ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - The City Council has approved spending $303,000 on contracts with two firms to provide legislative advocacy for the city at the state and federal levels.

At its June 24 meeting, the council unanimously approved contracts with Van Scoyoc Associates, Inc. to represent the city at the federal level and Capitol Advocacy for representation at the state level. The contracts are the result of work by an ad hoc committee established by the council in November 2025 to look into long-time governmental relations representation and potentially recommend changes.

“This was overdue and very important to open up the process and see what else was out there,” Elk Grove Community Engagement and Government Relations Manager Christal Love-Lazard said.

In its decision, council elected to retain Van Scoyoc Associates with a three-year contract totaling $183,000. The firm has represented Elk Grove in Washington, D.C., since 2006, playing a key role in securing $3.64 million in Congressional Directed grants over the last three years for projects such as Zero Emission Vehicle Municipal Infrastructure, the Police Department’s Real Time Information Center and the Laguna Creek Regional Trail Crossing.

In selecting Capitol Advocacy, the council went in a new direction. Elk Grove has contracted with Joe A. Gonzalves & Sons since 2002, but after going through the request for proposal, committee review and interview process chose the larger firm for at least a two-year representation in Sacramento.

The $120,000 contract has an option for a third year.

Love-Lazard praised Gonzalves in representing Elk Grove. As the region’s second largest city, she said the committee felt “our government affairs should reflect that.”

She added Capitol Advocacy represents interests in the energy, technology and health care sectors and often sees legislative trends in these areas before they “hit the municipal sector.” Retaining Van Scoyoc maintains continuity with a firm that knows the city’s priorities at the federal level.

Five firms submitted proposals for the federal contract while six submitted for state work, with Capitol Advocacy and Townsend Public Affairs submitting in both. Committee interviews were conducted in April and May with Van Scoyoc and Townsend for the federal contract and Capital Advocacy, Gonzalves, EJ Thronson Consulting and Prime Strategies for the state contract.

Both Vice Mayor Darren Suen and Councilmember Rod Brewer served on the ad hoc committee and praised the selection and interview process. Brewer added the choice in selecting the finalists was not easy.

“This was a great process,” he said. “It showed us what we don’t know and the potential we can look forward to.”

Also at the June 24 meeting, council unanimously passed a resolution approving the annual report of delinquent public nuisance abatement and sidewalk repair costs and authorizing their collection via the 2026-2027 Sacramento County tax rolls. Elk Grove Code Enforcement Manager Jose Mendez said city codes declare property owners responsible for taking care of sidewalk issues abutting their property along with nuisance code violations.

Nuisance code violations include removing overgrown weeds posing a fire hazard, removal of junk and debris and securing vacant abandoned buildings open to potential access by the public. Since 2011 the city has worked with property owners to identify and maintain areas where sidewalk conditions may present a hazard to the public, with the responsibility to repair these areas falling on the property owner.

Owners are notified of potential nuisances and needed sidewalk repairs and can fix the issue themselves, and in the case of sidewalks either utilize their own contractor, with all fees waived, or use the city’s contractor at the contractor bid price. Property owners are given several notices regarding the need for abatement or repair.

“But if they fail, the city will step in to address the issues in the interest of public safety and community benefit,” Mendez said.

If that happens the city will bill the property owner for the work. If that bill remains unpaid after a specified time, California law allows the city to attach a special assessment to the property, which can then be subsequently placed on the tax rolls of the parcel.

The property could also be sold should the special assessment remain unpaid after being on the tax rolls for three years.

The Delinquent Properties Report identifies 28 properties for which abatement costs in 2025 have not been paid. The total delinquent amounts to be recovered is approximately $24,324, $22,124 for nuisance abatement and $2,200.80 for sidewalk repair.

Finally, in remarks to council about events surrounding the upcoming Fourth of July celebration, City Manager Jason Behrmann said fireworks stands were now open around the city and safety inspections were underway. The city’s fireworks education and awareness campaign, “Don’t Blow Your Summer Budget,” has been making the public aware of financial penalties for property owners and tenants caught using illegal fireworks and has been distributed to the public through a variety of sources, including online and the city newsletter.

Behrmann said the Police Department will have units patrolling on the ground and drones in the air over the July 4 weekend looking for illegal fireworks, which can also be reported to the department at its non-emergency number of 916-714-5115. Fines for possessing illegal fireworks range up to $10,000.