SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Authorize a contract between Property Registration Champions Corp., a Florida Corporation and a Community Champions Company, and the City of Clearwater to manage the City’s Foreclosure Property Registry utilizing collected registration funds and authorizes the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)
Body
SUMMARY:
Since 2006, a significant number of properties have gone through foreclosure in the City of Clearwater. At present, there are over 700 properties in active foreclosure and 256 owned by banks. Because many properties in the foreclosure process often become neglected and/or unsecured, they can have serious negative impacts on the surrounding neighborhood and create conditions which invite criminal activity and foster an unsafe and unhealthy environment for children. Due to the difficulty in determining the party responsible for maintenance during foreclosure, City Council reviewed and approved the proposed Foreclosure Property Registry Ordinance 8996-17 in March 2017. Upon implementation of the ordinance, Planning and Development Department proposes a partnership and contract with Community Champions a proven company for managing foreclosure registry programs.
At this time Community Champions is the only third party Foreclosure Registry Administrator in the State of Florida. Pursuant to City Code Section 2.564(b) Exceptions to Bid and Quotation Procedure, Community Champions is a sole source and therefore these services are exempt from bidding.
Community Champions property registration program will search foreclosure data from 4 sources and identify all obligations to register property. Their search identifies a public notice of default, lis pendens, foreclosure action, and those that take title to real property via foreclosure or some other legal means. Community Champions will notify the responsible parties of the Ordinance required registration and collect the required $200.00 yearly fee. Community Champions collects the fee and retains $100.00 of each collected registration fee and will remit the balance to the City of Clearwater in consideration of the services provided. There are no additional fees for the City. Community Champions shall forward payment of the City’s portion of the registration fee to the City’s Finance Department no later than the 15th day of the following month during the term of this Agreement.
Community Champions responsibilities will commence on the effective date of this agreement. The contract between Community Champions and the City of Clearwater provides more analysis of each aspect of the proposed amendment.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT: (N/A)
USE OF RESERVE FUNDS: (N/A)