Subject:
Title
Memorandum of Understanding among the Utilities Department, Clerk of the Circuit Court, and Construction and Property Management Department pertaining to office space occupied by the Clerk at the County-owned building at 14 South Fort Harrison Avenue, Clearwater.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) memorializing the Clerk of the Circuit Court’s (Clerk) use of office space on the 3rd and 4th floors of the Utilities Building at 14 South Fort Harrison Avenue, Clearwater.
• Utilities is the custodial department of the Utilities Building at 14 South Fort Harrison Avenue, Clearwater.
• Utilities and the Clerk are currently parties to a MOU dated November 29, 2021.
• Construction and Property Management (CPM) handles the payment of rent to Utilities for the space occupied by the Clerk.
• The existing MOU no longer accurately reflects the actual space occupied by the Clerk and therefore must be updated.
• Funding for this agreement is included in the Fiscal Year 2027 Operating Budget for CPM in the General Fund. Funding for future years is dependent on the adoption of the annual County Operating Budget.
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Strategic Priorities:
Smart Service Delivery
4.2 Achieve and maintain a high level of customer satisfaction.
4.4 Pursue continuous improvement.
Summary:
Summary
The new MOU establishes the Clerk’s right to use office space on the 3rd and 4th floors of the Utilities Building, 14 South Ft. Harrison Avenue. The new MOU will supersede the existing MOU and will be effective retroactively to December 1, 2025. The term of the new MOU is one year, with automatic renewals, until terminated. Each party can terminate with 180 days prior notice.
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Background Information:
The Clerk’s Finance Division previously occupied the entire 3rd floor in the Utilities Building under the MOU dated November 29, 2021, but now also occupies space on the 4th floor. The new MOU updates the space and rent payments accordingly.
Fiscal Impact:
Annual rent payable under the MOU for the 1st year of the term (Dec 1, 2025 - Nov 30, 2026) is $269,031. Annual rent increases each Dec 1st by $0.50 per square foot.
Current payments are included in CPM’s FY26 budget, and payments beginning on Oct 1, 2026, are included in CPM’s FY27 budget.
Staff Member Responsible:
Jeremy Waugh, Director, Utilities Department
Ken Burke, Clerk of the Circuit Court
Bill Greer, Construction and Property Management Department
Partners:
Utilities Department
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Construction and Property Management Department
Attachments:
Memorandum of Understanding