Title
Subject: Platinum Advisors
From: Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Platinum Advisors to serve as the City's Federal Legislative Representative for the period July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004 in an amount not to exceed $125,000 annually
Body
I
FiLED
WFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
I. N D
CITY OF OAKLAND OAX I '.'
Agenda Report 2003 JUN - 5 pM S. 4 5
TO: Office of the City Manager
ATTN: Robert C. Bobb
FROM: Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
DATE: June 19, 2003
RE: A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN
AGREEMENT WITH PLATINUM ADVISORS, L.L.C TO SERVE AS THE CITY'S
FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE PERIOD JULY 1, 2003
THROUGH JUNE 30, 2004 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $125,000 ANNUALLY.
SUMMARY
This report serves to garner City Council's approval of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to
enter into an agreement for $125,000 with Platinum Advisors, L.L.C, to serve as the City of Oakland's
Federal Legislative Representative in Washington, D.C. during fiscal year 2003 - 2004. This
represents a contract renewal inasmuch as Platinum Advisors has been serving in this capacity
during fiscal year 2002 - 03.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed $125,000 agreement represents monthly consulting fees of $10,000 for a twelve-month
period, plus $5,000 in business related expenses. This amount represents that which was budgeted
for Federal Legislative representation in the non-departmental fund.
BACKGROUND
Platinum Advisors is a government relations and public affairs consulting firm with offices in
Washington DC and in several California cities. The company's Washington office represents
California public and private entities before Congress and the Executive Branch of the federal
government. In that capacity the firm:
• Provides issues advocacy and management services to help clients prioritize and build the
strongest possible case for their federal policy objectives.
• Recommends strategies and tactics designed to help achieve those objectives.
• Advocates on behalf of those objectives with key Members of Congress, their staffs and
Administration officials.
• Builds or works with existing coalitions where appropriate to enhance clients' impact on the
process.
Item /0-15rr.
ORA/_Council__ ITEM @ R
July 15, 2003 SCM
J 0 19, 2003
2
• Works with clients to develop key messages and collateral material that will resonate with
policymakers.
• Provides ongoing, timely updates and feedback on developments in Washington that may
affect clients' vital interests.
As of this current fiscal year, Platinum Advisors, L.L.C has represented the City's interest in
Washington, DC. During that period, the firm has accomplished the following:
• Worked closely with Council and City staff to prioritize Oakland's federal policy goals
and develop effective strategies to advocate for them in Washington. For example, the
firm brought together key policyrnalkers from the City, the Port and OBRA to work together to
obtain early transfer of the Oakland Army Base to the City. In the process, this coalition
sought and obtained the active support influential California policymakers like Senator Dianne
Feinstein and Congressman Sam Farr (key Members of the Senate and House Military
Appropriations subcommittees respectively) and Congresswoman Barbara Lee td convince
DOD to agree to an early transfer of the base. This intensive months-long effort was ultimately
successful.
• Worked with Council to articulate and advocate for the City's federal appropriations
priorities before Congress. Legislative gridlock between Senate Democrats and House
Republicans as well as huge federal budget cuts inhibited our efforts and that of virtually every
other urban area in FY 2003. However, the firm has already worked with City staff to develop
and is implementing a sustained effort to produce federal funding for key elements of the
Waterfront Parks Initiative (among other projects) in FY 2004.
• Worked to enhance the City's visibility with and communicate its message to ke
members of Congress from California - including Congresswoman Barbara Lee; Senator
Feinstein; Senator Boxer; Minority Whip Pelosi; and California members of the House
Appropriations Committee from both parties. These efforts have included coordinating the
efforts of the Mayor, City Manager Bobb, and Councilmembers on advocacy trips to
Washington as well as inviting federal policyrnakers to participate in fact finding trips to
Oakland.
• Worked with coalition partners like the National League of Cities and the U.S.
Conference of Mayors to represent the City's interests on "mega issues" like Homeland
Security, especially funding for First Responders, and on yet-unresolved issues like TANF
Reauthorization, TEA-21 Reauthorization, the administrative relocation of Head Start and other
issues identified by Council as important to the City.
