VAB Agenda 02/10/2020 Item #11 ITEM 11
Renewal of
Professional Service
Contracts
02/10/2020 Item 11
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to authorize the extension option of the contract(s) per RFP 17-7046
Independent Legal Services for the Value Adjustment Board(VAB),RFP 17-7047 Appraiser
Special Magistrate for Value Adjustment Board (VAB) and RFP 17-7048 Attorney Special
Magistrate for Value Adjustment Board(VAB)and to authorize the execution of the contract
extensions with the applicants.
OBJECTIVE: To authorize the extension option and the execution of agreement on each of the
current contracts for the following: VAB Legal Counsel, the VAB Appraiser Special Magistrates,
and the VAB Attorney Special Magistrate for the Collier County Value Adjustment Board(VAB).
CONSIDERATIONS: Florida Statute 194.035 requires"In counties having a population of more
than 75,000, the board shall appoint special magistrates for the purpose of taking testimony and
making recommendations to the board, which recommendations the board may act upon without
further hearing. These special magistrates may not be elected or appointed officials or employees
of the county but shall be selected from a list of those qualified individuals who are willing to
serve as special magistrates. Employees and elected or appointed officials of a taxing jurisdiction
or of the state may not serve as special magistrates. The clerk of the board shall annually notify
such individuals or their professional associations to make known to them that opportunities to
serve as special magistrates exist."
"A special magistrate appointed to hear issues of exemptions, classifications, and determinations
that a change of ownership, a change of ownership or control, or a qualifying improvement has
occurred shall be a member of The Florida Bar with no less than 5 years' experience in the area of
ad valorem taxation. A special magistrate appointed to hear issues regarding the valuation of real
estate shall be a state certified real estate appraiser with not less than 5 years' experience in real
property valuation. A special magistrate appointed to hear issues regarding the valuation of
tangible personal property shall be a designated member of a nationally recognized appraiser's
organization with not less than 5 years' experience in tangible personal property valuation. A
special magistrate need not be a resident of the county in which he or she serves. A special
magistrate may not represent a person before the board in any tax year during which he or she has
served that board as a special magistrate. Before appointing a special magistrate, a value
adjustment board shall verify the special magistrate's qualifications. The value adjustment board
shall ensure that the selection of special magistrates is based solely upon the experience and
qualifications of the special magistrate and is not influenced by the property appraiser."
Accordingly, the Value Adjustment Board selected and appointed Holly E. Cosby, Esq. as the
Independent Legal Counsel for the VAB; Lorraine Dube, Scott Watson with Coastal Consulting
Group, and Mark Pelletier as the Appraiser Special Magistrates, and Ellen T. Chadwell as the
Attorney Special Magistrate for VAB in 2017. The initial term of their contracts was three (3)
years, with an option for renewal for a one (1) two-year term. The initial term of their
agreements will expire prior to the beginning of the 2020 VAB session(see attached agreements).
02/10/2020 Item 11
The VAB Legal Counsel and each of the Magistrates have submitted written requests to continue
serving in Collier County for the extended period, if authorized. The written notifications are
attached to this Executive Summary.
VAB Staff recommends that the Board authorize the extension for each of the agreements for the
VAB professional services. The extension will extend their terms through the 2021 VAB session.
Authorizing these extensions will prompt the Collier County Procurement Services Division to
prepare the extension documents to be executed by each professional. Those extensions will be
placed into the VAB records, for reference.
FISCAL IMPACT: The cost of the VAB process is shared by statute. The County pays three-
fifths of the expense, with the District School Board responsible for two-fifths of these expenses.
The County will pay these costs and invoice the School Board for its respective share. These
expenditures are included in the operating budget in the General Fund (001), Other General
Administrative cost center(103010).
RECOMMENDATION: That the Value Adjustment Board (VAB) authorizes the extension
option and execution thereof of the contracts for Agreement 17-7046 Independent Legal Services
for the Value Adjustment Board (VAB) — Holly E. Cosby, Esq.; Agreements 17-7047 Appraiser
Special Magistrate for Value Adjustment Board (VAB) - Lorraine Dube, Scott Watson with
Coastal Consulting Group, Inc., and Mark Pelletier with South Florida Valuation Services, Inc.;
and Agreement 17-7048 Attorney Special Magistrate for Value Adjustment Board (VAB)—Ellen
T. Chadwell, Esq.
PREPARED BY: Patricia Morgan, Director VAB Clerk's Office
Attachments:
• Written Requests to Continue from all Service Providers
• Agreement 17-7046 Independent Legal Services for Value Adjustment Board
• Agreements 17-7047 Appraiser Special Magistrate for Value Adjustment Board
(for Dube, Coastal Consulting Group, and South Florida Valuation Services)
• Agreement 17-7048 Attorney Special Magistrate for Value Adjustment Board
Patricia L. Morgan
From: holly@cosbylaw.com
Sent: Tuesday, December 3, 2019 3:58 PM
To: Patricia L. Morgan; value adjustment board
Subject: Request to Continue
Importance: High
External Message: Please use caution when opening attachments, clicking links, or replying to this message.
Good afternoon.
My current contract commenced on June 1, 2017 and culminates on May 31, 2020. I do have an
additional two (2) year option to extend my contract, which I would absolutely LOVE to do.
Please accept this email as my formal intent to return and request to extend my contact as Collier
County VAB Attorney for an additional two (2) year period, through May 31, 2022. I would like to
extend my contract for a longer period of time, if it is permitted. I truly enjoy working with and for
Collier County.
