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Council votes to engage Ballard Partners counsel amid possible utility-district bill; retainer cited at about $8,000–$8,500
Summary
Punta Gorda staff warned a bill to change municipal utility service could be filed in Tallahassee; council suspended a procedural rule and approved hiring attorney-lobbyist David Childs of Ballard Partners on retainer so the city can respond quickly if legislation is filed, though some members warned about cost and timing.
City leaders told the Jan. 6 workshop that legislation potentially affecting municipal utility service—cited in staff remarks as Florida Senate Bill 1014, sponsored in discussion by Senator Debbie Mayfield—had not yet been filed but was likely. Because of the fast-moving legislative calendar, city staff recommended preparing by securing outside legal and lobbying representation with subject-matter expertise in water and utility governance.
Tom (identified in the meeting as the city’s utilities director) and other staff described the proposed engagement: retain David Childs of Ballard Partners, an…
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