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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 14 Approval of Contract with Arrow Group Consulting City of Ocoee ▪ 1 N. Bluford Avenue ▪ Ocoee, Florida 34761 Phone: (407) 905-3100 ▪ www.ocoee.org STAFF REPORT Meeting Date: October 20, 2026 Item #: 14 Contact Name: Jen Bolling Department Director: Jen Bolling Contact Number: Ext. 4021 City Manager: Craig Shadrix Subject: Approval of Contract with Arrow Group Consulting. (Utilities Director Bolling) Background Summary: The City of Ocoee is actively pursuing funding opportunities, legislative support, and grants to advance several high-budget projects involving drinking water, wastewater, water conservation, and utility operations. Arrow Group Consulting LLC ("ARROW") will provide strategic consulting, legislative outreach, coordination, advocacy, and support for state and federal appropriations. ARROW has been instrumental in the acquisition of a grant in the past year and the positioning for future grants. ARROW and its federal partner, Becker & Poliakoff, will support outreach activities to federal and state agencies as outlined in the Arrow Group contract for $8,500/month. Issue: Should the Honorable Mayor and City Commission approve the Agreement for Professional Consulting Services with Arrow Group Consulting, LLC? Recommendations: Staff recommends the Honorable Mayor and City Commission approve the Agreement with Arrow Group and authorize the Mayor, City Clerk, and staff to execute the contract. Staff also recommend that the City Manager be authorized to approve changes to this contract up to the limit of his purchasing authority for each change order. Attachments: 1. Full Service Contract Financial Impacts: The cost for Arrow Group Consulting Services is adequately funded in the approved in the FY 2026/2027 budget in GL 401-531-00-3128 for $102,000. Type of Item: Consent AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING SERVICES This contract for professional consulting and lobbying services (hereinafter referred to as "Agreement") between Arrow Group Consulting, Inc. a privately-owned corporation registered in the State of Florida (hereinafter referred to as "ARROW"), and City of Ocoee, a political subdivision of the State of Florida (hereinafter referred to as "CLIENT"). ARROW and CLIENT shall collectively be referred to as the "Parties." Services: ARROW shall assist CLIENT with lobbying all relevant issues before the State Legislative and the Executive Branches including all state agencies, St. Johns River Water Management District and Orange County. The primary manager lead for ARROW will be Edgar G. Fernandez. ARROW Advisors, Ronald Brise and Julie Fess will support him as needed with services for the City of Ocoee. In addition to its state lobbying responsibilities ARROW will also lobby, coordinate and manage federal outreach and advocacy efforts in furtherance of the City of Ocoee’s goals. ARROW will be assisted in this effort by the law firm of Becker & Poliakoff, P.A. Florida, a privately-owned corporation registered in the State of Florida for federal lobbying services. Government Law & Lobbying Practice Group | Becker. Omar Franco, the managing director of the Becker & Poliakoffs, Washington DC office lobbying practice will serve as the lead on outreach to the Federal Legislative and Executive Branches, as well as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The ARROW / BECKER team shall provide strategic consulting, facilitation, and advocacy services. All representations made by the ARROW / BECKER team on CLIENT'S behalf shall be subject to prior approval by CLIENT'S authorized representative, City Manager, or designee. This contract for professional services (hereinafter referred to as “Agreement”) is by and between Arrow Group Consulting, LLC. a privately-owned corporation registered in the State of Florida (hereinafter referred to as “ARROW”), and the City of Ocoee, a Florida municipal corporation (hereinafter referred to as "CLIENT"). ARROW and CLIENT shall collectively be referred to as the “Parties.” Statement of Need WHEREAS, CLIENT is seeking to secure funding support from the State of Florida and the St Johns Water Management District for the implementation of projects intended at improving drinking and wastewater utility operations and promoting enhanced water conservation, and WHEREAS, ARROW has experience working for and with Florida's legislature, water utilities, and resources management agencies, and enjoys productive relationships with elected and appointed members of the Florida's legislature, Department of Environmental Protection, and the St Johns Water Management District, as well as senior staff at all of these. NOW THEREFORE, CLIENT wishes to retain ARROW for the purposes of assisting CLIENT in securing state appropriations and grants for the implementation of drinking, wastewater, stormwater, and water conservation projects. (1) (Term and Compensation: The term of this Agreement will commence on October 1, 2026, and end on September 30, 2028. CLIENT will pay ARROW a monthly payment in the amount of EIGHT THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED dollars ($8,500.00) to perform the services specified in this Proposed agreement (the total sum may also be referred to as the "fee"). Fee payments to ARROW, payable upon receipt of an invoice from ARROW. (2) The fee is INCLUSIVE of costs associated with the execution of ARROW's duties under this agreement including travel, meals, printing, mail, and other administrative costs. This fee is NOT INCLUSIVE of any lobbying fees which ARROW may be required to expend in support of the CLIENT'S outreach activities. ARROW will