| Providing legal services to Florida municipalities and counties |
Ralf G. Brookes, Attorney. Representing local governments.
Experience: City Attorney, Town Attorney, Assistant County Attorney, Special Land Use Counsel.
Prepare, review and litigate ordinances, land development regulations, comprehensive plan amendments, settlements, development agreements, local, state and federal agency permits, approvals, challenges and appeals; administrative law practice before state agencies, counties and cities, referendums and ballot issues, prepare franchise agreements, employment contracts & issues; RFPs/RFQs; public and private construction projects local government law. Land use litigation in administrative hearings, state, federal courts:
· City of Bradenton Beach Florida, (Manatee County, population 1,536) (part time); 2004 to present: Meet with and advise elected and appointed City officials, commissions, boards; Meet with and advise City Manager & Departments; Litigation, Settlements, Comprehensive Plan Amendments, Land Development Code Amendments and review of development applications; ordinances, contracts, government projects and public works.
· Town of Yankeetown, Florida, Special Land Use Counsel (Levy County, population 760) (part time) 2006 to present: Meet with and advise elected and appointed City officials, commissions, boards; Meet with and advise City Manager & Departments; Litigation, Settlements, Comprehensive Plan Amendments, Land Development Code Amendments and review of development applications; ordinances, contracts, government projects and public works.
· Special Magistrate, Fla. Stat. 70.51 – Village of Islamorada (in the “Florida Keys”) – Mediate alternative dispute resolution process for land use applications, prepare recommendations to Village and Courts.
· Florida Gulf Coast University - Adjunct Professor (part time): Environmental / Land Use Law.
Prior Experience/Clients:
City of St Pete Beach, Florida (Pinellas County, population 10,086) City Attorney (through May 2008): All aspects of City Attorney, Meet with and advise elected and appointed City officials, commissions, boards; Meet with and advise City Manager & Departments; Litigation, Settlements, Comprehensive Plan Amendments, Land Development Code Amendments and review of development applications; ordinances, personnel, contracts, government projects and public works.
Monroe County (the “Florida Keys”) Land Use Litigation Counsel (1992-1998) Represent Monroe County Florida in land use litigation in state and federal courts, serve as counsel for Growth Management Division, counsel for Planning Department, Planning Commission and Code Enforcement; prepared and defended vacation rental, noise and other ordinances, resolutions and land development regulations, development agreements, comprehensive plan amendments, successfully defended Monroe County in federal and state court.
Sarasota County Assistant County Attorney (1990 – 1992) Advise County Attorney, Board of County Commissioners of Sarasota County; Planning Commission, Planning Department, Natural Resources Department, Code Enforcement Department, Solid Waste Department, contract preparation review, interagency interlocal agreements; prepared innovative Sarasota County Recycling Ordinance, advised Development Review Commission; Ordinance establishing Pollution Control Trust Fund, landfill site litigation, charter referendums.
Fine Jacobson Schwartz Nash Block & England, in Miami and Tallahassee, Attorney 1988 – 1990. Represented applicants in City of Miami, Boca Raton, Opa Locka, South Miami, Miami Beach, Key Biscayne; Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties; sought and obtained local land use approvals for hotels, residential, commercial and mixed use developments, draft and implement land development regulations, permitting of communications towers; local government and state administrative hearings, obtain land use and zoning approvals, variances and permits; litigation regarding land use decisions; present applications for approvals and variances to Boards of Adjustment, Planning Commissions, Historic Architectural Review Boards, City and County Commissions; remediation of contaminated sites and greenfields; beach re-nourishment.
MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE:
BUSINESS ANALYST & MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT
Cambridge Management Consulting/Cambridge Technology Partners, England / USA, 1998 – Jan. 2000
Senior Business Analyst and Senior Business Consultant, delivered sustainable change with measurable results on a fixed-time, fixed cost basis of $2.7M and 3.5 million dollars in documented annual client increased net earnings - each year for each client.
EDUCATION / ADMISSIONS:
University of Florida –Law School Gainesville, Florida, Juris Doctor (J.D.) 1988
- Jessup’s Cup Moot Court Team;
- UF Law Center for Governmental Responsibility – Scholarship Fellowship Recipient
University of Miami - Bach. Science Degree in Marine Sciences/Geology, Coral Gables, Florida, 1985
Admitted to Florida Bar – 1988 (Over 20+ years as member in good standing)
Board Certified in City County and Local Government Law by The Florida Bar – 2004 (Certified 4+ years)
All Florida Federal Courts: Admitted Middle District, Southern District, and Northern District Florida
All Florida State Courts: Admitted all state circuits, all appellate district courts, Florida Supreme Court
The Florida Bar, Sections and Committees:
· City, County and Local Government Law Section, to present
· Environmental and Land Use Law Section (ELULS), Executive Council, 1993-2001
· Administrative Law Section Executive Council, 1991- 1999
Florida Municipal Attorney’s Association – Member/Lecturer
Florida League of Cities
FREQUENT INVITED GUEST LECTURER:
The Florida Chamber of Commerce, Growth Management Short Course, Environmental Permitting Short Course
The Florida Bar, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Programs Environmental and Land Use Law Section, Administrative Law Section of The Florida Bar
Annual Environmental/Land Use Law Conference – University of Florida/The Florida Bar, ELULS;
Continuing Legal Education, CLE-International Programs, Dealing With Government; Wetlands Regulations; Litigating Land Use and Takings Claims; Defending Local Government Land Use Denials; Regulatory Takings under the U.S. and Florida Constitution;
Florida Municipal Attorney’s Association Noise Ordinances;
Chamber of Commerce : Issues 08 – Southwest Florida Legislative Delegation, FGCU December 2007;
University of Florida Law School, Guest Lecturer: “Rewards of Local Government Career Service”
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Ralf Brookes, Attorney
1217 E Cape Coral #107,
Cape Coral Florida 33904
(239) 910-5464 phone
ralf@ralfbrookesattorney.com
Communication via email with an attorney does not constitute an attorney-client relationship unless and until both parties agree to the terms of such a relationship.
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