STATE OF FLORIDA

DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

 

 

IN RE:  JAMES BARKER,        )

                             )                                          CASE NO. 93-3911EC

     Respondent.             )

_____________________________)

 

 

RECOMMENDED ORDER

 

     Pursuant to notice, the Division of Administrative Hearings, by its duly designated Hearing Officer, Susan B. Kirkland, held a formal hearing in this case on March 9, 1994, in Miami, Florida.

 

APPEARANCES

 

     Advocate:        Virlindia Doss, Esquire

                      Department of Legal Affairs

                      The Capitol, PL-01

                      Tallahassee, Florida  32399-1050

 

     For Respondent:  Raoul G. Cantero, Esquire

                      2601 South Bayshore Drive, Suite 1600

                      Miami, Florida  33133

 

STATEMENT OF THE ISSUES

 

     Whether Respondent violated Section 112.313(4), Florida Statutes, and, if so, what penalty should be imposed.

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

 

     On April 28, 1993, the State of Florida Commission on Ethics (Commission) issued an Order Finding Probable Cause against Respondent, James Barker (Barker), for violations of Section 112.313(4), Florida Statutes, for accepting a complimentary membership in the Country Club of Coral Gables (Country Club) and in the Coral Gables Executive Club (Executive Club), when he knew or should have known it was given to influence his vote or official actions.  Barker requested a public hearing, and the case was forwarded to the Division of Administrative Hearings on July 14, 1993 for assignment to a hearing officer.  The case was originally assigned to Hearing Officer David Maloney but was transferred to Hearing Officer Susan B. Kirkland.  The case was scheduled for hearing on November 17, 1993, and on November 10, 1993, the Advocate filed a Motion for Continuance.  The motion was granted, and the hearing was rescheduled for March 9, 1994.

 

     The parties stipulated to the facts contained in Section "D" of the parties' Prehearing Stipulations filed on March 4, 1994. At the final hearing, the Advocate presented the testimony of, Albert Sakolsky, which had been presented in In Re: Robert Zahner, DOAH Case No. 93-3909EC.  Advocate's Exhibits 1-16 were admitted into evidence.  Advocate's Exhibits 1-12 were also admitted into evidence in In Re: Hildreth, DOAH Case No. 93-3908EC and Zahner, supra.  Respondent testified on his own behalf and presented Robert Hildreth, Robert Zahner and Edwin Brownell as witnesses.  The testimony of Mr. Hildreth, Mr. Zahner and Mr. Brownell were also accepted as testimony presented in Zahner and Hildreth, supra.  Respondent's Exhibits 1-3 were admitted into evidence.

 

     The parties agreed to file the proposed recommended orders within ten days of the filing of the transcript.  The transcript was filed on April 7, 1994.  The parties timely filed their proposed recommended orders.  The parties' proposed findings of fact are addressed in the Appendix to this Recommended Order.

 

FINDINGS OF FACT

 

     1.  Respondent, James Barker (Barker), has been a city commissioner for the City of Coral Gables (City) since 1989.

 

     2.  The Country Club of Coral Gables (Country Club) was established by City founder George Merrick, prior to the City's incorporation.  Since 1929, the City which owns the land and buildings from which the Club operates, has leased the property to private entities.

 

     3.  Since 1935, the lessee of the property has been the Country Club, a non-profit corporation run by a board of directors elected by the Country Club membership.

 

     4.  Between  1935 and 1958, the lease underwent various modifications and extensions.  In 1958, the City Commission voted to extend the lease to July 31, 1990.  Under the terms of the lease, the Country Club paid three percent of its gross annual income, but in no case less than $5,000 per year, to the City as rent.

 

     5.  In 1977, the Country Club again came before the City Commission requesting a lease extension, this time to the year 2002.  There was no change in the rent amount.  The request for extension was to allow the Country Club to borrow money for construction, and the request was approved.

 

     6.  In 1978 the Country Club asked the City Commission for rezoning so that it could expand its tennis courts.  This request was approved.

 

     7.  In May, 1980, the Country Club asked the City Commission for a $23,000 loan to repair its roof.  The City Attorney advised that the City could not lawfully make such a loan, and no further action was taken on the matter.

 

     8.  In 1981 the Country Club asked to expand its tennis club facilities, and this request was approved.

 

     9.  In 1983 a significant portion of the Country Club burned down.

 

     10.  A request by the Country Club to support its efforts to raise funds from citizens for the Country Club, was on the July 26, 1983, City Commission agenda, but was not taken up.  A discussion of the status of the building was held on that date, but no action was taken.