I believe that we would need to get this on the Final Meeting agenda, so that the Board can discuss
this matter in order to ensure that the Board has legal representation for the 2020 Organizational
Meeting.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Very truly,
Holly Cosby
HOLLY E. COSBY
LAW OFFICE OF HOLLY E. COSBY, P.A.
602 CENTER ROAD
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA 33907
(239) 931-0006
(239) 418-0006 (FAx)
This electronic message transmission and any associated files and/or attachments contains information from the Law
Office of Holly E. Cosby, P.A. that is considered confidential or privileged. The information is intended solely for the
recipient and use by any other party is not authorized. If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure,
copying, distribution or use of the contents of this information is prohibited. If you have received this electronic
transmission in error, please permanently delete this information and notify me immediately by telephone (239-931-0006),
or by electronic mail (holly(a,cosbylaw.com). Additionally, however, Florida has a very broad Public Records Law. Most
written communications to or from State and Local Officials regarding State or Local business are public records available
to the public and media upon request. Your email communications may therefore be subject to public disclosure. Thank
you.
1
.5111
The Law Office of Ellen T. Chadwell, PL
5675 Strand Ct., Naples, FL 34110
Office: 239-249-3560,Cell: 239-293-7691
www.chadwelllaw.com
ellen@chadwelllaw.com
December 19, 2019
Collier County VAB Via Electronic Mail
c/o Patricia Morgan, VAB Clerk
3299 Tamiami Trail E., Suite 401
Naples, FL 34112
RE: 2020 VAB Season
Special Magistrate Services
Dear Trish:
Please inform the Collier County Value Adjustment Board and its Counsel, Ms. Cosby,
that I am interested in serving again next year as an Attorney Special Magistrate for the Collier
County VAB.
If you require anything further, please let me know.
Sincerely,
/s/2'11en 2 Chadwell
Ellen T. Chadwell
/etc.
Lorraine Dube
6231 Ashwood Lane
Naples, Florida 34110
Telephone : 239-293-5768
Email: dube5757@yahoo.com
November 26, 2019
Clerk to the Value Adjustment Board
Administration Building "F"
3299 Tamiami Trail East, Suite 401
Naples, Florida 34112
RE: Agreement 17-7047 for Appraiser Special Magistrate for the Value Adjustment Board.
Dear Sir/Madam,
My contract for services as an Appraiser Special Magistrate started on September 1, 2017 for a
three-year term. The agreement states that "the Value Adjustment Board (VAB) may, at its
discretion and with consent of the Appraiser Special Magistrate, renew the agreement under all of
the terms and conditions contained in the agreement for one (1) additional (2) year period."
This letter serves as notice that I want to renew my contract with Collier County Value Adjustment
Board for an additional(2)year term under the same conditions contained in the original agreement
dated September 17, 2017.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Respec lly Submitted,
Lorra ne Dube
Appraiser Special Magistrate
Patricia L. Morgan
From: ccg25@bellsouth.net
Sent: Tuesday, January 7, 2020 9:49 AM
To: Patricia L. Morgan
Subject: 2020 tax cycle for VAB hearings
External Message: Please use caution when opening attachments, clicking links, or replying to this message.
I would be happy to serve as a special magistrate to the Collier County VAB for the 2020 tax cycle under the same
contract terms/conditions as I have for 2019.
This includes the same travel compensation time as has existed for the past 11 years I have served.
It has always been a pleasure dealing with County employees and citizens of Collier County.
Scott Watson, MAI
Appraiser Special Magistrate
954-295-2647 Cell
954-776-9938 Office
CCG25BellsoutH.net
1
From: sflval@bellsouth.net<sflval@bellsouth.net>
Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2020 3:27 PM
To: Patricia L. Morgan <patricia.morgan@collierclerk.com>
Subject: RE: VAB Special Magistrate Services
Importance: High
Good afternoon,
I would like to continue to serve as a VAB Tangible and Residential Special Magistrate.
Thank you.
Mark L. Pelletier, CMEA,SRA
Appraising Machinery/Equipment, Residential and Business Brokerage
SFL Valuation Sevices, Inc.
P.O. Box 33621
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33420
Phone: 561-313-1067
E-mail: sflval@bellsouth.net
Fax: 561-575-4536
Web: floridavaluations.com
Original Message
From: Patricia L. Morgan <patricia.morgan@colliercierk.com>
Sent: Thursday,January 16, 2020 11:53 AM
To: 'sflval@bellsouth.net' <sflval@bellsouth.net>
Cc: Patricia L. Morgan <patricia.morgan@collierclerk.com>
Subject: VAB Special Magistrate Services
Good morning,
Please update our office as to your interest in continuing to serve as a VAB Special Magistrate for Collier County's VAB
The current contract states the following:
AGREEMENT TERM. The Agreement shall be for a three (3)year period, commencing on the date of
contract execution.
The Value Adjustment Board (VAB) may, at its discretion and with the consent of the Appraises
Special Magistrate, renew the Agreement under all of the terms and conditions contained
in this Agreement for one (1) additional two (2)year period. The County shall give the AppraisE
Special Magistrate written notice of the VAB's intention to renew the Agreement term prior tr
the end of the Agreement term then in effect.
If you are interested in continuing to serve for an additional period of two years, please let the VAB know. We will
include your notification into the VAB's Agenda for their February meeting.
Thank you for your service to the citizens of Collier County.
Regards,
Trish