BOND COUNSEL RETAINER (3)
BOND COUNSEL RETAINER AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT made this .Laay of~, 2005 by and between
the CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLEARW~ FLORIDA (the "City"),
P.O. Box 4748, Clearwater, Florida 33758-4748, and the law Bond Counsel of
BRYANT, MILLER & OLIVE, P.A., TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA ("Bond Counsel"),
201 South Monroe Street, Suite 500, Tallahassee, Florida 32301.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the City wishes to retain a Bond Counsel to serve as Bond
Counsel to the City in connection with various bond issues and other matters for
five (5) years; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the City's request for proposals, Bond Counsel
has been selected to provide the desired services on terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual
covenants contained herein contained, the parties do hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED AS BOND COUNSEL.
Bond Counsel is hereby authorized to provide Bond Counsel services as
described in this Agreement and for the professional fees described in this
Agreement.
SECTION 2. TERM. This Agreement will be effective for five (5) years
from the date of execution.
SECTION 3. BOND COUNSEL SERVICES. Bond Counsel hereby agrees
to provide its professional services and facilities in connection with all bond
issuance and other debt activities of the City subject to the conditions and in
consideration of the payment of fees set forth herein. Bond Counsel agrees, at
the request of the City, to:
(A) Review proposed financing programs as to the legal feasibility,
compliance with applicable law and pending or proposed revision to the
law, including U.S. Treasury regulations.
(B) Advise as to structuring procedures, required approvals and filings,
schedule of events for timely issuance, potential cost-saving techniques
and other legal matters relative to issuance of the debt instrument(s).
(C)Attend meetings with City Staff and officials, the City's financial advisor,
underwriters, rating agencies and others as appropriate for development
or sale of bonds or dissemination of information in connection therewith.
(D) Prepare bond ordinances or resolutions and any amendments thereto in
order to authorize the issuance of the bonds.
(E) Prepare any trust indenture; escrow deposit agreement; registrar or
paying agent agreement; and any other agreements of similar documents
necessary, related or incidental to the financing.
(F) Prepare all pleadings (e.g. complaint, notice of service, proposed answer,
memorandum of law, proposed order, etc.) and, as requested by the City
Attorney, assist in or conduct the validation hearing.
(G) Review the transcript of all proceedings in connection with the foregoing
and indicate any necessary corrective action.
(H) If sale is by competitive bid, assist in preparation of the bid documents,
notice of sale, evaluation of bids and any other documentation or action
necessary to conduct a sale of the bonds in that manner.
(I) Review all disclosure documents prepared or authorized by the City
insofar as such documents describe the bonds and summarize the
underlying documents. However, the Bond Counsel assumes no
responsibility for the disclosure documents insofar as such documents
describe the financial circumstances of the offering or any other statistical
projections or data and the Bond Counsel assumes no responsibility for
preparing "Blue Sky Memorandums," registering obligations of the City in
any State or for preparing legal investment surveys.
(J) Prepare, obtain, deliver and file all closing papers necessary in connection
with the sale and issuance of the bonds, including, but not limited to,
certified copies of all minutes, ordinances, resolutions and orders;
certificates such as officers, seal, incumbency, signature, no prior pledge,
arbitrage and others; and verifications, consents and opinions from
accountants, engineers, special consultants and attorneys.
(K) Review all underwriting proposals, prepare all closing documents and
attend and assist in the closing.
(L) Render an opinion in written form at the time the bonds are delivered,
which opinion will cover (1) the legality of the bonds and the proceedings
by which they are issued and (2) the exemption from gross income for
federal income tax purposes of the interest paid on the bonds.
SECTION 4. PROFESSIONAL FEES FOR BOND COUNSEL SERVICES.
A. The City and Bond Counsel agree to the following schedule of fees in
connection with bond counsel representation:
Fixed Rate
General
Cllligation
Bonds*
Fixed Rate
Revenue
Bonds*
Variable Rate
Revenue Bonds*
FIRST $45,000,000
$45,000,000 AND PSOVE
@ $.55
@ .45
@ $1.40
@ .90
@ $1.50
@ 1.00
*PER $1 ,000
The minimum fee for general obligation bonds and city revenue bonds is
$15,000.
