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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGMT - Pacific Research & Strategies (Lobbyist Firm) BF, gsLy y y � � It O Q1 ce-gQ—gee‘Cg /� CITY HALL 211 EIGHTH STREET SRA! BEACH.CALIFORNIA 90740 1?(r 1411-2527•\ \\el scal-beac11.Ca.us March 14,2011 Rod Wilson Pacific Research& Strategies,Inc. 6475 East Pacific Coast Highway #170 Long Beach, California 90803 Re: General Consulting Services Agreement Dear Mr. Wilson, In an effort to address ongoing budget issues as a result of the continuing decline of revenues, the City is reducing discretionary spending. In that regard, please accept this letter as notification of cancellation of our general consulting services agreement. We hereby discontinue services with your firm effective April 1, 2011. We thank you for your services and should the need arise again for your services,we will contact you. We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors. Sincerely, CITY OF SEAL BEACH Jill R. Ingram Acting City Manager JRI:js c w , of SEA'C \ �`� F9n�t , City of Seal Beach Office of the City Manager Memorandum February 18, 2011 TO: Patrick P. Importuna, City Manager FROM: Jill R. Ingram, Assistant City Manager SUBJECT: LOBBYIST CONTRACT SERVICES Attached is a copy of the current agreement for general consulting services with Pacific Research & Strategies, Inc., which has been in effect since October 1, 2008, for state and federal advocacy services on behalf of the City. The City pays Pacific Research & Strategies, Inc. a monthly fee of$2,000, in addition to any reimbursable expenses for services to the City. However, it is the consensus of staff that the City cancel this agreement given that the services that Pacific Research & Strategies, Inc. provides can be handled internally by City staff, such as communicating and coordinating meetings with local, state, and federal legislators. As a result, the cancellation of this contract would realize a $24,000 savings to the FY 2011-2012 annual budget. The agreement may be cancelled at any time without cause upon five (5) days written notice to Pacific Research & Strategies, Inc. In that regard, it is staff's desire to cancel the agreement effective April 1, 2011, which would yield a savings of $6,000 for the remainder of the FY 2010-11 budget. Please let me know 'f either you or the Council has any questions or objections to this recommendation. attachment • AGREEMENT FOR GENERAL CONSULTING SERVICES between %it! ; \ tiCF Ys \c �� City of Seal Beach 211 - 8th Street Seal Beach, CA 90740 Pacific Research & Strategies, Inc. 6475 E. Pacific Coast Highway Long Beach, California 90803 (562) 494 -3800 This Service Agreement ( "the Agreement ") is made as of G / , 2008, by and between Pacific Research & Strategies, Inc. ( "Consultant "), a California corporation, and the City of Seal Beach ( "City "), a California charter city, (collectively, "the Parties "). RECITALS WHEREAS, City desires to have certain state and federal advocacy services with respect to the City's beach sand nourishment program and, from time to time, other matters; and WHEREAS, Consultant represents that it is qualified and able to perform the services required by City; NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the of the Parties' performance of the promises, covenants, and conditions stated herein, the Parties hereto agree as follows: AGREEMENT 1.0 Scope of Services. 1.1. Consultant shall, in consultation with City, represent City before state and federal elected and appointed officials, work with City to obtain funding, authorization, or both for the City projects, and to develop strategies and documentation to promote the City's interests and guide the City's state and federal efforts relative to accomplishing an agreed upon advocacy agenda. Consultant shall assist City in obtaining meetings and appointments with elected and appointed state and federal officials as necessary to support City's efforts at the state and federal level. 1.2. Consultant shall, in consultation with City, engage in general and/or miscellaneous advisory services such as keeping City advised of issues of significance to City, advising City on the status of legislation relevant to City, and communicating with appropriate state and federal elected and appointed officials on issues relevant to City. 1.3. Consultant shall submit to City a monthly narrative status report detailing its efforts on behalf of the City and the results thereof during the previous month. Consultant's duty to provide this monthly narrative status report is in addition to and separate from its duty under Section 2.3 of this Agreement to submit an itemized billing statement. Consultant shall submit the monthly narrative status report concurrently with the itemized billing statement. 1.4. Except for expenses reimbursable pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement, Consultant shall assume all reasonable office and local travel expenses associated with professional services provided pursuant to this Agreement. Miscellaneous or one -time expenses that are agreed upon in advance by the City in writing will be reimbursed separately only if City agrees to the same in advance and in writing. 1.5. Consultant shall perform all consulting services during the term of this Agreement to the best of its ability and in a timely, thorough, and professional manner. In rendering such services, Consultant shall abide by all applicable laws. Consultant agrees to be available to the City when and as needed, for which availability Consultant shall receive compensation as agreed upon and set forth in the section below. 1 of • • 2.0 Payment. 2.1. City shall pay Consultant a monthly fee of two thousand dollars ($2,000) for its services. 2.2. In addition to paying the monthly fee, City shall reimburse Consultant for its reasonable expenses for its services to the City; which reasonable expenses shall include actual costs incurred for telephone, postage, and delivery. 2.3. Consultant shall submit an itemized statement to City for its services performed each month which shall include documentation setting forth in detail a description of the services rendered and the reimbursable expenses incurred. City shall pay Consultant the amount of such billing within thirty (30) days of receipt of same. The monthly statement shall describe the nature of the work performed, the employee performing the work and the time spent for each task as well as the nature of any reimbursable expenses incurred. Any expense over $50 shall include the appropriate back -up documentation for that expense (i.e. invoice, receipt, etc.). 