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HomeMy Public PortalAbout13-8720 Engagement Bond for Counsel Service with Greenspoon Mader Sponsored by: City Manager RESOLUTION NO. 13-8720 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF OPA-LOCKA,FLORIDA APPROVING AN ENGAGEMENT LETTER FOR BOND COUNSEL SERVICES WITH GREENSPOON MARDER,P.A.;AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS,the City of Opa-Locka,Florida(the"City")is considering the issuance of tax-exempt revenue bonds(the"Series 2013 Bonds")to finance the acquisition of a site in the City and the acquisition, construction,installation and equipping of an administration building and related facilities on such site;and WHEREAS,Greenspoon Marder, P.A. has submitted to the City an engagement letter pursuant to which it will provide bond counsel services to the City in connection with the Series 2013 Bonds (the "Engagement Letter"); and WHEREAS, the now City desires to approve the Engagement Letter. NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF OPA-LOCKA, FLORIDA that: SECTION 1. The Engagement Letter attached hereto as Exhibit A is hereby approved with fixed Bond Counsel fees payable in the amount of$40,000.00,payable from legally available funds of the city and/or proceeds of the bond.The City Manager and Finance Director of the City are each authorized to execute the acknowledgment of the City set forth within such Engagement Letter. SECTION 2. This resolution shall be effective immediately upon adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 26th day of November, 2013. JOSE L. E Y VICE M.' YOR Attest to: Joanna Flores City Clerk Approved as to form and legal sufficiency: • 1Joseph S. Geer GR ENSPOON MARDER P.A. City Attorney 9662390.1 Resolution No. 13-8720 Moved by: COMMISSIONER HOLMES Seconded by: COMMISSIONER JOHNSON Commission Vote: 3-0 Commissioner Holmes: YES Commissioner Johnson: YES Commissioner Santiago: NOT PRESENT Vice-Mayor Kelley: YES Mayor Taylor: NOT PRESENT 2 pP LOek O C 0 9 _ti 0 D o 2 r nn Al City of Opa-Locka Agenda Cover Memo Commission Meeting Item Type: Resolution Ordinance Other Date: Nov. 26th, 2013 X (EnterXin box) Fiscal Impact: Ordinance Reading: 1st Reading 2nd Reading (Enter X in box) Yes No (EnterXin box) X Public Hearing: Yes No Yes No (EnterXin box) X Funding Source: (Enter Fund&Dept) Advertising Requirement: Yes No (Enter Acct No.) N/A (EnterXin box) X ITEM BUDGETED: YES NO Contract/P.O.Required: Yes No RFP/RFQ/Bid#: (EnterXin box) X N/A Strategic Plan Related Yes No Strategic Plan Priority Area: Strategic Plan Obj./Strategy: (list the (EnterXin box) X specific objective/strategy this item will address) Enhance Organizational p Bus.&Economic Dev p Public Safety p N/A Quality of Education 0 Qual.of Life&City Image • Communcation 0 Sponsor Name City Manager Department: Finance 1 Short Title: I A Resolution of the City Commission to approve an Engagement Letter for Bond Counsel Services with Greenspoon Marder, P.A. and authorize the City Manager and Finance Director to execute the Engagement Letter in connection with Series 2013 Bonds. Staff Summary: The City of Opa-locka desires to issue Series 2013 Bonds to finance the acquisition of properties in the City for construction, installation and equipping of a new administration building and related facilities on the site. Greenspoon Marder, P.A. has submitted to the City an Engagement Letter to provide Bond Counsel Services to the City in connection with Series 2013 Bonds for financing the facilities. Greenspoon Marder, P.A., in their capacity as bond counsel, will primarily be responsible for rendering an objective legal opinion with respect to the authorization and issuance of the Bonds. As bond counsel, they will examine applicable law, prepare the appropriate resolutions and other documents authorizing and securing the Bonds and other necessary documents, including closing documents and certificates, consult with the parties to the transaction prior to the issuance of the bonds, review certified proceedings, and undertake such additional duties as deem necessary to render the opinion. Assuming completion of the proceedings to their satisfaction, they will render an opinion, subject to customary assumptions and limitations, that: (i) The City resolution relating to the issuance of the Bonds has been duly adopted by the City and creates a valid pledge of the City's Public Service Tax and Communication Services Tax revenues and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the City enforceable against the City in accordance with its terms; (ii) The issuance and sale of the Bonds has been authorized by the City and upon proper execution and authentication, the bonds constitute valid and binding obligations of the City payable in accordance with the terms of the related resolution; (iii) The interest paid on the Bonds will be excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes and is not an item of tax preference for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax imposed upon individuals and corporations. 