BOND COUNSEL RETAINER
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BOND COUNSEL RETAINER AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made on the <i~ day of ~ ,1~by and
between the CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CLEAR TER, FLORIDA (the
"City") and the law firm of BRYANT, MILLER AND OLIVE, P.A., TALLAHASSEE,
FLORIDA ("Bond Counsel").
WIT N E SSE T H:
WHEREAS, the City wishes to retain a firm to serve as Bond Counsel to the City
in connection with various bond issues and other matters of the next ensuing three (3)
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 premises and mutual covenants
herein contained, the parties hereto 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. 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 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.
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(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 Firm 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 Firm 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 3. 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:
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Fixed Rate
General
Obligation
Bonds.
Fixed Rate
Revenue
Bonds.
Variable Rate
Revenue Bonds.
FIRST $45,000,000
$45,000,000 AND ABOVE
.PER $1,000
@ $ .55
@ .44
@ $1.40
@ 0.90
@
@
$1.50
1.00
The minimum fee for general obligation bonds and city revenue bonds is $10,000.
B. For conduit financings, the City agrees that the Firm 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 Firm 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 4. 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 $150.00 per
hour for attorney time. 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 5. COMPENSABLE EXPENSES. Reimbursement of expenses shall
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be made by the City to the firm 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 6. 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 7. CONFLICT OF INTEREST. It is understood by the City and Bond
Counsel that Bond Counsel is not aware of any clients of the firm that currently present
any conflict between the interests 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 obigation to agree to
permit the conflict representation.
SECTION 8. 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 9. COMPLIANCE WITH RECYCLED PAPER ORDINANCE. Per
Ordinance 5059-90, the City and Bond Counsel agree to the following:
A. All reports submitted to the City shall use recycled paper when it is available
at a reasonable price and of satisfactory quality to meet contractual performance
standards. For the purposes of this paragraph, the price of recycled paper shall be
considered "reasonable" if its cost is no more than ten percent higher than the lowest
price offered for non-recycled paper.
B. All reports submitted to the City shall use both sides of paper sheets whenever
practical.
C. Bond Counsel shall be responsible for maintaining records documenting usage
of recycled paper for reports submitted to the City in fulfillment of contractual obligations.
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Bond Counsel shall submit such records to the City according to procedures to be
established by the Purchasing Manager.
SECTION 10. TERM. This Agreement will be effective for three (3) years from
the date of execution and may be extended for two one (1) year renewals following that
upon written agreement by the City Commission.
SECTION 11. CANCELLATION OF AGREEMENT. The City may cancel or
terminate this Agreement upon sixty 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 the firm to provide the services contained herein. The City in its
absolute discretion may immediately terminate this Agreement upon written notice to the
firm 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
By:
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City Manager
Ita Garvey
Mayor-Commissioner
Approved as to form and
legal sufficiency:
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Pamela K. Akin
City Attorney
Attest:
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Cynt i E. Goudeau
City Clerk
WITNESSES:
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BRYANT, MILLER AND OLIVE, P.A.
BY~~
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