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AWARD A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT TO CALIFORNIA PUBLIC POLICY GROUP (CPPG) FOR STATE LEGISLATIVE CONSULTING AND ADVOCACY SERVICES
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve a motion to:
1. Award a Professional Services Agreement to California Public Policy Group (CPPG) for a term of three and one-half (3.5) years, with an option to renew for one (1) two-year extension, to provide state legislative consulting and advocacy services, in the not-to-exceed amount of $665,000;
2. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to take necessary and appropriate actions to carry out the purpose and intent of this motion.
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Summary
Maintaining a strong presence in both Sacramento and Washington, DC is important to the City of Stockton to ensure that we receive funding, advance beneficial legislation, and prevent adverse legislation or rulemaking. This is most effectively done through the use of consulting services to represent the City of Stockton in carrying out its Legislative Program and advocating its public policy positions, concerns, needs, and recommendations at the state and federal levels.
The existing state legislative advocacy agreement will expire on December 31, 2026. City staff issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) in July 2026 and received two responses at bid closing in August 2026. The RFP process is complete, and staff recommends that California Public Policy Group (CPPG) represent the City of Stockton in state legislative efforts.
DISCUSSION
Background
The City has contracted with a state legislative advocacy firm for more than 10 years, which has allowed Stockton to strengthen its presence in Sacramento during that time. Examples of historic benefits provided by our state advocates include successful public safety and sustainable development grant awards, leveraging the application of a State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan for the Regional Wastewater Control Facility Modifications Project, and expanding the Big 10 cities to the Big 13, which enabled Stockton to participate and receive direct and significantly larger allocations of the Federal CARES Act and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.
More recent accomplishments provided by current state advocates include assistance in securing funding through state budget appropriations for affordable housing, aquatics and park facilities, a bubbler system and trash boom at Morelli Park, and redevelopment along Stockton’s Miracle Mile; legislative advocacy to stop the Delta Conveyance Project, to consistently receive full Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) funding in the State budget, to ban the use of forever chemicals, and to support penalties for metal theft and human trafficking.
In 2012, the City of Stockton adopted its first formal State and Federal Legislative Program. Prior to that year, the City had not adopted a formal legislative program, and as a result, the City’s legislative priorities and impacts of legislation were not entirely clear to our legislative delegations. Over the past decade, the annual Legislative Programs have provided a unified focus and served as documents that establish the principles, priorities, and positions of the City of Stockton related to state and federal legislative matters.
In addition to support of the City’s state funding requests and legislative advocacy, the contracted firm advises in developing and executing the formal State and Federal Legislative Program. The Program is reviewed and updated each year, allowing legislative advocates to refocus efforts as needed in Sacramento and Washington, DC, and act strategically and timely for greater impact.
Present Situation
The City of Stockton entered into its current state legislative advocacy agreement in January 2022. The agreement has a term of three years, with the option to extend for an additional two years of service. The full term of the agreement, including extensions, will be complete on December 31, 2026.
An RFP (PUR 27-002) for State Legislative Consulting and Advocacy Services was issued in July 2026, and a total of two firms submitted responses to the RFP. In September 2026, City staff conducted a competitive review and selection process of the responsive advocacy firms. The RFP process is complete, and staff recommends that California Public Policy Group (CPPG) represent the City in our state legislative efforts.
CPPG is a Sacramento-based lobbying, grant writing and consulting firm dedicated to advancing the interests of California cities, special districts, and public agencies navigating the state’s legislative, regulatory and funding landscape. CPPG has no parent or holding company and operates as a single independent corporation, headquartered one block from the State Capitol. The firm was founded in October 2024, spinning off as an independent entity after operating for years as the legislative advocacy and grant writing arm of Renne Public Law Group, LLP, and retained its full team of legislative advocates, grant writers, and municipal policy advisors through that transition.
Services are intentionally structured to meet the evolving needs of local government agencies and include:
• State legislative, administrative, and regulatory advocacy
• Strategic planning and policy counsel
• Public affairs and issue-focused communications
• Grant writing, research, and revenue sourcing
• Coalition-building and grassroots campaign coordination
• Federal legislative tracking and impact analysis
Kyra Ross will serve as Principal in Charge and day-to-day lead advocate for the City of Stockton under this agreement. Kyra has represented Stockton’s interests continuously since the City’s current lobbying relationship began, which ensures the same advocate, institutional knowledge, and Capitol relationships built over the life of the relationship, with no transition period and no loss of continuity. Kyra brings nearly three decades of experience working inside the State Capitol and advocating before it, with particular expertise in the legislative, budget, environmental, land use, water, energy, and local government issues that affect California cities. As Stockton’s lobbyist, Kyra’s representation has helped secure more than $30 million in direct state funding since 2015, while successfully advancing and defending City interests across water, homelessness, transportation, public safety, pensions, contracting, and local government authority.
The scope of work for the state legislative agreement(Attachment A) includes advising the City in the development of the annual Legislative Program; providing legislative advocacy and serving as a communication conduit to transmit the City’s position and engage State agencies on applications; coordinating and executing an annual state funding strategy to identify aligned funding opportunities, prepare budget appropriations requests, and pursue funding through State channels. Our advocates will represent the City of Stockton in Sacramento, maintain a positive working relationship with the City’s delegations, and facilitate communication with legislative and other governmental officials for the purpose of advocating legislative or administrative action.
Historically, Stockton’s State and Federal Legislative Program was synchronized to the calendar year, running from January 1 to December 31. Beginning with the recently adopted FY 26-27 Program (Motion 2026-08-18-1005), the City will now align its annual Program with the City’s fiscal year of July 1 to June 30.
Consequently, the City will execute the state legislative advocacy agreement for a term of three and one-half years, from January 1, 2027 to June 30, 2030. Encompassing the new agreement within the updated cadence will provide greater opportunity for the annual Strategic Planning Workshop and budget development process that informs the program, while also aligning more closely with the state fiscal year of July 1.
The state advocacy agreement has been established at an annual fee of $180,000 for the first year - due to the 18-month term - and an annual fee of $120,000 for the remaining two years, as well as the optional extended two years with final sunset on June 30, 2032.
Continued legislative advocacy is particularly important, given the changing landscape of both federal and state governments. The expertise and experience provided by California Public Policy Group will allow the City of Stockton to maintain a consistently strong presence in Sacramento and pursue the critical initiatives of the City, such as public safety, economic development, infrastructure investment, and homelessness/affordable housing initiatives.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The initial six months of this agreement will be funded from the FY 26-27 fund balance. Funds for future years of the agreement will be appropriated during the annual budget development process, with a not-to-exceed price of $665,000 for the life of the project.
Attachment A - California Public Policy Group Agreement