Sunrise Consulting Group is a lobbying firm that has been representing the interests of its clients by seeking appropriations from the State Legislature in Tallahassee. Shawn Foster is the president of Sunrise Consulting Group and some of his clients include the City of Brooksville, Florida Blueberry Growers Association (FBGA) and Hernando County.
Sunrise Consulting contracted with the City in December 2014, and in January 2016 this agreement was extended for six months. City Manager T. Jennene Norman-Vacha asked the City to renew the retainer agreement for Sunrise Consulting for an additional 12 months as Foster has demonstrated that his services are valuable by obtaining funding for the City for a drainage project.
According to documents provided, Foster’s fees will be $2,100 per month, with an occasional increase of up to $300 in a single month or $1,000 for the 12 month term, for registration fees and some travel. The previous arrangement included lobbying on behalf of the FBGA at a cost of $4,000, with FBGA sharing the fee. With this agreement, Foster will represent only the interests of the City of Brooksville; he will have separate contract with the FBGA, if they wish to have Sunrise Consulting lobby on their behalf.
The three main projects that the City would like Foster’s help with are:
Electrical and lighting upgrades on Main Street from Ft. Dade Avenue to the 50 bypass for City activities and events
Horse Lake stormwater/flood management (for the third year)
Approval of the City’s Good Neighbor Trail plan to be directed through the downtown area and not along the bypass
Foster stated that two years ago, the governor vetoed both items for which the City had requested funding. He believes that the City’s economic development has a greater likelihood for approval this year, as well as the Horse Lake project. In response to council member Betty Erhard’s thanks for his diligence, Foster told Erhard that he was excited that Brooksville received some funding, and they deserved more.
Erhard asked whether or not the Council could still lobby on their own behalf with state legislators and the Florida League of Cities. Norman-Vacha said, “It doesn’t change that,” adding that Foster is just a “regular voice” and a presence in Tallahassee. Foster welcomed the Council’s participation and described himself as a loudspeaker for the City.
The Council approved the City’s contract with Sunrise Consulting and voted 4-1, with Erhard opposing.