HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemorandumCITY OF MIAMI
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Victoria Mendez
DATE: June 8, 2017
RE: City Commission Meeting — June 8, 2017
Retention of Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman as Special Real Estate
Counsel for the Sale/Lease of the Miami Riverside Center and the development
of a new City of Miami administration building.
File No. 2396
Pursuant to Resolution Number No. 16-0611, adopted on December 8, 2016, the
attached Resolution requests authorization to retain Weiss Serota Helfman Cole &
Bierman as Special Real Estate Counsel, in consultation with the City Attorney, for the
sale/lease of the Miami Riverside Center and the development of a new City of Miami
administration building with funding to be allocated from Non -Departmental Legal
Services Account No. 00001.980000.531010.0000.00000.
Attachment(s)
cc: Daniel J. Alfonso, City Manager
Todd B. Hannon, City Clerk
Anna Medina, Agenda Coordinator
VM/BLM/RSR
City of Miami
Legislation
Resolution
Enactment Number: R-17-0266
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 2396 Final Action Date:6/8/2017
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE
RETENTION OF WEISS SEROTA HELFMAN COLE & BIERMAN AS SPECIAL REAL
ESTATE COUNSEL TO WORK IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AS
SET FORTH IN CITY RESOLUTION NO. 16-0611 FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A
NEW CITY OF MIAMI ADMINISTRATION BUILDING; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE
EXPENDITURE OF ATTORNEY'S FEES AND THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FROM
THE NON -DEPARTMENTAL LEGAL SERVICES ACCOUNT NO.
00001.980000.531010.0000.00000.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 16-0611, adopted on December 8, 2016, the
City Commission conceptually approved the sale or long term lease of the Miami Riverside
Center ("MRC") subject to the City Commission's consideration and approval of a long-term
lease, or conveyance by deed document, with satisfactory financial and business terms and in
compliance with all applicable laws as contemplated in Offering Memorandum ("OM") No. 15-
16-008; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 16-0611, the City Commission also approved
the implementation of Request for Proposal ("RFP") No. 15-06-009 for the construction of a new
City of Miami ("City") Administration Building to house the City Administration that is accessible,
efficient, and productive for the public, invitees, and all persons and firms transacting business
with the City; and
WHEREAS, the interrelated OM and RFP present complex issues and have various
financial and business implications and impacts that indicate it is in the best interests of the City
to retain special counsel for real estate legal representation and negotiation to effectuate the
performance of the related OM and RFP as envisioned in Resolution No. 16-0611; and
WHEREAS, the Office of the City Attorney requests authorization to retain the law firm of
Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman ("Firm") as Special Real Estate Counsel for this express
purpose;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The retention of the Firm as Special Real Estate Counsel to assist the City
Administration in negotiating and effectuating the transaction, in consultation with the City
Attorney, as set forth in Resolution No. 16-0611 is authorized.
Section 3. The expenditure of attorney's fees for the retention of the Firm with funds
allocated from Non -Departmental Legal Services Account No.
00001.980000.531010.0000.00000 is authorized.
Section 4. The City Commission hereby authorizes the Firm to continue representing
any clients in matters related to non -adversarial administrative matters that are currently
pending or which may come before any City body or authority including the City Commission.
Section 5. The City Commission specifically does not waive any conflicts of interest
arising from the Firm's representation of clients in any adversarial position with the City. Any
such conflict of interest will disqualify the Firm from representation of said client(s).
Section 6. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and
signature of the Mayor.'
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
ndez, City Attor ey 5/30/2017
1 If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten (10)
calendar days from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution,
it shall become effective immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission.