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C. 66

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Brian M. Balbas, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Date:	April 26, 2022

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Contract with Mark Watts Advocacy LLC for legislative advocacy and monitoring services, Countywide.

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 04/26/2022

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: April 26, 2022
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director, or designee, to execute a contract with Mark Watts Advocacy LLC, in an amount not to exceed $240,000 to provide legislative advocacy and monitoring services for the period January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2026, Countywide.

FISCAL IMPACT:

100% Local Road Funds

BACKGROUND:

Mark Watts Advocacy is the County’s current legislative advocate in Sacramento for transportation related matters. He has been performing this service since 2005 and has developed strong relationships with state legislators and staff, as well as an in depth knowledge of the internal workings of state government. Watts also provides similar services to the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (Authority) and helps coordinate our legislative activities with those of the Authority.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

It is the recommendation of the Public Works Department that Mark Watts Advocacy continue to be retained for legislative monitoring and advocacy for the 2022-2026 calendar years.

The firm’s services to the County include, but are not limited to, the following:

-Providing State legislative monitoring and advocacy in the areas of growth management, infrastructure finance, transportation finance, planning and zoning (including transportation planning), public works contracting, and associated administrative issues

-Assisting with financing and implementation of important transportation projects in Contra Costa County.

-Assisting in planning for transportation, land use, and other related improvements to communities in the unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County

-Assisting in developing a comprehensive transportation oriented program, including legislative liaison work with other political jurisdictions in the Bay Area as appropriate. Assisting in coordinating with the California Department of Transportation, as required, for the approval of County' s local assistance grant requests and project processing.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If the contract is not approved, Public Works will not have legislative monitoring and advocacy in Sacramento for the 2022-2026 calendar years and will be left at a great disadvantage in the areas of growth management, infrastructure finance, transportation finance, planning and zoning (including transportation planning), public works contracting, community development, energy restructuring and associated administrative issues related to state legislative, executive and regulatory agencies.