Leaders Look to Keep on Lobbyists

Clearwater city leaders look to approve a five-year, more than $250,000 agreement to retain a lobbyist group at their meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at City Hall.

“This firm has done a good job for us,” said Mayor George N. Cretekos during the city council workshop meeting Monday. 

The Pennington Law Firm takes some credit for its lobbying efforts at the state level to get these and other legislative measures passed or defeated on behalf of the city since 1996, according to a 66-page proposal.

Pennington, Moore, Wilkinson, Bell and Dunbar, P.A. says they were able to:

• Make changes to transportation code helped fund the Memorial Causeway.
• Update the rules governing submerged lands owned by the city, expand Brownfield and enterprise zones. 
• Defeat legislation that would weaken local government red light camera regulations.

The firm’s other clients include Pinellas County, Tampa Bay Water, Volusia and Pasco counties.

The contract would pay Pennington, Moore, Wilkinson, Bell and Dunbar, P.A. $4,000 monthly as well as expenses up to $4,800 a year from Oct. 1, 2012 through Sept. 30, 2017.

Annual costs will be included in the Official Records and Legislative Services Operating budget. It can be cancelled with 30 days notice.

“This is a great value,” councilmember Paul Gibson said. 

If you go:

What: City Council meeting

When: 6 p.m. Nov. 1

Where: City Hall, 112 S Osceola Ave