Exh AATTACHMENT A
MARCH 28, 2005 COMMISSION MEETING
March 21, 2005
MEMORANDUM
TO: The Honorable Mayor
and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jim Hanso
__..
• SUBJECT: Follow-up eport
Bill for Leaal Services defending Comp Plan Amendment for 3ohnston Island; The law firm
defending the city's Comp Plan Amendment dealing with Johnston Island, Pappas, Metcalf,
Jenks and Miller, has offered to reduce the amount charged to the city in this case~by
approximately $6,000. The firm initially agreed to bill the City for an hourly rate that was 15%
below their normal fee, which is similar to the rates charged to other government entities.
However, after the case was dropped by the plaintiffs, Marsha Tjoflat, on behalf of Pappas,
Metcalf, offered to drop the rate to 20% below their normal hourly fee explaining that Atlantic
Beach was a small city that is not normally involved in this type of a case, to promote goodwill,
and because she shared some dismay with us that the suit was dropped at the last minute just
before the judges order was due to be released. While the final revised bill has not been
received, it is expected to be approximately $100,000. However, I recommend that the amount of
$106,000 for additional legal services in the mid-year budget adjustments be passed as originally
written. The total chazges year-to-date on Mazch 1 S` show the legal services account over the
year-to-date budget by.approximately $8,800. This results partially from some of Alan Jensen's
-time being chaz~ed in previous months to the Johnston Island case.as well as various other legal
matters.