The City and County of Denver says Brandeberry-McKenna Public Affairs has been successful in lobbying state officials on behalf of Denver government over the last four years and rewarded the firm with a one-year extension to the Denver-based lobby firm’s contract.

City Council approved the contract continuation, which will cost the city $180,833.38, at its Oct. 3 meeting. It runs through the end of October 2017 and brings the total contract amount with the firm to an amount not to exceed $760,833.38.

Services are shared by the mayor’s office, City Council, clerk and recorder and Denver International Airport, and include representing and advocating the city’s priorities and policy positions with members of the Colorado General Assembly, the governor, executive branch and other stakeholders.

Jenna Espinoza, the city’s deputy communications director, wrote in an email that Brandeberry-McKenna has worked with the city on all issues of importance at the state Capitol, often focusing on local control.

For example, Espinoza listed extending low-income housing tax credits to help residents with affordable housing needs, preserving the authority to use stoplight photo enforcement as a safety tool, educating lawmakers on the city’s efforts to connect those experiencing homelessness with services, securing state funding for Colorado State University (the city’s partner on the National Western Center project) to build new facilities, and protecting the use of tax increment financing and educating lawmakers on its benefits.

Brandeberry-McKenna subcontracts with Policy Matters to represent the city on matters related to the Joint Budget Committee, and they have been extremely successful in securing funding for county administration and child welfare workers on behalf of human services, Espinoza added.

The city last put its lobbying contract out to bid in 2012. At that time, Brandeberry-McKenna was awarded a 2-year contract with an option for extension. In 2014, the contract was extended two additional years. This one-year amendment brings it to the maximum, 5-year contract term. In 2017, the city will put the contract out to bid again.

Brandeberry-McKenna staff could not be reached immediately for comment.