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CITY OF MIAMI
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Julie O. Bru, City Attorney z, ,
DATE: April 15, 2008
RE: City Commission Meeting — April 24, 2008
Proposed Resolution authorizing the expenditure of attorneys' fees and
costs for the continued engagement of the law firm of Gunster, Yoakley &
Stewart, P.A., for legal services concerning the lease and development of
Watson Island by Flagstone Properties, LLC and its affiliates
(File No. 08-00418)
The attached legislation has been prepared for placement on the April 24, 2008
City Commission agenda. The Resolution authorizes the expenditure of attorneys' fees
and costs, in an amount approved by the City Attorney, for the continued engagement of
the law firm of Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, P.A., for legal services provided to the City
of Miami concerning the lease and development of Watson Island by Flagstone
Properties, LLC and its affiliates.
Subsequent to the execution of the Agreement to Enter into Ground Lease, which
took place on January 31, 2003, several agreements that are integral to the construction of
the project, including Subordination and Non -Distribution Agreements, Declarations of
Restrictions, and amendments to the proposed Lease Agreement, continue to be
negotiated at this time.
Resolution No. 02-1281, adopted December 12, 2002, initially approved the
hiring of Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, P.A. as outside counsel and that firm has
continued to assist the City since that time on an as -needed basis. To date, the total
amount for attorneys' fees and costs for outside counsel is $495,000.
Funds will be allocated from General Fund Non -Departmental, Professional
Services -Legal Services Account No. 00001.980000.531010, for said services.
Attachment(s)
c: Pedro G. Hernandez, City Manager
Elvi Gallastegui, Agenda Coordinator
Revised Draft 1