secure the approval of the identified contract manager prior to incurring these expenses. (3) Issuance of Payments and Notice: CLIENT shall make checks payable to ARROW Group Consulting, LLC. and send payment(s) to: 777 South Flagler Drive, Suite 500E, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. All written notices from CLIENT to ARROW shall also be sent to this address. (4) Renewal and Termination: This Agreement may be modified or extended only by a written document signed by both Parties. Either Party may terminate this Agreement by providing written notice to the other Party thirty (30) days prior to the desired date of termination. CLIENT shall pay ARROW for any and all services and the CLIENT approved expenses during the term of this Agreement up to and until the established date of termination. (5) In the event of early termination, the final amount to be paid shall be established on a pro-rata basis based on number of business days in a calendar year through the date of termination. If the monthly fee previously collected exceeds the pro - rata amount due, ARROW shall remit the difference within 30 days of termination in a check or money order payable to: City of Ocoee (6) Governing Law: This Agreement is executed in the State of Florida and shall be construed, interpreted, and governed by the laws of such state, and by all applicable laws of the United States of America. (7) Confidentiality: ARROW acknowledges and understands that this Agreement and the services rendered to CLIENT are the Florida Government in the Sunshine Law and that a violation or breach of requirements of that law is cause for termination and other relief pursuant to section (6) of this Agreement. (8) Agreement Execution: The Parties, after reviewing, reading, and understanding the contents of this document, do hereby execute this Agreement by their respective signatures. This Agreement is effective as of the date of the last signature below. (9) No Agencv: ARROW is an independent contractor providing consulting services to the CLIENT and is not an employee or agent of CLIENT. (10) Attorney' s Fees: In any dispute between the parties, the substantially prevailing party will be entitled to recover from the non-substantially prevailing party all reasonable attorney's fees, and any other costs related to the disposition of the action before trial, at trial and on appeal. (11) Disclosure: Please note this is not an engagement of Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, PA. CLIENT acknowledges that ARROW is an affiliate of Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart (“Gunster”) and agrees that the engagement of ARROW under this agreement does not create an attorney-client relationship or any other relationship between CLIENT and Gunster or any of its attorneys. Rather, to the extent that CLIENT wishes to engage the services of Gunster or any of its attorneys to provide any legal representation or services, CLIENT may only do so through a separate, written engagement agreement directly with Gunster. By signing below, CLIENT further acknowledges that it has read this Agreement and agrees that for the purposes of avoidance of any doubt, the hiring of ARROW by CLIENT shall not, by itself, result in or give rise to any claim of conflict of interest against Gunster or any of its attorneys arising from Arrow’s engagement by CLIENT. (12) Registration and Reporting Requirements: In providing its services under this Agreement, ARROW and its staff will endeavor to maintain confidentiality regarding information relating to this representation where applicable. However, the services covered by this Agreement are lobbying services and ARROW, its staff, and the CLIENT will be subject to registration and reporting requirements, as are provided for in statutes and ordinances applicable to lobbying activities. Therefore, in complying with these requirements ARROW and its staff will register prior to undertaking any effort on the CLIENT’s behalf with legislative, executive, or municipal members, staff, or employees. When registrations or other required reports, disclosures or responses are required, ARROW will timely furnish the CLIENT with copies of such forms, reports and responses and the CLIENT agrees to execute such documents as are required by law and otherwise cooperate in achieving compliance and the avoidance of penalties. Reporting will be made pursuant to the relevant portion of work between legislative and executive agency contact. By entering into this Agreement CLIENT hereby consents to making such registrations required, CLIENT agrees to execute such documents as are required by law and otherwise cooperate in achieving compliance and the avoidance of penalties. Reporting will be made pursuant to the relevant portion of work between legislative and executive agency contact. By entering into this Agreement CLIENT hereby consents to making such registrations and disclosures as are legally required to comply with all applicable lobbying laws. For Arrow Group Consulting, LLC: Edgar G. Fernandez, DPL, Senior Advisor Date Executed For City of Ocoee: ________________________________ Date Executed CITY OF OCOEE SIGNATURE PAGE {Full Service Contract – Arrow Group Consulting} CITY: CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA By: Rusty Johnson, Mayor ATTEST: Melanie Sibbitt, City Clerk (SEAL) FOR USE AND RELIANCE ONLY BY THE CITY OF OCOEE, FLORIDA; APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY this ____ day of _________________, 20____. FISHBACK DOMINICK By: __________________________ Richard Geller, City Attorney APPROVED BY THE CITY OF OCOEE COMMISSION AT A MEETING HELD ON ______________, 2026, UNDER AGENA ITEM NO. ____