Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 09-14-2010 Special-City Attorney Condidates — reading text

-building and commercial construction entity Supervised construction of over $ 1 Million inventory Supervised sales activities Prospected new customers, developed relationships with community business leaders Provided in -house compliance and financial strategies Drafted and negotiated all contracts and financing agreements 06/2007- 03/ 2008 Fontaine & Associates, Laurel Hill, Florida - Attorney Owned /Operated a solo legal practice Provided legal services in the following areas: corporate formation and maintenance; contract negotiation, drafting and review; advise on business strategy and regulatory compliance; and debt collection Client base ranged from individuals to major developer entities 9/2005 - 06/2007 Pleat & Perry, PA, Destin, Florida - Attorney Maintained a caseload ofapproximately 50 corporate and individual clients, including the single largest developer entity in Northwest Florida (over $1 B annual revenues) Responsible for new client acquisition, client maintenance, and firm ambassadorship Case management, including: litigation, mediation, negotiation, deposition taking/defending and judgment collection Emphasis on real estate, construction, corporate and contract law Supervised and managed support staff 01/ 2003 - 05/2005 Durham & Durham, LLP, Atlanta, Georgia- Attorney Served as general counsel for corporations in 6 states throughout the Southeast United States, including the largest emergency room physicians' groups in Georgia and Alabama Responsible for negotiating managed care contracts and payment terms, negotiating hospital service contracts, conducting due diligence for clients seeking new acquisitions, maintaining HIPAA and EMTALA compliance, and negotiating litigation- ending settlements Responsible for nearly doubling the client base through new business prospecting efforts Managed a team of 12 collectors, developed their operations policies, including ensuring compliance with FDCPA and FCRA Served as staff conflict resolution specialist Conducted weekly staff leadership development and team building sessions EDUCATION Cumberland School of Law - Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama — Juris Doctorate, graduated May 25, 2002 Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama - B.S. in Accounting, graduated June 11, 1999 PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS AND LICENSURES Member in Good Standing with the Georgia, Florida, and Alabama State Bar Associations Admitted to practice in the Federal District Courts of the Northern and Middle Districts of Alabama and the Northern District of Florida Member of the Advisory Board ofthe Emerald Coast Emerging Leaders ( ECEL), a committee of the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce Member of the Okaloosa- Walton (FL) Bar Association Licensed Mortgage Broker  VORBECK LAW FIRM, P.A. 36008 Emerald Coast Parkway Unit A -101 Destin, Florida, 32541 Telephone ( 850) 654 -0880 Gary A. Vorbeck Facsimile ( 850) 654 -0867 e- mail gary Yorbecklaw& m.com September 1, 2010 Mr. Robert T. Mearns f City Manager City of Fort Walton Beach t' ' 107 Miracle Strip Parkway, SW Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 CITY MANAGER OFFICE RE: Legal Representation of the City of Fort Walton Beach Dear Mr. Mearns: On behalf of the law firm of Vorbeck Law Firm, P.A., I appreciate the opportunity to apply for the position of City Attorney for the City of Fort Walton Beach. The foIlowin g represents the terms and conditions of representation by the firm as requested: 1. Services: Vorbeck Law Firm, P.A. will provide advice and representation to the City of Fort Walton Beach. I will be the shareholder in charge of this matter and will be responsible for providing and supervising the legal services required 2.. Qualifications: Myandqualifications enumerated in the attached resume, include 25 for the position of City Attorney are years of concentrated experience in governmental law in the representation ofthree counties, and other governmental agencies. 3. Work Load: There are no work load commitments that may conflict or hinder the legal representation of the City. 4. Proximity: The office that will be serving the City of Fort Walton Beach is located in the City ofDestin, and has been in the Destin/Walton County area since 2005. 5. Conflicts: There are no known potential conflicts of interest that the firm might incur while rendering services. 6. Professional Fees: rate is $ 250.00. In addition to me, I will be the primary attorney representing the City -and m I may assign work to the paralegal within this office, depending on who can best do the work in the most efficient manner. The hourly rate for the paralegal in this office is $ 100. 00.  7. Costs and Expenses: Included in this hourly rate are telephone charges, word processing, facsimile charges, photocopying, computer research, and mileage. Not included in the hourly rate are delivery charges, messenger services, and overnight express. Other expenses will be the actual costs billed to the firm. 8. Insurance: The firm, at its own expense, will procure and maintain with insurers acceptable to the City, the types and amounts of insurance conforming to the minimum requirements. Enclosed please find my resume and copies of the firm' s Certificates of Insurance. I think that this firm can provide exceptional service to the City of Fort Walton Beach as City Attorney, and I am looking forward to the opportunity of speaking with the City Council regarding the needs of the city and my qualifications. Please do not hesitate to call with any questions that you may have. Sincerely, Gary orbeck Vorbeck Law Firm, P.A. ATTORNEY AT LAW GARY A. VORBECK 36008 Emerald Coast Parkway Suite A -101 Destin, Florida 32541 Telephone: 850.654.0880 Facsimile: 850.224.0863 E -mail: Gary@vorbecklawfirm.com Practice Areas Land Use and Planning Local Government Law Community/Homeowners Association Law Business and Commercial Law Real Properly Litigation Highlights of Career History: Highly accomplished attorney with more than 30 years of legal experience, including 25 years concentrated experience in governmental law: 4 years as County Attorney for Walton County, Florida (2001 -2005); 19 years as County Attorney for DeSoto County, Florida ( 1980 -1999); 17 years as County Attorney for Hardee County, Florida ( 1984- 2001); 17 years as general counsel for the Peace River/Manasota Water Supply Authority ( 1984- 2002); 2 years as general counsel to the Walton County Tourist Development Council; also 5 years in private practice in the Desti / South Walton area (2005- present). Summary of Qualifications: As County Attorney for three counties ( Walton, DeSoto and Hardee), experienced in the following areas: Administrative hearings Ad valorem tax issues Airport issues Annexation issues Animal control Beach renourishment issues Bidding and procurement issues Bonds Bond estreature issues Budgetary law Cable TV Code enforcement Contract litigation Criminal court costs  Development of Regional Impacts Drafting of ordinances of all kinds, including land use regulation, alcoholic beverages, comprehensive plans, MSBUs, special assessments, County administration, etc. Drafting construction and consultant contracts Economic Development issues Election law issues Eminent domain proceedings Employment and union issues Environmental law Environmental permitting issues Ex Parte issues Expert witness fees Florida Dept. of Transportation issues Foreclosures Grants, state and federal Insurance Interlocal agreements Jail operations and overcrowding Land -use hearings and litigation Land forfeitures Litigation Quasi-judicial procedures Power Plant/Transmission Line siting Property acquisition Public works issues Real property Referendum issues Road closings Road construction litigation Special assessments Sunshine and public record statutes Utilities Value Adjustment Board Voting Rights litigation Water law In addition to the above, also has the following experience: As General Counsel for the Peace River/ Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority (19842001): Handled all legal matters involving the Authority including the acquisition of right of way, design and construction of the Peace River /Manasota Regional Water Supply Plant and supply facilities Advised the Board in water supply matters including contractual, employment, and statutory regulatory issues As General Counsel for the Walton County Tourist Development Council (2002