Here They Come Again

Mayor Ed Lawson and Sparks Lobbyists

The February 24, 2025 Sparks City Council meeting agenda includes a notable consent item (#8) proposing $160,000 in consulting contracts related to the Truckee Meadows Public Land Management Act. The proposal would award $80,000 each to SB Strategic Consulting Inc. and Barrett Resources for public outreach services.

City of Sparks Consent Agenda - February 24, 2025.

Questions have emerged about these proposed contracts:

• These same firms received similar contracts in 2024 totaling $180,000 ($90,000 each) for comparable work

• The measurable outcomes from the previous year's consulting work remain unclear. You know, can you show residents what you did for $90,000?

• The timing is notable given Sparks' projected $18 million budget deficit for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025

• The contracts' placement on the consent agenda, typically reserved for routine items, has drawn scrutiny

• The necessity of additional consulting work has been questioned, particularly since Senator Jacky Rosen has already introduced the bill in question

Adding context to the relationship, Scott and Chris (principals at these consulting firms) previously worked on Mayor Ed Lawson's campaign.