintain these terms.