Snohomish County Council approves two-year federal lobbying contract, questions how extensions will be handled

Snohomish County Council on Jan. 1 approved Motion 26-040 authorizing the county executive to enter a professional services agreement for federal government relations work and related services.

Council staff Nicole Gourley told the council that the recommended contract covers a two-year term from Feb. 1, 2026, through Jan. 31, 2028, with the option to extend for two additional one-year terms. Gourley said the total amount authorized under the contract and the motion combined is $400,000, allocated as $200,000 for the initial two-year term and $100,000 for each one-year extension. She told council the contract would be primarily funded through roads, airport, and surface-water management funds, with roughly $7,000 annually coming from the general fund.

During questions, Council member Lowe asked whether the executive's office would communicate with council if it exercised contract extensions and said he felt the council had been left out of the process. Lacey Harper of the executive's office responded that the executive would engage council, follow prior solicitation practice, work with the council chief of staff, and schedule oversight meetings similar to those used for state contracts so council can provide strategic direction.

The staff presentation and the clerk's reading of the motion used inconsistent spellings for the recommended contractor (the transcript alternately records "Barker and Levitt PLLC" and "Parker and Levitt, LLC"); the county record or contract documents should be consulted to confirm the final vendor name. The motion was moved, seconded, and approved unanimously, with a recorded vote of 5-0.

The contract authorizes the executive to execute the agreement and any subsequent amendments, including the stated extensions. The staff report said Schedule A describes tasks similar to prior contracts and Schedule B outlines compensation.