2019/02/27 Council Agenda Packet

One-on-one meetings. As one of the most experienced and well-respected government practices of any law firm in the U.S.,we know the value of in-person meetings in Washington D.C. To secure these one-on-one meetings,we rely on our relationships with key lawmakers and legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle-some of which go back decades. We can also arrange meetings with top- level officials in the Administration. Plus,we often host more informal get-togethers with officials- both political and permanent-from Washington's myriad federal agencies as well as Capitol Hill. Public Forums. Using our close relationships on Capitol Hill as well as with key think-tanks,non- profits,and trade associations,Holland&Knight frequently helps create public forums to showcase our clients'priorities. These range from opportunities to testify at congressional committees on the Hill to roundtables and"fireside chats"that garner media attention. For example,working closely with the Senate Commerce,Science and Transportation Committee, Holland&Knight was able to secure an opportunity for our client,the Southern RTC,to testify during a hearing about the"Future of Transportation in America." The hearing showcased RTC's leadership in autonomous vehicle deployment-and may have been a contributing factor in their recent successful application for a$5.3 million BUILD grant. For Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg,we arranged a public forum at the Center for American Progress to discuss his priority issue,mental health. The forum attracted great media attention and was an opportunity to highlight Mayor Steinberg's work at the national level. District Visits. One of the best ways to jumpstart a federal policy effort is to invite decision-makers in Washington,D.C.to conduct a site visit. This allows a local government to bring officials from both Congress and the executive branch to their community-including federal agency headquarters and regional and local offices. Once a site visit has occurred,it becomes easier to advocate for a particular federal policy or funding outcome. For example,Holland&Knight helped organize a site visit for congressional staff and officials from Army Corps of Engineers headquarters,district,and division to promote a federal flood control study for our client,Norfolk,VA. This visit helped demonstrate the real need and federal interest for the project and has helped expedite and fund the project in a way that no meeting in Washington,D.C.could have done. We have also arranged visits for HUD Secretary Ben Carson to visit several of our clients' Opportunity Zones sites,including Norfolk,Aurora,and Philadelphia. In each of these visits,we helped our client arrange the site visit to the Opportunity Zone,and a roundtable for the Secretary with the mayor and stakeholders to discuss our clients'federal housing needs. After the visits,the White House invited the mayors to visit the White House to participate in housing roundtable. Coalitions and Strategic Partnerships. As noted previously,Holland&Knight's success with local government clients would not be possible without our strong relationships with think tanks, foundations,business and private sector associations,labor organizations,minority leadership groups,and thought leaders. We work closely with these organizations to build coalitions and broaden support for policies and projects of importance to our clients. Holland&Knight also organizes and leads our own coalitions for the benefit of clients. As previously mentioned,Holland&Knight created the Mayors&CEOs for U.S.Housing Investment to help elevate the issue of affordable housing and homelessness at the national level. Through our Holland 8c Knight Confidential Presentation for the City of Everett I 16