Agenda

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C.135

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	David Twa, County Administrator
Date:	January 8, 2013

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Contract for State Legislative Advocacy Services with Nielsen Merksamer Parrinello Gross & Leoni LLP

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 01/08/2013

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

L. DeLaney, 925-335-1097

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: January 8, 2013
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the County Administrator, or his designee, to execute, on behalf of the County a contract with Nielsen Merksamer Parrinello Gross & Leoni LLP in an amount not to exceed $360,000, to provide professional state legislative advocacy and related services, for the period from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2014.

FISCAL IMPACT:

This contract is funded 100% by the County General Fund.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Without this contract approval and authorization, the County will not have representation by a firm for state advocacy services.

BACKGROUND:

At its December 11, 2012 meeting, the Board of Supervisors considered the recommendation from the Legislation Committee to authorize a contract with Nielsen Merksamer Parrinello Gross & Leoni LLP ("Nielsen Merksamer") for state advocacy services for the period January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2014 in an amount not to exceed $360,000.

Nielsen Merksamer has extensive experience in the field of governmental advocacy with respect to legislative, administrative, and legal issues directly affecting counties. Nielsen Merksamer is recognized for its expertise in the broad area of state and county relations, particularly fiscal relationships. The firm has been instrumental in the development and advancement of the County's legislative platform for many years.

After a solicitation and review process that culminated in the recommendation by the County Selection Committee to the Legislation Committee that Nielsen Merksamer be retained for the state advocacy contract, the Board of Supervisors concurred with the recommendation.

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:

None.