2017-30075 Resolution RESOLUTION NO. 2017-30075
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI
BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY
MANAGER, PURSUANT TO REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS NO. 2017-242-WG,
FOR STATE LEGISLATIVE CONSULTING SERVICES; AUTHORIZING THE
ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH SOUTHERN STRATEGY
GROUP OF MIAMI, LLC; FURTHER, SHOULD THE ADMINISTRATION NOT BE
SUCCESSFUL IN NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT WITH SOUTHERN STRATEGY
GROUP OF MIAMI, LLC, AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO
NEGOTIATIONS WITH RUTLEDGE ECENIA, P.A.; AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING
THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT UPON
CONCLUSION OF SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
WHEREAS, on January 11, 2017 the Commission voted to terminate the
agreement with Corcoran & Associates, Inc. for convenience; and
WHEREAS, at the April 26, 2017 Commission meeting, staff was directed to
issue a new RFQ to retain a new state legislative consulting firm; and
WHEREAS, on July 26, 2017, the Commission approved the issuance of RFQ
2017-242-WG for State Legislative consulting Services; and
WHEREAS, on July 27, 2017, (RFQ) No. 2017-242-WG for State Legislative
Consulting Services was issued; and
WHEREAS, on August 29, 2017, the City received proposals from Rutledge
Ecenia, P.A.; Colodny Fass P.L.L.C.; and Southern Strategy Group of Miami, LLC; and
WHEREAS, the Evaluation Committee appointed by the City Manager, pursuant
to LTC No. 453-2017, convened on October 6, 2017, to consider the responsive
proposals received; and
WHEREAS, the Evaluation Committee was provided an overview of the project,
information relative to the City's Cone of Silence Ordinance and the Government
Sunshine Law, general information on the scope of services and a copy of each
proposal; and
WHEREAS, the Evaluation Committee was instructed to score and rank each
proposal pursuant to the evaluation criteria established in the RFQ; and
WHEREAS, after reviewing the qualifications of each firm, and having
considered the Evaluation Committee's comments and rankings, the City Manager
recommends that the Administration be authorized to enter into negotiations with
Southern Strategy Group of Miami, LLC; and if unsuccessful in negotiating an
agreement with Southern Strategy Group of Miami, LLC, that the Administration be
authorized to enter into negotiations with Rutledge Ecenia, P.A.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission accept the recommendation of the City Manager, pursuant to Request for
Qualifications No. 2017-242-WG, for State Legislative Consulting Services; authorize
the Administration to enter into negotiations with Southern Strategy Group of Miami,
LLC; further, should the Administration not be successful in negotiating an agreement
with Southern Strategy Group of Miami, LLC, authorize the Administration to enter into
negotiations with Rutledge Ecenia, P.A.; and further authorize the Mayor and City Clerk
to execute an Agreement upon conclusion of successful negotiations by the
Administration.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 1 da of G
42017.
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RAF EL E. GRANADO, CITY CLPHILIPrL I< , MAYOR
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APPROVED AS TO
FORM &LANGUAGE
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City Attorney a,001) Date
Resolutions• C7 C
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: October 31, 2017
SUBJECT A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY
MANAGER, PURSUANT TO REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS NO. 2017-242-WG,
FOR STATE LEGISLATIVE CONSULTING SERVICES; AUTHORIZING THE
ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH SOUTHERN
STRATEGY GROUP OF MIAMI, LLC; FURTHER, SHOULD THE
ADMINISTRATION NOT BE SUCCESSFUL IN NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT
WITH SOUTHERN STRATEGY GROUP OF MIAMI, LLC, AUTHORIZING THE
ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH RUTLEDGE ECENIA,
P.A.; AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO
EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT UPON CONCLUSION OF SUCCESSFUL
NEGOTIATIONS BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
....... ............. ................. ..............
...................... ....... ..
.. .............................
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the Resolution.
ANALYSIS
On January 11, 2017 the Commission voted to terminate the agreement with Corcoran &Associates,
Inc. for convenience. At the April 26, 2017 meeting Commission authorized the issuance of a new
RFQ to retain a new state legislative consulting firm.
RFQ PROCESS
On July 27, 2017, (RFQ) No. 2017-242-WG for State Legislative Consulting Services was issued.
