ACTION ITEM
SPONSOR: Diane Mack, Chairperson
SUBJECT:
title
SELECTION OF LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR THE DISTRICTING COMMISSION
end
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
That the City of Pensacola Districting Commission select the firm of Clark Partington of Pensacola in partnership with the Pittman Law Group of Tallahassee to provide legal representation for the Commission. Further that the Commission authorize the Chair to take all actions necessary to engage these firms.
end
body
SUMMARY:
At the August 4, 2021, meeting of the Districting Commission, the Commission approved a process whereby a solicitation was sent to the Escambia Santa Rosa Bar Association seeking interest in representing the Commission during the districting process. Further, that the Commission members would be presented with the submissions and that they would rank them. Finally, that the Board Chair and Council Executive would interview the top three (3) candidates and make a recommendation to the Commission.
Following the members ranking, a calculation was completed which resulted in a numeric ranking for each submission based on the rankings by the membership. As a result of that ranking, the top three (3) submissions were invited to interview. Following the interviews, a recommendation was reached.
As part of the engagement with the recommended firm, the following information will be included:
• The services of attorney Meredith Crawford of Clark Partington as primary legal counsel to the Commission at a rate of $250/hour, and
• The services of attorney Sharmin Hibbert of the Pittman Law Group as consulting legal counsel at a rate of $350/hour.
Further, that the services to be provided by Ms. Crawford are:
• Attendance at all Commission meetings, Commission public hearings, and presentations by the Commission to the Pensacola City Council;
• Advising the Commission on Florida Constitutional Law, federal election laws, state districting laws, Sunshine and Public Records laws, technical requirements, and all other legal concerns associated with the current districting process, as may be needed in the course of the Commission’s work;
• Communication with the Pittman Law Group as may be requested by the Commission;
• Preparation of the final districting document, to include legal descriptions of the proposed Council districts.
Further, that the services to be provided by Ms. Hibbert are:
• Advising the Commission as may be recommended by primary legal counsel and/or requested by the Commission, on districting issues related to Civil Rights and Voting Rights acts;
• Review of drafts of the proposed 2021 districting plan as may be requested by the Commission;
• Review of the final draft of the proposed 2021 districting plan.
STAFF CONTACT:
Don Kraher, Council Executive
ATTACHMENTS:
1) Districting Commission Attorney Rankings