Interoffice Memorandum
DATE: August 19, 2026
TO: Mayor Jerry L. Demings and County Commissioners
FROM: Carrie Mathes, CFCM, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, C.P.M., Manager II, Procurement Division
CONTACT: Renée H. Parker, LEP, Manager, Environmental Protection Division
PHONE: 407-836-1420
SUBJECT: Approval of Amendment No. 2, Contract Y26-207, Engagement for Legal Counsel for Central Florida Expressway Authority v. Orange County, Florida
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approval of Amendment No. 2, Contract Y26-207, Engagement for Legal Counsel for Central Florida Expressway Authority v. Orange County, Florida, with Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Woodman, P.A., in the amount of $190,000, for a revised total contract amount of $300,000. ([Planning, Environmental, and Development Services Department Environmental Protection Division] Procurement Division)
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PROCUREMENT:
This amendment will fund continued legal representation of Orange County in the eminent domain action brought by the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) involving County property sought as part of the State Road 534 transportation facility within the Central Florida Expressway System.
FUNDING:
Funding is available in account number 0001-068-2422-3119.
APPROVALS:
The Environmental Protection Division concurs with this recommendation.
REMARKS:
On April 14, 2026, the Procurement Division approved the engagement of Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Woodman, P.A. (the “Firm”) in the amount of $100,000. Extensive research of multiple firms was conducted, focusing on eminent domain experience, capacity to handle the work, adequate staffing, and the absence of conflicts of interest. Multiple qualified firms and billing rates were reviewed before the Firm was selected. Lower hourly rates were available from other firms; however, those firms could not be retained due to conflicts of interest. This comparison supported the reasonableness of the proposed rates for the specialized legal services required. The Firm was reta...
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