2 Greenspoon Marder's opinion as bond counsel will be executed and delivered on the date the Bonds are exchanged for their purchase price and will be based on facts and laws existing as of its date. Upon delivery of such opinion, their responsibilities as bond counsel will be concluded with respect to the Bonds. Specifically, but without limitation, Greenspoon Marder, P.A. will not undertake (unless separately engaged) to provide continuing advice to the City or any other party concerning any actions necessary to assure that interest paid on the Bonds will continue to be excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes. In rendering their opinion as bond counsel, Greenspoon Marder, P.A. will rely upon the certified proceedings and other certifications of public officials and other persons furnished to them without undertaking to verify the same by independent investigations. Greenspoon Marder, P.A. will not review the financial condition of the City, the feasibility of any project to be financed by proceeds of the Bonds, or the adequacy of the security provided to owners thereof and will express no opinion relating thereto. In performing services as bond counsel, their clients will be the City and they will represent its interests. Greenspoon Marder, P.A. will assume that other parties to the transaction will retain such counsel as they deem necessary and appropriate to represent their interests in any transaction. Greenspoon Marder, P.A.'s representation of the City does not alter their responsibility to render an objective opinion as bond counsel. Proposed Action: Staff recommends approval. Attachment: Engagement Resolution and Letter. 3 o n-LOC„ d ` (p 9 •� 0 C;277t mot'°o,,,,',n. Memorandum TO: Myra L. Taylor, Mayor Joseph L. Kelley, Vice Mayor Timothy Holmes, Commissio er Dorothy Johnson, Commissi ner7 Luis B. Santiago, Commissio r FROM: Kelvin L. Baker, Sr., City Mana DATE: November 26, 2013 RE: A Resolution of the City Commission to approve an Engagement Letter for Bond Counsel Services with Greenspoon Marder, P.A. and authorize the City Manager and Finance Director to execute the Engagement Letter, in connection with Series 2013 Bonds. Request: A Resolution of the City of Opa-locka approving an Engagement Letter for Bond Counsel Services with Greenspoon Marder, P.A. ; and providing an effective date. Description: The City of Opa-locka desires to issue Series 2013 Bonds to finance the acquisition of properties in the City for construction, installation and equipping of a new administration building and related facilities on the site. Greenspoon Marder, P.A. has submitted to the City an Engagement Letter to provide bond counsel services to the City in connection with Series 2013 Bonds for financing the facilities. Greenpoon Marder, P.A., in their capacity as bond counsel, will primarily be responsible for rendering an objective legal opinion with respect to the authorization and issuance of the Bonds. Business Improvement District 6-13-13 1 As bond counsel, they will examine applicable law, prepare the appropriate resolutions and other documents authorizing and securing the Bonds and other necessary documents, including closing documents and certificates, consult with the parties to the transaction prior to the issuance of the bonds, review certified proceedings, and undertake such additional duties as we deem necessary to render the opinion. Assuming completion of the proceedings to their satisfaction, they will render an opinion, subject to customary assumptions and limitations, that: (i) The City resolution relating to the issuance of the Bonds has been duly adopted by the City and creates a valid pledge of the City's Public Service Tax and Communication Services Tax revenues and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the City enforceable against the City in accordance with its terms; (ii) The issuance and sale of the Bonds has been authorized by the City and upon proper execution and authentication, the bonds constitute valid and binding obligations of the City payable in accordance with the terms of the related resolution; (iii) The interest paid on the Bonds will be excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes and is not an item of tax preference for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax imposed upon individuals and corporations. Greenspoon Marder's opinion as bond counsel will be executed and delivered on the date the Bonds are exchanged for their purchase price and will be based on facts and laws existing as of its date. Upon delivery of such opinion, their responsibilities as bond counsel will be concluded with respect to the Bonds. Specifically, but without limitation, Greenspoon Marder, P.A will not undertake (unless separately engaged) to provide continuing advice to the City or any other party concerning any actions necessary to assure that interest paid on the Bonds will continue to be excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes In rendering their opinions as bond counsel, Greenspoon Marder, P.A. will rely upon the certified proceedings and other certifications of public officials and other persons furnished to them without undertaking to verify the same by independent investigation. Greenspoon Marder, P.A. will not review the financial condition of the City, the feasibility of any project to be financed by proceeds of the Bonds, or the adequacy of the security provided to owners thereof and will express no opinion relating thereto. Business Improvement District 6-13-13 2 In performing services as bond counsel, their clients will be the City and they will represent its interests. Greenspoon Marder, P.A. will assume that other parties to the transaction will retain such counsel as they deem necessary and appropriate to represent their interests in any transaction. Greenspoon