B. For conduit financings, the City agrees that the Bond Counsel shall be
compensated for the above services at the time bonds are delivered
according to the following schedule:
FIRST
SECOND
NEXT
NEXT
IN EXCESS OF
$ 5,000,000
5,000,000
10,000,000
10,000,000
30,000,000
@$5.00 per $1 ,000
3.00 per $1,000
2.00 per $1,000
1.70 per $1,000
1.00 per $1,000
The minimum fee for industrial development bonds and private activity
bonds is $30,000. Expenses will be capped at $7,500 but subject to
negotiation in unusual cases. The Bond Counsel understands that fees
for conduit financings shall be paid by the obligor and not by the City.
C. The above fees include bond validation proceedings on behalf of the City
exclusive of appeal proceedings.
SECTION 5. ANCILLARY SERVICES. In addition to being asked to
perform typical Bond Counsel services in connection with various issues of the
City as noted, above, Bond Counsel agrees to provide certain ancillary services,
such as ongoing consultation with the City on routine matters, Le., phone
conversations, short correspondence and simple advice on proposed or closed
transactions without additional cost. Other services such as preparation of
legislation, preparation of ruling requests to the Internal Revenue Service for
rulings required in particular financing, seeking no action letters from the
Securities and Exchange Commission and performance of other legal services at
the request of the City shall be performed at the rate of $195.00 to $225.00 per
hour based on the level of the attorney providing the services and the complexity
of the matter involved. No such services will be undertaken without prior
approval of the Finance Director and the City Attorney on the scope of the
requested legal services and the estimated costs of said services.
SECTION 6. COMPENSABLE EXPENSES. Reimbursement of expenses
shall be made by the City to the Bond Counsel for reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses as described above without markup including but not limited to long
distance calls and facsimiles, copying or reproducing documents, postage, court
costs, parking costs and travel incurred by Bond Counsel in performance of the
duties hereunder. Travel and per diem costs as well as auto travel expenses
shall not exceed that which is available to City of Clearwater employees.
SECTION 7. INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE. Bond Counsel
agrees to protect, defend, indemnify and hold the City and its officers, employees
and agents free and harmless from and against any and all losses, penalties,
damages, settlements, costs, charges, professional fees or other expenses or
liabilities of every kind and character arising out of or due to any negligent act or
omission of Bond Counsel, its employees, agents and subcontractors in
connection with or arising directly or indirectly out of this Agreement and/or the
performance hereof. Without limiting its liability under this Agreement, Bond
Counsel shall procure and maintain during the life of this Agreement professional
liability insurance in an amount in excess of $1,000,000. This provision shall
survive the termination of this Agreement.
SECTION 8. CONFLICT OF INTEREST. It is understood by the City and
Bond Counsel that Bond Counsel is not aware of any clients of the Bond Counsel
that currently present any conflict between the interest of the City and other
clients of Bond Counsel. If any potential conflict of interest arises during the time
Bond Counsel is representing the City, Bond Counsel will promptly inform the
City. The City is under no obligation to agree to permit the conflict
representation.
SECTION 9. CONSTRUCTION AND AMENDMENTS. This Agreement
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
Florida. This Agreement may be amended only by a writing duly entered into by
the City and Bond Counsel.
SECTION 10. CANCELLATION OF AGREEMENT. The City may cancel
or terminate this Agreement upon thirty days advance written notice to Bond
Counsel. In the event of cancellation, Bond Counsel shall immediately cease
work hereunder and shall be reimbursed for eligible and documented
reimbursable expenses incurred prior to the date of cancellation. Further, it is
understood and agreed between the City and Bond Counsel that Robert C.
Reid, Grace Dunlap and Randall W. Hanna will be the lead attorneys assigned
by Bond Counsel to provide the services contained herein. The City in its
absolute discretion may immediately terminate this Agreement upon written
notice to Bond Counsel if the services of any of these attorneys are unavailable
to the City.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the City and Bond Counsel have executed this
Agreement as of the date first written above.
Countersigned:
CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA
~~-x
William B. Horne, II
City Manager
By: 4~ ~
Frahk-Hfbbard {
Mayor
Approved as to form and
7Jj TCienCy:
Pamela K. Akin
City Attorney
Attest:
Bryant, Miller & Olive, P.A.
y
By61f:1/Z/
Tit e: 5JrtL~Ad'd~,'2-