Agenda

Return

C. 79

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Brian M. Balbas, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Date:	December 10, 2019

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Amendment No. 1 with Smith, Watts & Company, LLC, (d/b/a Smith, Watts & Hartmann) for Legislative Services.

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 12/10/2019

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Nancy Wein, 925.313.2275

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: December 10, 2019
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director, or designee, to execute Contract Amendment No. 1 with Smith, Watts & Company, LLC, (d/b/a Smith, Watts & Hartmann) to increase the payment limit by $96,000 to a new payment limit of $261,000 and extend the term from December 31, 2019 to a new term of December 31, 2021 to provide additional legislative advocacy services.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The contract will be 100% funded by Local Road Funds.

BACKGROUND:

The Public Works Department entered into a contract with Smith, Watts & Company, LLC d/b/a Smith, Watts & Hartmann to provide legislative advocacy and monitoring services in January 2017. They have provided these types of services on retainer to the County since 2005. It is the recommendation of the Public Works Department that Smith, Watts & Company continue to be retained for the 2020-2021 calendar years due to the complexities involved with legislative advocacy and monitoring services. Additional time and funding are required for Smith, Watts & Company, LLC d/b/a Smith, Watts & Hartmann to provide needed legislative services.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Without Board of Supervisors’ approval, the Public Works Department will not have legislative advocacy and monitoring services in Sacramento for the 2020 and 2021 calendar years. This will leave the Department at a great disadvantage in the areas of growth management, infrastructure finance, planning and zoning (including transportation planning), public works contracting, community development, energy restructuring, and associated administrative issues in relation to State legislative, state executive and regulatory agencies.