The city management-agendized item sought extensions with a number of firms, among which was ETA, and the item's agendizing memo said "are currently engaged in projects with various City departments that could not be completed by the current contract term expiration date of November 30, 2019. The Department of Development Services has prepared a new Request for Proposal (RFP) for as-needed graphic design and creative services. Staff intends to complete the new RFP for graphic design and creative services before the expiration of the extended term. An additional aggregate authority in the amount of $350,000 is requested to complete current projects and provide funding for new projects that may be needed while staff completes the new solicitation for graphic design and creative services"

Management's agendizing memo stated: "City Council action is requested on January 7, 2020, to ensure communication materials are produced in time to meet event deadlines."

On a 9=0 vote, the Council voted to increase the annual aggregate contact amount [for the multiple firms] by $350,000, for a revised total annual aggregate amount [for the multiple firms] not to exceed $1,145,000; and extend the term of the contracts to July 31, 2020.

On February 27, 2020 LBREPORT.com requested under the CA Public Records Act a copy of the executed contract extension -- signed by representatives of ETA and the City

On March 4, 2020 (the day after voting ended in the March 3 election for Council district 2), Deputy City Attorney Richard Anthony indicated in response to a third party inquiry that "[n]o formal amendment has been prepared or executed, so the contract between ETA and the City expired on November 30, 2019 by its own terms."

As of 2 p.m. March 4, the City has provided no response directly to LBREPORT.com to our Public Records Act request for the contract extension (a single document.)

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As previously reported by LBREPORT.com here, publicly available campaign finance documents show Robert Garcia's 2014 Mayoral campaign listed ETA Advertising, then-owned/operated by Ms. Allen, as having performed $10,907 in work/services for the Garcia campaign between February 23, 2014 and March 22, 2014 for which ETA was never paid. Instead, after Garcia was elected Mayor (June 2014) and took office (July 15, 2014), his campaign submitted a post-election campaign report (filed Feb. 3, 2015) indicating the $10,907 sum was zero'd out -- a "minus" sign placed next to the $10,907 sum -- without further explanation.

On February 24 at 2:40 p.m., LBREPORT.com emailed Ms. Allen by email inviting her to provide an explanation for our readers of what happened regarding the zero'd out $10,907 sum. To date we haven't received a response from her or her campaign on this matter.

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LBREPORT.com also noted that in June 2015, city management publicly announced a Request for Proposals (RFP), an open and public process seeking firms wishing to provide services to City Hall such as graphic design, copy development, copy editing, and production for a variety of print materials/public information pieces, interactive media and other related products, Among 21 firms submitting proposals to do so was ETA Advertising.

On October 20, 2015, city staff agendized a City Council item recommending Council approval of eight firms for the work, one of which was ETA Advertising. City staff's agendizing memo indicated ETA met four of staff's five qualifying criteria (more than any of the other seven staff-recommended firms.) The Council voted 9-0 to approve city staff's recommended eight firms and ETA Advertising received a contract (Dec. 1, 2015-November 30, 2017) for up to $160,000.

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The City has since amended its contract with ETA Advertising three times. The second amendment extended its term for one year to add $156,000 -- early double the amount of the original 2015 two year contract. The third time, via a Council voted action on Oct. 8, 2018 extended the contract for one additional year for $90,000 for a total not to exceed (since its 2015 inception) not to exceed $431,000.

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On January 7. 2020, an item placed on the City Council's "consent calendar" (multiple items for which no Council discussion or separate recorded vote would occur unless sought by a Councilmember or the Mayor) sought Council approval to extend the terms of multiple contracts (including the ETA contract) by an aggregated amount of $350,000, for a revised total annual aggregate amount [for the multiple firms] of up to $1,145,000; and extend the terms of the contracts to July 31, 2020 to complete projects still pending. The item carried 9-0.

In terms of the contracts' "scope of work," the City's founational 2015 contract attached what appears to be the originating RFP text:

The City of Long Beach (City), Department of Development Services (Department) is seeking proposals from one or more qualified professional Consultant( s) to provide creative services i.e. graphic design, copy development, copy editing, and production) for a variety of print materials / public information pieces and - interactive media on an as- needed basis. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Year in Review / Annual Reports
• Permitting Guidelines Brochures
• Land Use Policy Documents
  • General Plan Elements, Specific Plans
• Collateral material and web content for grant- funded projects, programs and services
• Collateral material for new and existing programs and services
• Promotional materials related to special events and community meetings
• Postcards
• Flyers
• Infographics
• Artwork for promotional items
• Advertising

Existing color palettes and templates will be used for some services. Examples of reports, brochures, newsletters, and land use policy documents can be found on the Publications page of the LBDS web site (http://www. lbds. info), The Consultant will work one-on-one with key Department personnel to achieve. cost effective, visually appealing results.

Consultant should demonstrate an understanding of the City of Long Beach and Long Beach Development Services goals and objectives. Experience working with government agencies is desirable, but not required. Consultant must submit three (3) samples of materials similar to those listed above or three samples of materials that best represents the agency' s creative identity.

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At the time ETA Advertising sought to provide all or some of these services and received a City contract to do so, it also owned/operated "LBPost.com" with Ms. Allen as its named publisher. In mid-June 2018, Pacific6, through a subsidiary, acquired and now operates "LBPost.com."

In October 2019, Ms. Allen announced the sale of ETA Advertising and declared her candidacy for LB's 2nd district City Council seat.

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