Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Andrew J. Meyers
Department: County Attorney
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO APPROVE form agreement between Broward County and hearing officers for hearing officer services for a term of five years, unless terminated earlier; to authorize the County Attorney to make any modifications that neither add unreasonable risk nor increase the County’s financial obligations; to approve attorneys that may provide hearing officer services; and to authorize the County Attorney to execute the agreement with the listed attorneys on behalf of the County.
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Why Action is Necessary
Agreements for hearing officer services require approval by the Board of County Commissioners.
What Action Accomplishes
Approves the form agreement for hearing officer services, approves the list of attorneys that may provide hearing officer services, and authorizes the County Attorney’s execution of the agreement.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☐County Commission
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Previous Action Taken
Summary Explanation/Background
Chapters 154, 162, 316, and 489 of the Florida Statutes and Chapters 2, 4, 7, 8½, 9, 20, 21, 23, 27, and 39 of the Broward County Code of Ordinances allow for certain determinations of the County to be heard by or appealed to an impartial hearing officer. As has been its consistent practice, the County Attorney’s Office posted a solicitation seeking hearing officer applicants with the Florida Bar Career Center and several voluntary Bar associations. Selected hearing officers will preside over proceedings related to violations or appeals of administrative decisions or regulations in areas that include, but are not limited to, building, zoning, building contractors, speed detection system enforcement, child care facilities licensing, family child care homes licensing, animal care, consumer protection, Florida’s Health Care Responsibility Act (HCRA), airport regulations, living wage, cannabis civil citation program, and environmental protection. The attorneys listed in Exhibit 1 have the experience required by the County’s solicitation, including experience in Florida judicial or administrative procedures and at least ten years of practice in land use, zoning, environmental, construction, HCRA, or local government law.
A copy of the form agreement between Broward County and the prospective hearing officers is provided as Exhibit 2. The County Attorney’s Office recommends approval of the agreement for execution by the County Attorney, substantially in the form attached hereto, with those individuals listed in Exhibit 1.
Broward County incurred $50,827.61 in fees for hearing officers in Fiscal Year 2024 and $66,848.89 in Fiscal Year 2025.
Source of Additional Information
Maite Azcoitia, Deputy County Attorney, 954-357-7600
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
Each reimbursement request will be funded by the using agency at the time of release.