TO: Mayor and Commissioners
FROM: Noel Pfeffer, City Attorney
DATE: February 16, 2016
Title
APPROVAL FOR FY 2016 SPENDING LIMITS GREATER THAN $25,000 FOR SPECIAL COUNSEL
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Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Motion to Approve spending limits in an amount not to exceed $150,000.00 for Weiss, Serota, Helfman, Pastoriza, Cole & Boniske, and not to exceed $75,000 for Allen, Norton & Blue. This complies with the Code of Ordinances, Chapter 36, Section 36.03(A), “Multiple Acquisitions From Vendor Exceeding Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) in Any Fiscal Year” requires City Commission approval of any agreement for services.
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Background:
Section 36.03(A) of the City’s Code of Ordinances requires City Commission approval of any agreement for services which exceeds $25,000 in any fiscal year.
Weiss, Serota, Helfman, Pastoriza, Cole & Boniske
Weiss Serota et. al. is presently engaged as special counsel in two pending matters; (i) the Atlantic Crossing litigation, and (ii) the potential Match Point, Inc. litigation challenging the validity of the 2005 licensing agreement for the promotion of tournaments at the City’s tennis center. For fiscal year 2015/2016 the City has expended $36,799.45 in connection with the Atlantic Crossing litigation and $3,459.89 for Match Point. The City Attorney is seeking budget approval not to exceed $150,000 for FY 2015/2016.
Allen, Norton & Blue
Allen, Norton & Blue serves as labor counsel for the City. Requests for labor counsel legal services have been scaled back over the past several months. For example, the City Attorney’s office provided all necessary legal support for the recently concluded SEIU collective bargaining agreement. Grievance reviews, civil service hearings, EEOC Complaints, and administrative labor matters are now handled by the City Attorney’s office. Labor counsel is engaged selectively on complex or novel labor issues.
Although the City has settled and f...
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