 

     11.  Instead of rebuilding the burned section with the insurance money, the Country Club decided to construct an already planned new section.  On November 22, 1983, representatives of the Country Club presented a plan for restoration to the City Commission, which on motion of Commissioner Kerdyk, approved the plan.

 

     12.  On March 27, 1984, the City Commission authorized the City Manager to sign an affidavit needed by the Country Club to obtain a building permit.

 

     13.  In April 1984, the Country Club requested extension of its lease to the year 2020.  On motion of Commissioner Kerdyk, the City Commission agreed to the extension.

 

     14.  In September 1984, the Country Club asked that the lease be reworded in order to satisfy the lending institutions from which the Country Club was borrowing money for renovations.  The request was approved.

 

     15.  When the Country Club initially undertook its restoration and remodeling plan, the Country Club leadership believed that there would be sufficient funds to accomplish both the rebuilding and the new construction.  Cost overruns, diminishing membership, and other factors combined, however, to leave the Country Club with a new section, an old, burned-out section, and a significant debt.  In 1987, the Country Club asked the City Commission to assist it, by contributing funds or otherwise, in overcoming that debt.

 

     16.  On November 24, 1987, the City Commission met and discussed the problem.  The only action taken was to invite the Country Club leadership to an up coming City Commission meeting to discuss proposed improvements.

 

     17.  On January 26, 1988, the City Commission met with the Board of Directors of the Country Club to discuss the Country Club's request.  The City Commissioners were informed that the Country Club's rent payments had been generating approximately $40,458.64 per year in income to the City.  The Country Club vice-president proposed that the City rebuild the outside shell of the building, at a cost of $1,000,362 and the Country Club finance the remainder of the construction, about $1,900,000.  The City Attorney advised that the City could not loan funds to the Country Club, because it was a private club.  However, he opined that the City could participate in the rebuilding because it was the owner of the property.  Action was postponed until the next meeting.

 

     18.  On February 3, 1988, the Country Club made an offer to the City to increase its rent payment from three percent to six percent, if the City would rebuild the shell.

 

     19.  The matter was raised at the February 9, 1988, meeting of the City Commission.  Mayor Corrigan proposed that the City finance the rebuilding, but made no motion.  Commissioner Wolff proposed that the City obtain funds from the Sunshine State Governmental Financing Commission and lend that money to the Country Club.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kerdyk, and ultimately the City Commission resolved to refer the matter to the acting city manager to "work out financing without using taxpayer dollars."

 

     20.  At the February 9 meeting, discussion was had on the issue of whether the City Commissioners had conflicts of interest, since they all had complimentary memberships to the Country Club.  Mr. Zahner, the City Attorney, advised that they had no conflict.  The issue of conflict of interest was again raised at subsequent meetings.

 

     21.  Alternative proposals identified by the City Manager for funding the Country Club's rebuilding were discussed at the City Commission's March 8, 1988 meeting, but no action was taken.

 

     22.  On June 30, 1988, the Country Club proposed that the City forgive lease payments until the year 2000.

 

     23.  On August 30, 1988, the City Commission voted to suspend the lease payments, with the funds going instead to the maintenance and reconstruction of the facility.

 

     24.  Membership in the Country Club is open to any person, provided they can pay the initiation fee and membership dues.

 

     25.  At all times pertinent to this proceeding, the initiation fee was $1,000, although it sometimes was reduced to $500 during membership drives.  The annual fee was $750.

 

     26.  Membership entitles the member and his or her family to use the swimming pool, health club, tennis courts, and bar and restaurant.  Members must pay for their meals.  Occasionally Barker would stop by the Country Club for cocktails or brunch.

 

     27.  For more than twenty years the Country Club has traditionally awarded memberships to city officials and various other persons.  The Country Club bylaws provide for such memberships.  The bylaws provide for honorary memberships and complimentary memberships.  Only one honorary membership has been given.  The only difference between what the Country Club calls a complimentary membership and an honorary membership is the duration of the membership.

 

     28.  Complimentary memberships run from year to year.  Persons awarded complimentary memberships include the City Commissioners, Mayor, City Manager, Assistant City Managers, the City Clerk, City Attorney, Director of Public Works, Finance Director, City Architect, Fire and Police Chief, the University of Miami President, Football Coach, and Assistant Athletic Director, the Golf Pro at the City golf course, and the editor of the local social magazine.  The complimentary memberships are reviewed each year and are not renewed after the recipient leaves his or her office.