3.0 Independent Contractor. City retains Consultant as an independent contractor and not as an employee. All services provided pursuant to this Agreement shall be performed by Consultant or under its personal supervision. Consultant will determine the means, methods, and details of performing the services. Consultant shall secure at its own expense, any and all personnel required to perform Consultant's services under this Agreement. Any additional personnel performing services under this Agreement on behalf of Consultant shall also not be employees of City and shall at all time be under Consultant's exclusive direction and control. Consultant shall pay all wages, salaries, and other amounts due such personnel in connection with their performance of services under this Agreement and as required by law. Consultant shall be responsible for all reports and obligations respecting such additional personnel, including, but not limited to: social security taxes, income tax withholding, unemployment insurance, disability insurance, and workers' compensation insurance. 4.0 Assignment. Consultant shall not assign or attempt to assign any portion of this Agreement without the prior written approval of City. 5.0 Responsible Principal. 5.1. Rod Wilson shall be Consultant's Responsible Principal for purposes of this Agreement and shall be principally responsible for Consultant's obligations under this Agreement and serve as the principal liaison between City and Consultant. Consultant will not designate another Responsible Principal without the City's prior written authorization. 2 of 7 • • 5.2. The City Manager or the City Manager's designee shall be the City's Responsible Principal for purposes of this Agreement and shall administer the terms of the Agreement on the City's behalf. 6.0 Insurance. 6.1. Consultant shall at all times during the term of this Agreement carry, maintain, and keep in full force and effect, a policy or policies of Comprehensive General Liability Insurance, with minimum limits of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) for each occurrence, combined single limit, against any personal injury, death, loss or damage resulting from the wrongful or negligent acts by Consultant. 6.2. Consultant agrees to maintain in force at all times during the performance of work under this Agreement professional liability insurance with minimum limits of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000). 6.3. Consultant agrees to maintain in force at all times during the performance of work under this Agreement workers' compensation and employer's liability insurance as required by law. 6.4. The policy or policies required by this Agreement shall be issued by an insurer admitted in the State of California and with a rating of at least a B +;VII in the latest edition of Best's Insurance Guide. 6.5. If Consultant does not keep the insurance policies required by this Agreement in full force and effect, the City shall, within its sole discretion, have the option to either immediately terminate this Agreement or, if insurance is available at a reasonable cost, City may take out the necessary insurance and pay, at Consultant's expense, the premium thereon. 6.6. At all times during the term of this Agreement, Consultant shall maintain on file with the City Clerk a certificate or certificates of insurance on a form acceptable to the City, showing that the policies required by this Agreement are in effect in the required amounts. Consultant shall, prior to commencement of work under this Agreement, file with the City Clerk such certificate or certificates. 6.7. Where available, the policies of insurance required by this Agreement shall contain an endorsement naming the City as an additional insured. All of the policies required under this Agreement shall contain an endorsement providing that the policies cannot be canceled or reduced except on thirty (30) days prior written notice to City, and specifically stating that the coverage contained in the policies affords insurance pursuant to the terms and conditions as set forth in this Agreement. 6.8. Failure to submit any required evidence of insurance within the required time period shall be cause for termination. 6.9. In the event Consultant does not maintain current, valid, evidence of insurance on file with City, City may, at its option, withhold payment of any moneys 3 of 7 • • owed to Consultant, or which it subsequently owes to Consultant, until proper proof is filed. 6.10. Consultant shall make the insurance policies required by this Agreement, including all endorsements and riders, available to City for inspection at Consultant's office during regular business hours. 6.11. The insurance provided by Consultant shall be primary to any coverage available to City. Where available, the policies of insurance required by this Agreement shall include provisions for waiver of subrogation. 6.12. Any deductibles or self - insured retentions must be declared to and approved by City. At the option of City, Consultant shall either reduce or eliminate the deductibles or self - insured retentions with respect to City, or Consultant shall procure a bond guaranteeing payment of losses and expenses. 7.0 Indemnification. Consultant shall defend, indemnify and hold the City, its officials, officers, employees, volunteers and agents free and harmless from any and all claims, demands, causes of action, costs, expenses, liability, loss, damage or injury, in law or equity, to property or persons, including wrongful death, in any manner arising out of or incident to any acts, omissions, or willful misconduct of Consultant, his employees, agents, arising out of or in connection with the performance of this Agreement, including without limitation the payment of all consequential damages and attorneys fees and other related costs and expenses. Consultant shall defend, at Consultant's own cost, expense and risk, any and all such aforesaid suits, actions or other legal proceedings of every kind that may be brought or instituted against City, its directors, officials, officers, employees, agents or volunteers. Consultant shall pay and satisfy any judgment, award or decree that may be rendered against City or its directors, officials, officers, employees, agents or volunteers, in any such suit, action or other legal proceeding. Consultant shall reimburse City and its directors, officials, officers, employees, agents, and/or volunteers, for any and all legal expenses and costs incurred by each of them in connection therewith or in enforcing the indemnity herein provided. Consultant's obligation to indemnify shall not be restricted to insurance proceeds, if any, received by the City, its directors, officials, officers, employees, agents or volunteers. All duties of Consultant under this Section shall survive termination of this Agreement. 