Submitted By: Chris Watt
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Presentation By: Chris Watt
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Department: City Manager's Office
STAFF RECOMMENDATION (Motion Ready):
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Approve engagement of Clifford Shepard with the law firm Shepard, Smith, Kohlmyer & Hand, P.A. as outside legal counsel on an as-needed basis up to an amount not to exceed $150,000
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OCALA’S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Operational Excellence.
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND:
Current city attorney, Robert Batsel, has a contract to provide the city with legal services that expires on October 31, 2022. The city attorney has indicated that his firm does not desire to continue representing the City of Ocala after the expiration of the current contract. The City Council agreed in a public workshop held on January 25, 2022, to begin the search for an in-house city attorney and at the council meeting on May 3, 2022, the council voted to retain the firm Colin Baenziger and Associates to conduct the search for an in-house city attorney.
At the city council meeting on August 16, 2022, the council instructed staff to begin discussions with Clifford Shepard to provide legal services to the city during the transition from outside counsel to in-house attorney. Attached is the retainer agreement provided by Mr. Shepard for the council’s consideration.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
Staff recommends approval of the retainer agreement for Mr. Shepard to provide legal services to the city on an as-needed basis in an amount not to exceed $150,000.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Legal fees are assigned to the department that received the legal service and are budgeted in that department’s” Professional Services-Legal” account.
PROCUREMENT REVIEW:
N/A
LEGAL REVIEW:
City attorney Rob Batsel has approved the retainer agreement for form and legality.
ALTERNATIVE:
Seek legal services from another outside law firm.