For City Council Meeting July 28, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Tanya Williams, City Manager
Title
Request City Council to: (1) Approve an On-Call Professional Services Agreement With Tripepi Smith and Associates, Inc. for Professional Communications Services in an Annual Amount Not to Exceed $125,000, with Two One-Year Renewal Options at the Same Annual Not-to-Exceed Amount, Subject to Satisfactory Performance and Annual Appropriation; (2) Authorize the City Manager or Designee to Issue and Amend Task Orders Under the Agreement Within the Approved Annual Not-to-Exceed Amount; and (3) Authorize the City Manager or Designee to Execute the Agreement and All Related Documents.
(ACTION)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1) Approve an On-Call Professional Services Agreement with Tripepi Smith and Associates, Inc. for Professional Communications Services in an annual amount not to exceed $125,000, with two one-year renewal options at the same annual not-to-exceed amount, subject to satisfactory performance and annual appropriation;
2) Authorize the City Manager or designee to issue and amend Task Orders under the Agreement within the approved annual not-to-exceed amount; and
3) Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the Agreement and all related documents.
BACKGROUND
Professional communication between the City of Rialto and its residents, businesses, and community partners is essential to building public trust, encouraging civic engagement, and ensuring that residents are informed about City services, programs, and decisions. To strengthen these efforts, the City issued Request for Proposals (RFP) #26-013 in December of 2025, seeking qualified firms to provide comprehensive communications, marketing, and media services with the intended goal of the selected firm to support the City’s media team’s ongoing communications work.
The City received a total of 13 proposals from firms offering to provide services. The proposals were evaluated by Department Directors from Community Development, the City Clerk’s office, as well as the Assistant City Manager. Interviews were conducted with five of the top firms in April of 2026.
The final selected proposal with Tripepi Smith was presented to the Economic Development Committee in May 2026.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
The City of Rialto has experienced tremendous growth and will continue to see additional residents moving to the community. As the community expands and evolves, it is critical that the City focuses on providing effective communication and community engagement strategies to inform, involve, and engage the public. Increasing awareness of events and services builds a stronger community. Further, the City of Rialto can drive media awareness through effective communication campaigns to help tell the story of the positive momentum driven by the vision of the City Council.
The proposed scope of work is organized into three complementary components designed to build a lasting communications foundation for the City while providing flexibility to scale services up or down as needs evolve:
1. Platforms Review and Strategic Communications Plan
Tripepi Smith will conduct a comprehensive review of the City's existing communication platforms, including its website, social media accounts, and e-newsletter, and will interview key City staff to understand current practices and goals. This foundational work ensures that ongoing communications efforts are strategic, consistent, and aligned with Council and community priorities.
2. General Communications Support Services
On an ongoing basis, Tripepi Smith will provide day-to-day communications support to enhance the City's capacity to engage residents and promote local government services. This includes:
• Project management and bi-weekly check-in calls with meeting notes and action items
• Drafting and distribution of press releases and news articles
• Management and monitoring of social media accounts, including up to three posts per week
• Monthly compilation of key performance indicators through a metrics and analytics report
• Quarterly strategy meetings and development of a content calendar
• Review of City Council agendas to identify and recommend related public outreach opportunities
3. As-Needed Services
To provide flexibility for specialized or periodic projects, the agreement includes a variety of services on a time & Materials basis at pre-negotiated rates. The primary focus of this activity will be to modernize and update the City’s monthly newsletter to reach a broader audience.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The proposed action does not meet the definition of a project as defined by Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and excludes the following: (1) Continuing administrative or maintenance activities, such as purchases for supplies, personnel-related actions, and general policy and procedure making and/or (2) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
The request is consistent with Guiding Principle 3A of the Rialto General Plan:
Our City government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney's Office has reviewed the agreement and approved it as to form.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
Operating Budget Impact
Sufficient funds are budgeted in the Fiscal Year 2026-27 annual budget in account 10101148-52011.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
There is no impact on the Capital Improvement Budget.
Licensing
Prior to execution of the Professional Service Agreement/Purchase Order/Construction Contract, the vendor shall submit a business license application and pay a Business License tax.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Proposal
2. Professional Agreement with Tripepi Smith
3. Non-Disclosure Agreement