8.0 Termination. 8.1. City may cancel this Agreement at any time without cause upon five (5) days written notice to Consultant. Consultant agrees to cease all work under this Agreement on or before the effective date of such notice. City may cancel this Agreement immediately for cause. 8.2. In the event of termination or cancellation of this Agreement by City, due to no fault or failure of performance by Consultant, Consultant shall be paid full compensation for all services performed by Consultant, in an amount to be determined as 4of7 • • follows: For work done in accordance with all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, Consultant shall be paid an amount equal to the amount of services performed prior to the effective date of termination or cancellation; provided, in no event shall the amount of money paid under the foregoing provisions of this paragraph exceed the amount which would be paid Consultant for the full performance of the services required by this Agreement. 9.0 City's Duty to Assist Consultant. City shall provide Consultant with all pertinent data, documents, and other requested information as is available for the proper performance of Consultant's services. 10.0 Information and Documents. All data, information, documents and drawings prepared by Consultant for City or required to be furnished to City in connection with this Agreement shall become the sole property of the City, and City may use all or any portion of the work submitted by Consultant pursuant to this Agreement as City deems appropriate. 11.0 Changes in the Scope of Work. The City shall have the right to order, in writing, changes in the scope of work or the services to be performed. Any changes in the scope of work requested by Consultant must be made in writing and approved by both parties. 12.0 Notice. 12.1. Any notice required to be given to Consultant shall be deemed duly and properly given upon delivery, if sent to Consultant postage prepaid to the Consultant's address set forth above or personally delivered to Consultant at such address or other address specified to City in writing by Consultant. 12.2. Any notice required to be given to City shall be deemed duly and properly given upon delivery, if sent to City postage prepaid to City's address set forth above or personally delivered to City at such address or other address specified to Consultant in writing by City. 13.0 Conflicts of Interest and Waivers. 13.1. Consultant affirmatively represents that it, its officers, principals, and employees presently have no interest and promises they shall not have any interest, direct or indirect, that conflicts or would conflict in any manner with the performance of the services contemplated by this Agreement. No person having any such interest shall be employed by or be associated with Consultant. "Conflict" as used herein, shall be defined and interpreted in accordance with California Government Code, Section 1090. 5 of 7 • 13.2. Consultant agrees not to accept any employment during the term of this Agreement by any other person or entity which employment is or may likely develop a conflict of interest between City's interest and the interests of such other person or entity. 13.3. Consultant shall not work for any other client whose interests are adverse to City's interests. 14.0 Attorney's Fees. In the event of litigation between the parties arising out of or connected with this Agreement, the prevailing party in such litigation shall be entitled to recover, in addition to any other amounts, its actual attorneys' fees and costs of such litigation. 15.0 Files. At the conclusion of the services required by Consultant and upon City's written request, Consultant shall submit documents in Consultant's files for this matter to City. If City does not request the file, Consultant will retain it for a period of at least seven (7) years from the succession of services under this Agreement. If City does not request the files within the seven year period, Consultant will have no further obligation to retain the files and may, at its sole discretion, destroy the files without further notice to City. 16.0 Confidentiality. The services and work product provided by Consultant pursuant to his Agreement shall be maintained in confidence by Consultant, its agents, representatives, and employees without restriction as to time, shall be disclosed only to the City, and shall not be used for any purpose other than performance hereunder. Consultant shall not disclose to others nor use for any purpose (other than Consultant's performance hereunder) any information provided by or obtained from the City relating to its government and business practices, including, but not limited to, studies, contacts and research performed for this Agreement, business plans, forecasts and financial information. 17.0 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California. 18.0 Waiver. No waiver of any default shall constitute a waiver of any other default or breach, whether of the same or other covenant or condition. No waiver, benefit, privilege, or service voluntarily given or performed by a Party shall give the other Party any contractual rights by custom, estoppel, or otherwise. 6of7 • IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the duly authorized representatives of each party have executed this Agreement on the day and year first written. City of Seal Beach Pacific Research & Strategies, Inc. By: 'S By: irk✓ David Carma y, City Manager °Wilson, President and CEO Attest: BY: 41 Q/ Ni Linda Devine, City Clerk Approved as to Form: By: Quinn Barrow, City Attorney 7of7