Ralf Brookes Attorney is :
Board Certified in City, County, Local Government Law by The Florida Bar
Florida Supreme Court Certified as a Florida Circuit Court Mediator
Florida Certificate in Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Mediations
Ralf G. Brookes, Attorney
Board Certified in City, County and Local Government Law by The Florida Bar
CITY ATTORNEY EXPERIENCE:
Town of Yankeetown, Florida, (Levy County, population 760) Town Attorney (2006-Present): Meet with and advise City Mayor and City Council, Zoning Official, Fire Departmet, Code Enforcement, Contracts; Litigation, Employment, Water Treatment and Supply & Utility Issues; Comprehensive Plan Amendments, Land Development Code Amendments and review of development application, variances, cell towers, planned developments, rezonings, comp plan amendments ordinances, contracts, government and public works projects
City of St Pete Beach, Florida (Pinellas County, population 10,086) City Attorney (through May 2008):
City of Bradenton Beach Florida, (Manatee County, population 1,536) City Attorney; 2004-2009; currently Alternate City Attorney & Counsel.
County ATTORNEY & OTHER LOCAL Government Experience:
Monroe County - in the Florida Keys - Land Use Litigation Counsel (1992-1998) Representing Monroe County Florida in land use litigation in state and federal courts, serve as counsel for Growth Management Division, counsel for Planning Department, Planning Commission and Code Enforcement; prepared and defended vacation rental, noise and other ordinances, resolutions and land development regulations, development agreements, comprehensive plan amendments, defended Monroe County in state and federal court.
Sarasota County Assistant County Attorney (1990 – 1992) Advise County Attorney, Board of County Commissioners of Sarasota County; Planning Commission, Planning, Natural Resources, Code Enforcement, Solid Waste Departments, interagency and interlocal agreements; established Pollution Control Trust Fund.
Town of Marineland / University of Florida. (Fall 2009) Prepare Unified Land Development Code. Prepare Model LDC Code for small Florida coastal municipalities containing innovative land development regulations.
Village of Islamorada (in the Florida Keys) Special Magistrate, Fla. Stat. 70.51 Land Use & Dispute Resolution Act: Alternative dispute resolution process for land use applications in Village and Circuit Court.
Fine Jacobson Schwartz Nash Block & England, in Miami/Tallahassee, Attorney 1988 to 1990. Represented applicants in City of Miami, Boca Raton, Opa Locka, South Miami, Miami Beach, Key Biscayne; Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties; sought and obtained local land use, zoning, site plan approvals
TEACHING:
Florida Gulf Coast University -
Adjunct Professor - Environmental & Land Use Law Courses teaching position from 2005 - 2011
FGCU Masters of Public Administration MPA program
EDUCATION:
University of Florida Law School Gainesville, Florida, Juris Doctor (J.D.) 1988 Jessup Cup Moot Court Team; UF Law Center for Governmental Responsibility Fellowship recipient
University of Miami - Bachelor Science degree in Marine Sciences/Geology, Coral Gables, Florida, 1985
PROFESSIONAL:
Admitted to Florida Bar 1988 (Over 20+ years as member in good standing)
Board Certified in City County and Local Government Law by The Florida Bar 2004 (Certified)
Florida Federal Courts: Admitted Middle District Fla., Southern District Fla., Northern District Florida
Florida State Courts: Admitted all state circuits, all appellate district courts, Florida Supreme Court
The Florida Bar, Sections and Committees:
City, County and Local Government Law Section, to present
Environmental and Land Use Law Section (ELULS), Executive Council, 1993-2001
Administrative Law Section Executive Council, 1991- 1999
Florida League of Cities, Florida Municipal Attorney Association Member/Lecturer
GUEST SPEAKER / LECTURER/PARTICIPANT:
The Florida Chamber of Commerce, Growth Management Short CourseEnvironmental Permitting Short Course
The Florida Bar, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Programs Environmental and Land Use Law Section of the Florida Bar, Administrative Law Section of the Florida Bar Annual Environmental/Land Use Law Conference of the Florida Bar & University of Florida
Continuing Legal Education, CLE-International Programs, Dealing With Government; Wetlands Regulations; Litigating Land Use and Takings Claims; Defending Local Government Land Use Denials; Regulatory Takings under the U.S. and Florida Constitution
Florida Municipal Attorney Association Noise Ordinances
Southwest Florida Chamber of Commerce Issues 08 Southwest Florida Legislative Delegation
University of Florida Law School, Guest Lecturer: Rewards of Local Government Career Service
A Sustainable Southwest Florida: Creating a Vision. Participant as City Attorney
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Land Use & Zoning Issues.
Ralf Brookes Attorney has served as special land use counsel for Counties and Cities throughout Florida.
- Ralf Brookes has addressed many of the issues that arise before Cities and Counties with regard to development approvals.
- Ralf Brookes Attorney has specific experience in complex regulatory environments, including the Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern.
Land Use and Zoning Litigation Counsel.
- Ralf Brookes Attorney has served as Land Use Litigation Counsel for :
- Monroe County (the "Florida Keys")
- Sarasota County,
- City of Bradenton Beach,
- St Pete Beach,
- Yankeetown,
- Non-Profit organizations
- Homeowner's groups.
Public Hearing Representation.
- Ralf Brookes Attorney has avoided litigation in many cases by assisting with
- pre-hearing legal review,
- preparation and presentations at public hearings
- City Councils, County Commissions and State Agencies.
Public Records and Sunshine Law issues and cases.
- Ralf Brookes Attorney can help ensure that govenments fully comply with public records and Sunshine Law.
- Ralf Brookes Attorney has assisted non-profits to obtain public records and sunshine law access to open meetings.
- Ralf Brookes Attorney has litigated public records and sunshine law issues in court.
State Agency Actions and Formal Administrative Hearings.
- Ralf Brookes Attorney has represented cities and non-profits in:
- formal administrative hearings on state environmental,
- water managment,
- elections commissions
- other state agency actions
- the legislature
- Governor and Cabinet.
Appeals.
Ralf Brookes Attorney has filed numerous:
- Appeals of local goverment decisions to Circuit Court
- Circuit Court Orders to the District Court of Appeals.
Mediator or Land Use Special Magistrate.
- Ralf Brookes is available as an approved, certified Circuit Civil Mediator
- by the Florida Supreme Court Certified Civil Mediation program.
- Ralf Brookes serves as Special Magistrate for proceedings under Florida's Environmental and Land Use Dispute Resolution Act, Section 70.51 Florida Statutes (2008).
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Ralf Brookes, Attorney
1217 E Cape Coral #107,
Cape Coral Florida 33904
(239) 910-5464 phone
ralf@ralfbrookesattorney.com
Communication via email with an attorney does not constitute an attorney-client relationship unless and until both parties agree to the terms of such a relationship.
All results are not provided, results are not necessarily representative of the results obtained by the lawyer, a prospective client's individual facts and circumstances may differ from the matters on this webpages and from the results that are provided or discussed on this website.
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