 

     29.  The Coral Gables Executive Club (Executive Club) is located in an office building at 550 Biltmore Way.  The building and the Executive Club are owned by Albert Sakolsky, a local real estate developer.

 

     30.  The Executive Club, which opened in the late 1980's, consists of a dining room and health club.  Membership costs $700.00 initiation, and $50.00 per month dues.

 

     31.  Mr. Sakolsky hired a public relations firm to promote the Executive Club.  The firm recommended that complimentary memberships be given to community leaders and developed a list of persons who receive memberships.  Over a hundred free memberships were granted.

 

     32.  In February, 1989, Mr. Sakolsky wrote to City Manager Jack Eads, presenting the City with a "permanent corporate membership."  Although the letter appeared to infer that the use of the health facilities would be free to those applying through the City's corporate membership, the practice was to change holders of complimentary memberships such as Barker $30 a month for the use of the health facilities if they desired to use them.

 

     33.  With his letter, Mr. Sakolsky included membership applications for all the City Commissioners, as well as the Mayor the City Attorney, and Mr. Eads.

 

     34.  Mr. Sakolsky and the City had had numerous disputes over the years on various issues.  His presentation of the free corporate membership was an effort to, in his words, "bury the hatchet."

 

     35.  A complimentary membership entitled the member to use the dining facilities.  Soon after its inception the Executive Club was opened to the pubic.  The only privilege members received over non-members was a discount on their meals.  A non-member could be given a complimentary membership after first visit, thereby entitling him to receive a discount on subsequent visits.

 

     36.  In September, 1989, the City Commission voted to lease space in the 550 Building.  The rental rate was $20 per square foot.  When the lease expired, the owner of the building proposed a higher rate, which the City did not accept.  The City vacated the building and rented space elsewhere.

 

     37.  Barker has been a member of the Country Club since 1986, and was a member when he was elected to the City Commission in 1989.  Barker's private employment is in marketing.

 

     38.  Until he was elected to the City Commission, Mr. Barker's employer paid his membership dues. Subsequent to his election, Barker's membership was changed by the Country Club to a complimentary membership.

 

     39.  Under the terms of the complimentary membership, Barker was not allowed to vote in Country Club elections or hold an office in the Country Club, but continued to retain all the other benefits he had been entitled to as a paying Country Club member.

 

     40.  The Country Club dues were paid by Barker's employer until Barker was elected to the City Commission.

 

     41.  Barker understood that the complimentary memberships were a tradition in the City.  No one from the Country Club ever asked him for favors.

 

     42.  No vote concerning the Country Club was pending before the City Commission when Barker received his complimentary membership.

 

     43.  The only vote concerning the Country Club in which Barker participated while a Country Club member was a vote to postpone action.

 

     44.  No one from the Country Club ever asked Barker for any favors.

 

     45.  No vote concerning the Executive Club was pending before the City Commission when Barker received his complimentary membership.  Barker thought that his membership to the Executive Club was a public relations gesture.  He viewed the Executive Club not as a private club but as a restaurant.  Barker usually went to the Executive Club as someone else's guest.

 

     46.  Barker never voted on a matter concerning the Executive Club.

 

     47.  The Executive Club and Country Club memberships were given to a variety of private community leaders as well as City officials.

 

     48.  Barker cancelled his complimentary memberships when the State advised him of his position regarding a conflict of interest.

 

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

 

     49.  The Division of Administrative Hearings has jurisdiction over the parties to and the subject matter of this proceeding.  Section 120.57(1), Florida Statutes.

 

     50.  Section 112.322, Florida Statutes, and Rule 34-5.0015, Florida Administrative Code, authorize the Florida Commission on Ethics (Commission) to conduct investigations and make public reports on complaints concerning violations of Part III, Chapter 112, Florida Statutes (the Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees).

 

     51.  The burden of proof, absent a statutory directive to the contrary, is on the party asserting the affirmative of the issue of the proceeding.  Department of Transportation v. J.W.C. Co., Inc., 396 So.2d 778 (Fla. 1st DCA 1981) and Balino v. Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, 348 So.2d 349 (Fla. 1st DCA 1977).  In this proceeding it is the Commission, through the Advocate, that is asserting the affirmative:  that Barker violated Section 112.313(4), Florida Statutes.  Therefore the burden of establishing by a preponderance of the evidence the elements of Barker's alleged violations is on the Commission.