Marder, P.A.'s representation of the City does not alter their responsibility to render an objective opinion as bond counsel. Financial Impact: This amount comes from account no.44-541821 Implementation Time Line: Immediately Legislative History: None Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval Attachment(s) Draft Engagement Letter Resolution Prepared By: Susan Gooding-Liburd, Finance Director Elbert L. Waters, J.D Business Improvement District 6-13-13 3 From the desk of: Denise J. Ganz, Esq. re Gensp Mdr4er One Boca Place, Suite 4 14-E 2255 Glades Road pQQ R ry E Y S Boca Raton, Florida 33431 Phone: 561.994.2212 888.491.1 120 Fax: 561.997.8494 www.gmlaw.com Direct Phone: 954.527.2410 Direct Fax: 954.333.4010 Email: denise.ganz @gmlaw.com November 22, 2013 VIA E-MAIL Kelvin Baker, City Manager City of Opa-locka, Florida 3400 NW 135th Street Building B Opa-locka, FL 32907 Re: City of Opa-Locka, Florida Revenue Bonds, Series 2013(the"Bonds") Dear Mr. Baker: This will confirm the acknowledgement by the City of Opa-Locka, Florida (the "City") of the retention of this firm to serve as bond counsel in connection with the proposed issuance of the above referenced Bonds. Assuming the Bonds are issued and purchased by a single institutional purchaser in a negotiated private placement, we would charge a fixed bond counsel fee of$40,000, payable from legally available funds of the City and/or proceeds of the Bonds. We would expect that the bond counsel fees will be paid at the time of the successful closing and delivery of the Bonds. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Bonds are not issued for any reason on or before December 31, 2013, we would expect to receive payment of the fees actually incurred in connection with the Bonds by this firm and our special tax counsel, McCarter and English, P.A. These fees are in addition to our actual out of pocket expenses incurred in rendering bond counsel services to the City in connection with the Bonds, which we would not expect to exceed $750. In our capacity as bond counsel, our primary responsibility will be to render an objective legal opinion with respect to the authorization and issuance of the Bonds. As bond counsel, we will examine applicable law, prepare the appropriate resolutions and other documents authorizing and securing the Bonds and other necessary documents, including closing documents and certificates, consult with the parties to the transaction prior to the issuance of the bonds, review certified proceedings, and undertake such additional duties as we deem necessary to render the opinion. Miami I Ft. Lauderdale I Orlando I W.Palm Beach I Boca Raton I Stuart I Port St.Lucie I Naples I Aventura City of Opa-Locka, Florida November 22, 2013 Page 2 Assuming completion of the proceedings to our satisfaction, we will render our opinion, subject to customary assumptions and limitations, that: (i) The City resolution relating to the issuance of the Bonds has been duly adopted by the City and creates a valid pledge of the City's Public Service Tax and Communication Services Tax revenues and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the City enforceable against the City in accordance with its terms; (ii) The issuance and sale of the Bonds has been authorized by the City and upon proper execution and authentication, the bonds constitute valid and binding obligations of the City payable in accordance with the terms of the related resolution; (iii) The interest paid on the Bonds will be excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes and is not an item of tax preference for purposes of the federal alternative minimum tax imposed upon individuals and corporations. Our opinion as bond counsel will be executed and delivered on the date the Bonds are exchanged for their purchase price and will be based on facts and laws existing as of its date. Upon delivery of such opinion, our responsibilities as bond counsel will be concluded with respect to the Bonds. Specifically, but without limitation, we do not undertake (unless separately engaged) to provide continuing advice to the City, the City or any other party concerning any actions necessary to assure that interest paid on the Bonds will continue to be excluded from gross income for federal income tax purposes In rendering our opinions as bond counsel we will rely upon the certified proceedings and other certifications of public officials and other persons furnished to us without undertaking to verify the same by independent investigation. We do not review the financial condition of the City, the feasibility of any project to be financed by proceeds of the Bonds, or the adequacy of the security provided to owners thereof and will express no opinion relating thereto. In performing services as bond counsel, our clients will be the City and we will represent its interests. We assume that other parties to the transaction will retain such counsel as they deem necessary and appropriate to represent their interests in any transaction. Our representation of the City does not alter our responsibility to render an objective opinion as bond counsel. Please acknowledge the foregoing in the space provided below for that purpose. We appreciate the opportunity to be of assistance to the City. Very truly yours, Denise J. Ganz City of Opa-Locka, Florida November 22, 2013 Page 3 ACKNOWLEDGED: CITY OF OPA-LOCKA, FLORIDA By: Name: Title: Date: 30534.0002 11695955_1