Andrew Thompson, 

Chief Financial Officer

Jennifer Frastai, 

Assistant City Manager 

Issue Statement: The City of Oakland Park has numerous properties within the downtown area along Main Street that will be vacated in the coming years as City operations are relocated to the City Hall at the Sky Building and to City Park. In March 2021, a presentation to the City Commission was made on the value and use of City properties in the downtown.  This presentation outlined actions taken to date and next steps, which included financial review, market analysis, and potential partnerships to develop City properties in a way that meets the identified Commission priorities in the downtown. A copy of this presentation is attached for reference.

As the City takes these next steps, it is critical that staff have access to appropriate technical experts with appropriate experience related to urban development and public-private partnership (P3) projects as we prepare for active solicitation to find the right partner for the redevelopment of City-owned parcels in the downtown. 

The City has been working with Colliers International Florida, LLC (Colliers), a Commercial Real Estate Advisory Firm, to review opportunities for the development of City properties in the downtown to create housing, retail, dining, open space/recreational areas, and parking in conformance with City plans.  Colliers has also worked on critical market and real estate analyses as it relates to the impact and benefit of a commuter rail station within the downtown.  In addition, Colliers works regularly with the CRA to perform market analyses and reporting as it relates to the community redevelopment area.

Staff requested Colliers provide a proposal to continue to deliver vital real estate market feasibility analysis services related to downtown development, including the evaluation of developer proposals and negotiation services as relates to a future development agreement.

Recommended Action: The City Commission adopt a resolution authorizing the appropriate City Officials to enter into an agreement with Colliers International Florida, LLC for real estate consulting services, including market feasibility analysis and public/private partnership negotiations, in an amount not-to-exceed $62,500.

The proposed contract with Colliers International of South Florida (Colliers) includes a scope of services related to market feasibility analysis and associated public/private partnership (P3) advisory services for the City of Oakland Park.  The primary tasks include:

•  Real Estate Advisor  Services: monitoring of economic and market conditions and real estate performance measures affecting the Downtown market area specifically as relates potential development opportunities associated with City-owned properties.  This task also includes market feasibility modeling as needed.

•  Proposal Evaluation: review and evaluation of all development proposals submitted to the City for market feasibility.   This will also include a market feasibility review to determine benefits to the City.

• Negotiation Services: prepare and assist in negotiations with potential development partners.   The firm will work with the City Attorney's Office, City staff as relates to the preparation of a development agreement and related documents in addition to other related advisory services pertinent to downtown properties and development.

The total proposed cost is not-to-exceed $62,500 to provide direct support to the City in the RFP review and evaluation process and subsequent Development Agreement Negotiations, including other agreements that may result from the negotiations such as ground lease(s) and/or purchase and sale agreement(s).    

This item is considered to qualify under City Code Sec. 2-198(4)(o), which provides for the city manager or designee to determine if a contractual service must be procured through the competitive procurement process.  A determination that these services are exempt from competitive procurement was made on the basis that the technical expertise and experience required to provide these services was the functional equivalent of appraisal, actuarial, and auditing services, all of which are exempted under City Code Sec. 2-198(4)c and City Code Sec. 2-198(4)d.

The total proposed cost is not-to-exceed $62,500  Funds are provided for in the Planning Division for the professional services of  Colliers which will further the City's Smart Growth and Development strategic performance area of the Strategic Plan.   The proposed expenditure is as follows:

Downtown Properties Real Estate Advisory Services