Item K5 K5
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY of MONROE �� i Mayor Holly Merrill Raschein,District 5
The Florida Keys Mayor Pro Tern James K.Scholl,District 3
Craig Cates,District 1
Michelle Lincoln,District 2
' David Rice,District 4
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
August 21, 2024
Agenda Item Number: K5
2023-2800
BULK ITEM: No DEPARTMENT: County Attorney
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Derek Howard
N/A
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: An Attorney-Client Closed Session in the matter of Rafael A.
Bezanilla v. Monroe County, Florida, Case No. 24-CA-26-P.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
Per F.S. 286.011(8), the subject matter of the meeting shall be confined to settlement negotiations or
strategy sessions related to litigation expenditures. Present at the meeting will be the County
Commissioners, Acting County Administrator Kevin Wilson, County Attorney Bob Shillinger, Senior
Assistant County Attorneys Cynthia Hall and Derek Howard, and Assistant County Attorney Anjelica
Harden-Ivanoski, and a certified court reporter.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
04/17/24, BOCC approved holding a closed session at the regular BOCC meeting on 05/15/24 in Key
West at 9:00 a.m. or as soon thereafter as may be heard.
At the 05/15/24 BOCC meeting the Board approved moving the closed session to the BOCC meeting on
07/17/24 in Marathon at 9:00 a.m. or as soon thereafter as may be heard.
At the 07/17/24 BOCC meeting the Board approved moving the closed session to the BOCC meeting on
08/21/24 in Key West at 9:00 a.m. or as soon thereafter as may be heard.
INSURANCE REQUIRED:
No
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Hold the closed session.
DOCUMENTATION:
Closed—Session_Script_for_Bezanilla_Aug_21_2024.docx
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FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Total Cost to County: Court Reporter Costs
Budgeted: Yes
Source of Funds: 67501-530330
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Mayor's Script
For the day of Closed Session
The following should be read at the appropriate point during the day of the closed session.
1. Prior to going into closed session.
A closed attorney-client session pursuant to Section 286.011(8), Florida Statutes, will now be held
concerning the matter of Rafael A. Bezanilla v. Monroe County, Florida, 16'h Judicial Circuit Case No. 24-CA-26-
P. It is estimated that this meeting will take approximately thirty (30) minutes. The persons attending the closed
meeting will be the County Commissioners, Acting County Administrator Kevin Wilson, County Attorney Bob
Shillinger, Senior Assistant County Attorneys Cynthia Hall and Derek Howard,Assistant County Attorney Anj elica
Harden-Ivanoski, and a certified court reporter.
Since the law prohibits any other person from being present at the closed session, the commissioners, the
Acting County Administrator, the attorneys for the County, other persons named, and the court reporter will now
remain in this meeting room, and all other persons are required to leave the room. When the closed session is over,
we will re-convene and re-open the public meeting. This public meeting is now closed.
2. At the beginning of the closed session.
I now call this closed session to order. For the record, this meeting is being held upon the request of the
County Attorney Bob Shillinger who announced at a prior BOCC Meeting held on 04/17/24 that he needed advice
in the matter of Rafael A. Bezanilla v. Monroe County, Florida, 16'h Judicial Circuit Case No. 24-CA-26-P. At that
meeting, the Board approved holding a closed session and public notice was given through public announcement
of the meeting at the 04/17/24 BOCC meeting and through publication of the 05/15/24 BOCC meeting agendas on
the County's website. At the 05/15/2024 BOCC meeting the Board moved to adjourn the closed session until the
07/17/24, BOCC meeting. At the 07/17/2024 BOCC meeting the Board moved to adjourn the closed session until
the 08/21/24, BOCC meeting.
For the record, and the benefit of the court reporter, each of us will state our name and position starting
with the commission.
(After all have identified themselves) —Thank you.
Just as a reminder, we will only be discussing settlement negotiations or strategy related to litigation
expenditures. We cannot take any decisive action at this meeting. We can only provide information and direction
to the attorneys. Any decisions this Board makes concerning this claim must be done in a meeting open to the
public.
Let's start our discussion with the County Attorney.
3. At the end of the closed session,prior to going into open session.
This closed session is now terminated and we will now reconvene in the public meeting.
4. After the public session has been re-opened.
The attorney-client closed session has been terminated, and we are now re-opening this public
meeting.
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