Placement: Resolutions
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
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Resolution 24-R88, Approval of Professional Services Agreements to Re-Appoint Special Magistrates for the City of Port St. Lucie.
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Submitted By: Camille Wallace, Esq., Deputy Director, Neighborhood Services
Strategic Plan Link: The City's Goal of a high-performing city government organization.
Executive Summary (General Business): One year re-appointment of two Special Magistrates (Claudette Pelletier, Esq. and Keith Davis, Esq.) for Code Compliance, Building Department, special set hearings for Animal Control, and reasonable accommodation requests (among others).
Presentation Information: There is no presentation; however, staff are available for questions.
Staff Recommendation: Move that the Council approve the professional service agreements for the reappointment of Claudette Pelletier, Esq. and Keith Davis, Esq. as Special Magistrates for the City.
Alternate Recommendations:
1. Move that the Council amend the recommendation and approve the reappointment of Claudette Pelletier, Esq. and Keith Davis, Esq. as Special Magistrates for the City.
2. Move that the Council not approve and provide staff with direction.
Background: The City of Port St. Lucie Code of Ordinances established the office of Special Magistrate per Chapter 37, Article I, Sec. 37.01 with the intent to promote, protect and improve the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the City by appointing a Special Magistrate with the authority to impose administrative fines and other non-criminal penalties in order to provide an equitable, expeditious, effective, and inexpensive method of enforcing any codes and ordinances in force in the City, where a pending or repeated violation continues to exist (Sec. 37.02).
The Neighborhood Services Department and the Building Department enforce property maintenance, safety, building and zoning codes that affect the quality of life in the City of Port St. Lucie. Cities enact these regulations to help ensure attractive neighborhoods, vibrant businesses, and a safe, peaceful and enjoyable community for everyone. City staff make all available attempts to resolve code violations, however, should a code violation remain, cases may be referred to the Special Magistrate. The Special Magistrate provides legal services to the City in hearing matters over alleged violations of the provisions of the Code of Ordinances and hears special set cases for appeals of the City’s Code for reasonable accommodation requests or dangerous dog declarations.
Issues/Analysis: Pursuant to Sec. 37.04(a), the City Manager shall, upon the recommendation and advice of the City Attorney, annually recruit qualified attorneys and retired judges to serve as Special Magistrates. Upon being provided with a slate of recommended attorneys and/or retired judges by the City Manager, the City Council shall appoint, by Resolution, at least three (3) Special Magistrates per year. With the resignation, or non-renewal of Bob Makemson’s agreement, staff will continue the recruitment process of a 3rd Special Magistrate.
Financial Information: The ($175) hourly rate remains the same for the Special Magistrate reappointments and the City executed a one-year term Professional Service Agreement with current Special Magistrates - Keith W. Davis, Esq. and Claudette A. Pelletier, Esq. to continue to have these services provided. City Staff have reviewed the Professional Service Agreements and have determined that the hourly rates are fair and reasonable. Funding for this project is provided in the Code Enforcement budget for fiscal year 24/25.
Special Consideration: The Department seeks Council approval of the execution of these Professional Service Agreements and ratification thereafter.
Location of Project: N/A
Attachments: Resolution and Professional Services Agreements for two Special Magistrates.
NOTE: All of the listed items in the “Attachment” section above are in the custody of the City Clerk. Any item(s) not provided in City Council packets are available upon request from the City Clerk.
Internal Reference Number: 24291-03
Legal Sufficiency Review:
Reviewed by Spencer Scott, Deputy City Attorney. Approved as to Legal form and sufficiency by Richard Berrios, City Attorney.