RFQ responses were due and received on August 29, 2017. The City received proposals from the
following firms: Rutledge Ecenia, P.A., Colodny Fass P.L.L.C. and Southern Strategy Group of
Miami, LLC.
The Evaluation Committee appointed by the City Manager pursuant to LTC#453-2017 convened on
October 6, 2017, to consider the responsive proposals received. The Committee was comprised of
Judy Hoanshelt, Division Director, Grants Management Division, Office of Budget and Performance
Improvement, City of Miami Beach, Marcia Monserrat, Chief of Staff, Office of the City Manager,
City of Miami Beach, and Elizabeth Wheaton, Chief of Staff, Office of the Mayor and City
Commission, City of Miami Beach.
The Committee was provided an overview of the project, information relative to the City's Cone of
Silence Ordinance and the Government Sunshine Law. The Committee was also provided with
general information on the scope of services and a copy of each proposal. The Committee was
Page 28 of 387
instructed to score and rank each proposal pursuant to the evaluation criteria established in the
REQ. The evaluation process resulted in the ranking of proposers as indicated in Attachment A. A
brief description of each proposer, as provided in their response to the RFQ,follows.
Southern Strategy Group of Miami, LLC
According to the information contained in its proposals, Southern Strategy Group is a full-service
lobbying firm that was established in Tallahassee, Florida in 1999, with offices throughout Florida in
Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa Bay, and Miami. They understand how and why
decisions are made at every level of Florida government and use that knowledge to the benefit of
their clients. Their Tallahassee office is staffed by 13 full-time lobbyists, as well as two full-time and
four part-time administrative staff. Their Miami office is staffed by three full-time lobbyists and one
fulltime office administrator who spend a great deal of their time in South Florida. From transportation
to infrastructure, to stormwater issues as well as economic development, they are keenly aware of
the issues that the City faces. Their team includes the services of Ronald L. Book, P.A. considered
one of the premier lobbying firms in the State, with unparalleled experience in the appropriations
process. Established in 1987, the firm specializes in government affairs, and offers a powerful
combination of talent and experience with a proven track record of success before the legislative and
executive branches of Florida government.
Rutledge Ecenia, P.A.
According to the information contained in its proposals, the attorneys of Rutledge Ecenia have
extensive expertise in practicing before state agencies, the Division of Administrative Hearing, state
and federal courts, and the legislative and Executive Branches of Government. They are committed
to excellence in regulatory affairs and litigation and seek to ensure that their services are provided in
a cost-effective and efficient manner, pursuing their clients' litigation objectives with focused
determination, while striving to achieve beneficial resolutions through settlements and alternative
dispute resolution when such approaches best serves their clients'needs.
Colodny Fass P.L.L.C.
The legislative and executive team of Colodny Fass possesses the bi-partisan contacts and access
to legislative and executive leadership of the State of Florida to successfully and consistently
advocate for diverse policy issues and cultivate bipartisan relationships with legislators statewide.
Colodny Fass has worked with virtually every aspect of the City's legislative agenda in all realms of
government, and is highly experienced and ready to represent Miami Beach and its interests before
Florida's Legislature, Executive Branch and regulatory agencies.
CONCLUSION
I have reviewed each firms' submissions and the results of the Evaluation Committee process. In
doing so, I find that the Evaluation Committee has unanimously ranked Southern Strategy Group of
Miami, LLC, as the top-ranked firm responding to the REQ. I commend each firm for its proposal and
acknowledge each firms excellent qualifications in the field of governmental consulting services.
However, I do concur with the evaluation committee's determination and, after reviewing Southern's,
the top-ranked firm's, proposal and qualifications, I find that this firm has documented exceptional
qualifications, including (but not limited to):
• its expertise relating to transportation, infrastructure, stormwater and economic development
projects;
• a broad range of bipartisan contacts in the legislative and executive branches of state
government.
T herefore, I recommend that the City Commission approve the Resolution authorizing the
Administration to enter into negotiations with Southern Strategy Group of Miami, LLC; and if
unsuccessful in negotiating an agreement with Southern Strategy Group of Miami, LLC, that the
Page 29 of 387
Administration be authorized to enter into negotiations with Rutledge Ecenia, P.A.; and further
authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute an Agreement upon conclusion of successful
negotiations by the Administration.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Grant funding will not be utilized for this project.
Legislative Tracking
Office of the Mayor and Commission/Procurement
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
D Attachment A
D Resolution
Page 30 of 387
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