Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1070 - Gilmore& Bell - Bond Counsel BILL NO. 2011-018 ORDINANCE NO. �� 7�� AN ORDINANCE APPOINTING GILMORE $ BELL, P.C. AS SPECIAL COUNSEL FOR LEGAL SERVICES RELATED TO SERVE AS BOND COUNSEL AND ESTABLISHING TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR SUCH SERVICES WHEREAS, Section 110.110 of the Riverside City Code provides that one of the duties of the City Attorney is to oversee the retention and supervision of outside counsel where specialized work is deemed necessary; and WHEREAS, the City deems it necessary and desirable to contract with a qualified attorney for special counsel legal services to serve as bond/disclosure counsel for the City; and WHEREAS, the procedure by which special counsel is retained is governed by Section 79.230 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri which provides that the employment of special counsel � shall occur by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen pursuant to adoption of an ordinance; and � WHEREAS, five firms submitted proposals to provide such services in October of 2010 and Gilmore & Bell was selected at that time to provide special legal services to the City in connection with any bond transactions which arose within 90 days from the date of approval; and WHEREAS, the Board of Aldermen has a desire to evaluate and consider additional bond transactions within the City for which services may be required, including but not limited to refunding of current bonds in place within the City and find it is in the best interest of the citizens of the City of Riverside to authorize and approve an agreement with Gilmore and Bell, PC to provide such services in connection with any additional transactions requiring the utilization of bond/disclosure counsei which may occur within the City during the next two years; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE, MISSOURI, AS FOLLOWS: THAT Gilmore & Bell, PC is hereby appointed as special legal counsel for the City of Riverside to serve as bond/disclosure counsel on any transactions which may occur within the City within the next two years, subject to the supervision of the City Attorney; FURTHER THAT the City Attomey is hereby authorized to execute the engagement letter attached hereto as Exhibit A together with such other documents necessary or incidental to carry out the terms and conditions of such representation in connection with the proposed issuance of approximately $2,400,000 of tax increment refunding revenue bonds within the City. BE IT REMEMBERED that the above was read two times by heading only, PASSED AND APPROVED by a majority of the Board of Aldermen and APPROVED by the Mayor of the City of Riverside, Missouri, this ��-d day of , 2011. g � o . Ma or Kathleen L. Rose >ATTEST: Approved as form: �_�� - '� - � - � r 1---�_ Robin Littrell, City Clerk a omp n, City Attomey 878-221-1�00 G� T L M.O��E B E L L ST. LOl11S. MISSOURI FAX�.818�221-1078 WICHITA. KANSAS WWW.GILMORE9ELLCOM q PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION LINCOLN, NE9RASKA ATTORNEYS AT LAW 2405 GRAND BOULEVARD,SUITE 1100 KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 64108-2521 April 21, 20ll City of Riverside, Missouri 2950 NW Vivion Road Riverside, Missouri 64150 Attention: Nancy Thompson Re: Proposed Issuance of approximately $2,400,000 Tax Increment Refundin� Revenue Bonds of the City of Riverside, Missouri Dear Nancy: The purpose of this engagement letter is to set forth certain matters concerning the services we will perform as bond counsel to tl�e City of Riverside, Missouri (the "Issuer"), in connection with the issuance of the above-referenced bonds (the "13on�ls"). We understand that the Bonds are being issued for the purpose of refunding the City's outstanding Tax Increment Revenue Bonds Series 1998, 1999 and 2002 and will be secured by ce�tain TIF revenues and an annual appropriation of the City and will be rated. We further understand that the Bonds will be purchased at negotiated sale by D.A. Davidson & Co. (the "Underwriter") and closing is expecCed to occur in late .Iune, 2011. SCOPE OF ENGAGEMENT In this engagement, as bond counsel to the Issuer we expect to perform the following duties: (1) Subject to the completion of proceedings to our satisfaction, render our legal opinion (tl�e "Bond Opinion") regarding tl�e validity and binding effect of the Bonds, the excludability of interest on the Bonds from gross income for federal and Missouri income tax purposes, and such related matters as we deem necessary or appropriate. (2) Examine applicable law as it relates to the authorization and issuance of the Bonds and our Bond Opinion and advise the Issuer regarding the legal authority for the issuance of the Bonds and other legal matters related to the structure of the Bonds. (3) Prepare or review authorizing proceedings and legal documents necessary or appropriate to the authorization, issuance and delivery of the Bonds and coordinate the authorization and execution of such documents. (4) Prepare or review the official statement to be disseminated in connection with the sale o}' the Bonds. 2 April 21, 201 l (5) Drafr or review the continuing disclosure undertaking of the Issuer. (6) Assist the Issuer in seeking from other governmental authorities such approvals, permissions, and exemptions as we determine are necessary or appropriate in connection with the authorization, issuance and delivery of the Bonds, except that we will not be responsible for any required Blue Sky filing. (7) Assist the Issuer in presenting information to boud rating organizations and providers of credit enhancement relating to legal issues afFecting the issuance of the Bonds. (8) Attend meetings and conferences related to the Bonds and otherwise consult with the parties to the transaction prior to the issuance of the Bonds. ', (9} Coordinate the closing of the transaction, and after the closing assemble and distribute transcripts of the proceedings and documentation relating to the authorizltion and issuance of the Bonds. (10) Undertake such additional duties as we deem necessary to complete the financing and to reitder