Title
A Resolution Of The City Commission Of The City Of Hollywood, Florida, Authorizing The Appropriate City Officials To Pay GrayRobinson, P.A. For Legal Services In The Icon Office Building Property Matter In An Amount Not To Exceed $300,000.00 For FY 2016; Amending The FY 2016 Adopted Operating Budget (R-2015-294), As Detailed In The Attached Exhibit 1, Revising Operating Revenues, Authorizing Budgetary Transfers And Adjustments, Reauthorizing And Re-Appropriating Certain Funding; Authorizing The Department Of Financial Services To Establish Accounts As May Be Needed; And Providing An Effective Date.
Body
Staff Recommends: Approval of the resolution.
Explanation:
GrayRobinson, P.A. ("the Law Firm") is defending the City of Hollywood against the claims arising out of environmental contamination that allegedly exists on the proposed ICON Office Building property. These claims are now the subject of litigation known as Berman Development Group, LLC, et al. v. City of Hollywood et al.
Section 38.40(C)(2) of the Code of Ordinances exempts from the competitive bid and competitive proposal requirements of the Purchasing Ordinance contracts for professional services. The total fees to be paid to the Law Firm for FY 2016 for legal services in the ICON matter may approach but are not expected to exceed $600,000.00.
The CRA is named as a co-defendant in the above-described litigation and has agreed to share equally in the fees and costs paid to the Law Firm, thereby leaving each of the City and the CRA responsible for payment of a maximum of $300,000.00 in Fiscal Year 2016.
Previously the City Commission and the CRA each authorized payment to the Law Firm in Fiscal Year 2016 in an amount not to exceed $125,000.00, thereby authorizing a total of $250,000.00. On June 23, 2016, the CRA Board is approving a similar resolution increasing the total authorized to be paid by the CRA from $125,000.00 to $300,000.00.
Certain routine and periodic...
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