 

     52.  Section 112.313(4), Florida Statutes, provides:

 

          No public officer or employee of an agency or

          his spouse or minor child shall, at any time,

          accept any compensation, payment, or thing of

          value when such public officer or employee knows,

          or, with the exercise of reasonable care, should

          know, that it was given to influence a vote or

          other action in which the officer or employee

          was expected to participate in his official capacity.

 

     53.  In order to conclude that Barker violated Section 112.313(4), Florida Statutes, the Advocate must have proved the following elements:

 

            a.  The Respondent must have been a public

          officer or employee of an agency; and

            b.  The Respondent (or his minor child) must

          have accepted compensation, payment, or

          something of value which was:

               (1)  Accepted by the Respondent with

          actual knowledge that the compensation,

          payment or thing of value was given to

          influence a vote or other action in which

          Respondent was expected to participate in

          his official capacity; or

               (2)  Accepted by the Respondent when he

          should have known (with the exercise of due

          diligence) that the compensation, payment or

          thing of value was given to influence a vote

          or other action in which Respondent was

          expected to participate in his official

          capacity.

 

     54.  The parties have stipulated that at all times  pertinent to this Complaint, Barker was a public officer or employee, and therefore subject to the Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employers.

 

     55.  Barker received a "thing of value" from the Country Club and from the Executive Club.  The annual fee for a membership in the Country Club is $750.  The initiation fee for the Executive Club was $700, and the monthly dues were $50.00.

 

     56.  The Country Club membership was given with the intent to influence official action in which Barker was expected to participate in his capacity as City Commissioner.  The evidence clearly shows that issues concerning the Country Club came before the City Commission many times.  As a City Commissioner Barker voted on at least one Country Club issue and would be expected to vote on issues concerning the Country Club that came before the City Commission.  The Country Club membership was given to Barker because of his position as City Commissioner.  The membership was given to Barker as long as he held the position of City Commissioner.  When Barker's position as City Commissioner ended so would his free membership to the Country Club.

 

     57.  The Executive Club corporate membership was given to the City as a means of trying to "bury the hatchet."  In other words the owner of the Executive Club, who was also the owner of the 550 Building, was attempting to generate favorable feeings on the part of City officials.  As City Commissioner, Barker was in a position in which he could help should issues concerning Mr. Sakolsky come before the City Commission.

 

     58.  The evidence shows that Barker should have known that the free membership to the Country Club was given in an effort to influence him in his official actions. Barker's private employment is in marketing and he is aware of the use of contacts to open doors for his company. Therefore he should have been aware of the value of good relationship between the City Commission and the Country Club.  The issue of conflict of interest had been raised at City Commission meetings concerning the fact that City Commissioners who were voting on issues concerning the Country Club were also receiving free memberships to the Country Club.  There was some question in Barker's mind whether there was a conflict because he sought advice from the City Attorney.  Barker should have known that there is "no free lunch."  No reasonable person could believe that the free Country Club membership was given to Barker for any reason except to influence him.

 

     59.  The parties have stipulated that the City's corporate membership to the Executive Club was an attempt by Mr. Sakolsky to "bury the hatchet."  The membership was not for all city employees but only those designated, which were the City Commissioners, the Mayor, the City Attorney, and the City Manager.  In other words, the memberships were for persons who would be in a position to help Mr. Sakolsky.  No reasonable person could believe that the free Executive Club membership was given to Barker for any reason except to influence him.

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

     Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is

 

     RECOMMENDED that the Commission on Ethics enter a final order and public report finding that James Barker violated Section 112.313(4), Florida Statutes, by accepting a free membership to the Coral Gables Country Club and by accepting a free membership to the Executive Club.  I therefore recommend a civil penalty of $750 and restitution of $750 for the violation involving the Coral Gables Country Club and a civil penalty of $1,000 and restitution of $600 for the violation involving the Executive Club for a total penalty $3,100.  The civil penalty for the violation involving the Country Club is mitigated due to the advice given to Barker by the City Attorney that there was no conflict of interest.  The restitution in both cases is the amount a member of the general public would have had to pay for one year's dues.

 

     DONE AND ENTERED this 23rd day of May, 1994, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida.