• Provided timely wriften and oral reports to Council on the status of important issues, seeking
Council's guidance and input where appropriate.
• The City expects firms with whom it contracts to be 'readily accessible to City officials and
staff when issues and events dictate. Platinum Advisors' performance has been noteworthy in
3
this area. Representatives of the firm are always available when needed and provide prompt
and comprehensive responses to requests for information and/or action.
KEY ISSUES AND IMPACT
While involved in collective legislative efforts with the National League of Cities and the United States
Conference of Mayors, Oakland, like all major cities, needs dedicated representation in Washington.
Many of the funding and urban policy decisions that have the greatest impact on the City are made in
the nation's capital, and Oakland must be an active participant in the debate.
Continuity of representation is important. At this writing, Congress has yet to act on most of the City's
federal priorities. It is in the City's best interest to retain Platinum Advisors to continue advocating on
its behalf.
RECOMMENDATIONS AND RATIONALE
Staff recommends the City Council approve the resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into
an agreement with Platinum Advisors, L.L.C in the amount of $125,000 to serve as the City's Federal
Legislative Representative during the period July 1, 2003 - June 30, 2004. The service provided will
supplement the City's collaborative legislative efforts done through the National League of Cities and
better position the City to achieve some of its legislative objectives.
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE COUNCIL
That the City Council approve the resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement
with Platinum Advisors, L.L.C in an amount not exceed of $125,000.
Respectfull ubmi
da e@g,
0 JcZf 'Inte' r ve Affairs
APPROVED FOR FORWARDING TO THE
RULES & LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Robert C. Bobb
City Manager
Item- Lb A 5
ORA/Council
July 15, 2003
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. C.M.S F!LED
oFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
0 1A
INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBER
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT
WITH PLATINUM ADVISORS TO SERVE AS THE CITY'S FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE
REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE PERIOD JULY 1, 2003 THROUGH JUNE 30,2004 IN
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $125,000 ANNUALLY.
WHEREAS, the City of Oakland desires to complement the legislative advocacy efforts
provided by League of California Cities; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to assemble and organize pertinent information, facts and
data relating to legislative matters affecting the City and its interests, and to present and
disseminate such information to legislative bodies, executive officials of Federal government,
and other bodies, commissions, committees and organizations; and
WHEREAS, the services above primarily involve legislative and administrative advocacy
and the assistance of individuals experiences in such matters who will best serve the interest of
the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Council's Rules and Legislation Committee has determined that
Platinum Advisors, is well qualified to provide these services and that the City's interests would
be well served by this firm; and
WHEREAS, Platinum Advisors, shall be paid in an amount not to exceed $125,000
annually for the period of July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004 with a total contract value not to
exceed $125,000 for services; and
WHEREAS, direct expenses shall be reimbursement at cost, and extraordinary travel
expenses, other than between Oakland and Washington D.C., and expenses for conferences
or workshops shall be reimbursed at cost upon prior approval of the City; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That the City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to execute, on
behalf of the City of Oakland, an agreement with Platinum Advisors to serve as the City's
Federal Legislative Representative for the period of July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004. Platinum
Advisors shall be paid $125,000 annually which includes reimbursement for expenses for the
period of July 1, 2003 - June 30, 2004. Said agreement shall be approved for form and
legality by the Office of the City Attorney and placed on file in the Office of the City Clerk; and
be it
FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City Council finds and determines that the services
provided by Platinum Advisors, are professional, technical, and temporary in nature, for which
the calling of bids for the period of this agreement would not be in the best interest of the Citv
item La. -1-5 021
ORA/Council
july 15,2003
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, 20
PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES -
NOES -
ABSENT-
ABSTENTION - ATTEST:
CEDA FLOYD
City Clerk and Clerk of the Council
of the City of Oakland, California
1) Irl
Item M, @M
ORA/Council
July 1.5, 2003