Commission debates and votes on citywide real-estate broker list after local‑firm concerns

The City Commission of Leesburg on Monday, Sept. 8, considered a resolution authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute a professional services real estate broker agreement naming three top‑ranked firms — The Urban Group, NAI Realvest and Realty Capital Advisors — to provide broker services to the city.

Commissioners and staff spent more than an hour discussing the procurement and the practical effect of adopting a three‑firm roster instead of selecting brokers on a case‑by‑case basis.

Supporters of the resolution told the commission the firms were the top scorers in the request‑for‑proposals process and that using a prequalified list would standardize selection, reduce ad‑hoc phone calls and ensure consistent expertise when the city needs broker help. Opponents said the three highest‑ranked firms are based outside Leesburg (Fort Lauderdale and Orlando were cited in the discussion) and argued a local broker would better know the market and serve the city’s interests for small surplus lot sales and neighborhood transactions.

Staff explained how the list would be used: if the city hires a broker for a particular transaction and the commission adopts the resolution, the city would select from the prequalified firms for that engagement. City staff noted the term being recommended for the contract is 36 months and that the list would not preclude the city from continuing current methods where staff and legal counsel handle transactions directly.

Commissioners asked for detail on the evaluation committee and past practice. Staff said the committee included city reviewers (identified in packet materials) and that, historically, the city has often handled surplus lot sales and some large property dispositions without outside brokers; recent examples where brokers were used included an airport parcel sale. Commissioners also discussed whether the roster would be used for all parcels, whether minimum acreage thresholds would apply and whether non‑local firms are acceptable when they provide better value.

After discussion the commission took a roll call vote. The record shows differing positions among commissioners; the item drew both support for the RFP process and repeated requests for further clarification and transparency on when and how outside brokers would be engaged.

The matter was concluded in the meeting record with a formal roll call and the vote recorded in the minutes for the item on the consent agenda.