our Bond Opinion. Our Bond Opinion will be addressed to the Issuer, the bond trustee and the Underwriter and will be delivered by us on the date the Bonds are exchanged for their purchase price (the "Closing"). The Bond Opinion will be based on facts and law existing as of its date. In rendering our Bond Opinion, we will rely upon the certitied proceedings and other certifications of public officials and other persons furnished to us without undertaking to verify the same by independent investigation, and we will assume continuing compliance by the Issuer with applicaUle laws relating to the Bonds. During the course of this engagement, we will rely on you Co provide us with complete and timely information on all developments pertaining to any aspect of the Bonds and their security. We understand that members of City staff will cooperate with us in this regard. Our duties in this engagement are limited to those expressly set forth above. Among other things, our duties do not include: (a) Preparing blue sky or investment surveys with respect to the Bonds. (b) After Closing, providing advice concerning any actions necessary to assure compliauee with any continuing disclosure undertaking. (c) After Closing, providing continuing advice to the lssuer or any otlier party concerning any actions necessary to assure that interest paid on the Bonds �vill continue to be excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes (e.g., our engagement does not include rebate calculations for the Bonds). (d) Addressing any otl�er matter not specifically set Porth above that is not required to render our Bond Opinion. i : 3 Apri( 21, 201 1 Should the City desire assistance with any of the matters described in paragraphs (a) through (d) we would be happy to discuss a separate engagement for those services. ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP Upon execution of this engagement letter, tlte Issuer will be our client and an attorney-client relationship will exist between us. We assume that all other parties, including the Underwriter, will retain such counsel as they decm necessary and appropriate to represent their interests in this transaction. We further assume that all other parties understand that in this transaction we represent only the Issuer, we are not counsel lo any other pariy, and we are not acting as an intermediary among tlte parties. Our services as bond counsel are limited to those contracted for in this letcer; the fssuer's execution of this engagement letter will constitute an acknowledgment of those limitations. Our representation of the Issuer will not affect, however, our responsibility to render an objective Bond Opiiiion. Our representation of the [ssuer and the attorney-client relationship created by this engagement letter will be concluded upon issuance of the Bonds and delivery of our Bond Opinion. Nevertheless, subsequent to Closing, we will mail the appropriate Internal Revenue Service Fonn 8038 and prepare and distribute to the participants in the transaction a transcript of the proceedings pertaining to the Bonds. We do not uitdertake (unless separately engaged) to provide continuing advice to the Issuer or any other party concen�ing any actions necessary to assure that interest paid on the Bonds will continue to be excludable from gross income for federal and Missouri income tax purposes or to assure compliance with the continuing disclosure requirements of applicable federal securities laws. Nonetheless, subsequent events may af�ect the tax-exempt status of interest on the Bonds and compliance with federal securities laws. Consequently, continued monitoring and ocher action to assure complia��ce with these requirements may be necessary. Should the Issuer want our firm to assist with such compliance (e.g., arbitrage rebate calculations and ongoing securities law disclosure), our participation in such post-closing matters must be specifically requested, and a separate engagement will be required. FEES Based upon (i) our current understanding of the terms, structure, size and scliedule of the financing represented by the Bonds, (ii) the duties we will undertake pursuant to this engagement letter, (iii) the time we anticipate devoting to the financing, and (iv) the responsibilities we will assttme in connection therewith, we estimate that our fee will be $25,000. Our fee may vary (a) if the principal amount of Bonds actually issued differs significantly from the amount stated above, (b) if material changes in the structure or schedule of the financing occur, or (c) if unusual or unforeseen circumstances arise which require a significant increase in our time or responsibility. If, at any time, we believe that circumstances require an adjustment of our original fee estimate, we will advise you and prepare and provide to you an amendment to this engagement letter. Our fec is usually paid at the Closing, and we customarily do not submit any statcment until the Closing unless tl�cre is a substantial delay in completing the financing. If the financing is not consummated or is completed without the delivery of our F3ond Opinion as bond counsel, or our services are othenvise terminated, we will expect to be paid a fee that is mutually agreed on between you and us, plus reimbursement of our out-of-pocket expenses. 4 April 21, 2011 RECORDS At your request, papers and property furnished by you will be returned promptly upon receipt of payment for outstanding fees and client charges. Our own files, including lawyer work product, pertaining to the transaction will be retained by us. For various reasons, including the minimization of unnecessary storage expenses, we reserve the right to dispose of any documents or other materials retained by us after the termination of this engagement. If the foregoing terms are acceptable to you, please so indicate by returning the enclosed copy of this engagement letter dated and signed by an authorized officer, retaining the original for your files. We look fonvard to working with you. GILMORE & BELL, P.C. �/���� By: Gary A. Anderson ACCEPTED AND APPROVED: CITY OF RIVERSIDE, 1VIISSaURI �I � Y� �� � Title Date: 5 = ' GAA:mt cc: Charlie Zimik