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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs City Commission met on Thursday, April 24, 2025, to review two proposals submitted in response to the city's third advertisement of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Special Magistrate legal services.

Two firms responded to RFP 2025-04: The Gilchrist Law Firm, based in Coral Gables, and Gapske Law Firm, P.A., from Middleburg. Both firms met the city’s outlined qualifications and submitted similar hourly rates—$255 for Gilchrist and $250 for Gapske.

According to the RFP, the Special Magistrate must be an active member of the Florida Bar in good standing with at least five years of legal experience, including litigation and administrative hearings. The candidate must not hold any city, county, or state elected or appointed office and must comply with the Florida Code of Ethics.

While both firms were deemed qualified, city staff — who would be the primary users of Special Magistrate services — recommended the Gapske Law Firm, citing the benefit of working with a single, consistent attorney. The Gilchrist firm offered a team of three attorneys to serve the city.

After discussion, the commission unanimously voted to award the contract to The Gilchrist Law Firm. The motion included authorization for the city attorney to negotiate the terms of the agreement.

Commission Comments and Updates

During the meeting, Commissioner Katherine Weitz raised concerns about the Tomoka Hills golf course development in nearby Alachua, citing concerns raised at the county level. She expressed a desire for the City of High Springs to be formally recognized as an interested party in the project’s development process.

High Springs Police Chief Antoine Sheppard reported that the recent installation of school zone monitoring equipment has reduced speeding by 99 percent.

The city attorney also addressed a question regarding the potential sale of the Canoe Outpost property. She confirmed that while the City may sell the property, it cannot be subdivided. Any future owner would remain subject to the property’s existing conservation easement.

Upcoming Meetings

The City Commission will hold a budget workshop at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8, followed by a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting at 6:15 p.m. The next regular City Commission meeting will take place the same evening at 6:30 p.m.

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Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

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