 

 

                         ___________________________________

                         SUSAN B. KIRKLAND

                         Hearing Officer

                         Division of Administrative Hearings

                         The DeSoto Building

                         1230 Apalachee Parkway

                         Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550

                         (904)  488-9675

 

                         Filed with the Clerk of the

                         Division of Administrative Hearings

                         this 23rd day of May, 1994.

 

 

APPENDIX TO RECOMMENDED ORDER, CASE NO. 93-3911EC

 

     To comply with the requirements of Section 120.59(2), Florida Statutes (1993), the following rulings are made on the parties' proposed findings of fact:

 

Advocate's Proposed Findings of Fact

 

1. Paragraphs 1-18:  Accepted.

2. Paragraph 19:  The first sentence is rejected as unnecessary.  The remainder of the paragraph is accepted in substance.

3. Paragraph 20:  The first sentence is accepted.  The second sentence is accepted in substance.

4. Paragraph 21:  Accepted.

5. Paragraph 22:  The first sentence is accepted.  The second sentence is accepted in substance.

6. Paragraphs 23-26:  Accepted.

7. Paragraph 27:  Accepted in substance.

8. Paragraph 28:  Accepted.

9. Paragraph 29:  The first sentence is accepted. The second sentence is Rejected as unnecessary.

10. Paragraphs 30-34:  Accepted.

11. Paragraph 35:  The first sentence is Rejected as constituting a Conclusion of Law.  The remainder of the paragraph is accepted in substance.

12. There is no paragraph 36.

13. Paragraphs 37-38:  Rejected as constituting argument.

14. Paragraph 39:  Accepted.

15. Second Paragraphs 38-39:  Accepted.

16. Paragraph 40:  Accepted.

17. Paragraph 41:  The first and second sentences are accepted in substance.  The third sentence is accepted in substance to the extent that the City officials who were receiving complimentary memberships through the City's corporate membership could use the health facilities for a fee of $30 per month but Rejected to the extent that it implies that the City officials could use the health facilities at no cost.

18. Paragraphs 42-43:  Accepted.

19. Paragraph 44:  The first sentence is Rejected as constituting a conclusion of law.  The  second sentence is Accepted.  The third sentence is Rejected as constituting argument.

20. Paragraphs 45-46:  Rejected as constituting argument.

 

Respondent's Proposed Findings of Fact

 

1. Paragraphs 1-4:  Accepted.

2. Paragraph 5:  Rejected as subordinate to the facts actually found.

3. Paragraph 6:  Rejected as unnecessary.

4. Paragraph 7:  Accepted.

5. Paragraph 8:  The last sentence is rejected as unnecessary.  The remainder of the paragraph is accepted.

6. Paragraphs 9-12:  Accepted.

7. Paragraph 13:  The last sentence is Rejected as constituting a conclusion of law.  The remainder of the paragraph is Accepted as substance.

8. Paragraphs 14-15:  Accepted in Substance.

9. Paragraph 16:  Accepted.

10. Paragraph 17:  Accepted in Substance.

11. Paragraph 18:  Accepted.

12. Paragraphs 19-23:  Accepted in Substance.

13. Paragraph 24-25:  Accepted.

14. Paragraph 26-34:  Accepted in Substance.

15. Paragraph 35:  The first sentence is Accepted in Substance.  The second sentence is Rejected as unnecessary.

16. Paragraph 36:  Accepted.

17. Paragraph 37:  Accepted in Substance.

 

 

COPIES FURNISHED:

 

Raoul G. Cantero, Esquire

Suite 1600

2601 South Bayshore Drive

Miami, Florida  33133

 

Virlindia Doss, Esquire

Department of Legal Affairs

The Capitol, PL-01

Tallahassee, Florida  32399-1050

 

Bonnie Williams

Executive Director

Florida Commission On Ethics

Post Office Drawer 15709

Tallahassee, Florida  32317-5709

 

Phil Claypool, Esquire

General Counsel

Ethics Commission

2822 Remington Green Circle, Suite 101

Post Office Drawer 15709

Tallahasee, Florida  32317-5709

 

 

NOTICE OF RIGHT TO SUBMIT EXCEPTIONS

 

All parties have the right to submit written exceptions to this recommended order.  All agencies allow each party at least ten days in which to submit written exceptions.  Some agencies allow a larger period within which to submit written exceptions.  You should contact the agency that will issue the final order in this case concerning agency rules on the deadline for filing exceptions to this recommended order.  Any exceptions to this recommended order should be filed with the agency that will issue the final order in this case.