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Work Session Memo January 22, 2010 Page 2 While communications have improved, the D.C. staff has been unable to arrange their schedules to meet with the Council. LGN has offered to meet, but none of the available dates/times have worked. As you know, representatives from LGN's Minneapolis office did attend a work session with the Council last fall and these issues were discussed. From my perspective, if the City chooses to continue working with LGN, it seems that a meeting schedule with the Council should be outlined as part of the contract. Other Lobbyists You asked me to follow-up with some references that were received through contacts at the Minnesota City Managers Association (MCMA). The following is a description of the firms/individuals that were contacted. Barb Rohde Barbara Rohde & Associates Washington, D.C. Ms. Rohde currently works in Washington D.C. as an independent lobbyist. Her clients include Clay County, the City of Moorhead, the University of Minnesota and the White Earth Band of Ojibwa. A copy of her resume is attached. She has had experience working on transportation, environment, defense, education, health care and economic development funding. During her tenure she has helped secure over $90 million in federal funding for various clients. After learning about the Northwest Quadrant, she felt it would be difficult for the City to secure clean-up funding through the "earmarking" process (also known as Congressionally Directed Spending). Instead, she recommends that the City try to package our requests around transportation needs. This is especially important given the on-going debate about reauthorizing the transportation bill, which will direct spending over the next 6 years. Her typical practice is to maintain weekly contact with client staff and provide written updates on a monthly basis. She charges a retainer fee of $5,000 per month, which covers all of her costs. Dan McNamara Cassidy and Associates Washington, D.C. Mr. McNamara has been a consultant on federal legislation for nearly 20 years. Most of his experience has been working with counties. They currently represent Scott County and have for some 20 years. In the process they have helped the County secure close to $200M in federal funding. All of these funds have been transportation -related.