NOTICE OF A PUBLIC MEETING-Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP

Notice is hereby given that a City Council meeting of the City of Los Fresnos will be held on Tuesday, November 21^st, 2023 at 6:00 PM at the City Hall located at 520 E. Ocean Blvd., Los Fresnos, Texas 78566  for the purpose of considering and taking action on all matters on the agenda for the meeting, including approval of an agreement with the law firm of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP as special counsel to perform all legal services necessary to collect delinquent property taxes and delinquent municipal court fees and fines and authorizing the execution of such agreements.

            The agreements to be considered are necessary for the delinquent taxes and delinquent municipal court fees and fines owed to the City of Los Fresnos to be collected in the most effective manner.  The City desires that such delinquent tax, penalties and interest be collected as provided in the Texas Tax Cod and municipal court fees and fines be collected as provided by the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.

            The Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP firm is fully qualified to provide this representation, being the largest collection law firm in the State of Texas, as well as the United States and having been engaged in this specialized legal service for more than 40 years.  In addition, the Linebarger Goggan Blair and Sampson, LLP firm possesses infrastructure and technology, such as call center technology, that the City does not currently possess.

Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP has represented the City for at least the past 10 years with competence and professionalism, in the collection of delinquent property taxes and delinquent municipal court fees and fines.

The specialized legal services required by this agreement cannot be adequately performed by the attorneys and supporting personnel of the City due to the high cost of implementing the appropriate infrastructure and technology and employing sufficient in-house attorneys and staff with the level of experience and competence necessary to perform these activities.

Linebarger will be compensated on a contingent fee basis as provided in the Texas Tax Code Sections 6.30, 33.07, 33.08, 33.11, and 33.48 and as provided by the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 103.0031. These Texas Tax Code and Code of Criminal Procedure sections specifically provide for an additional penalty on delinquent taxes and delinquent municipal court fees and fines to compensate collection attorneys.  A contract to pay inside or outside attorneys on an hourly basis would represent an additional cost to the City. 

Entering into the proposed agreement is in the best interests of the residents of the City of Los Fresnos because the delinquent taxes and delinquent municipal court fees and fines will be professionally and competently collected without the additional costs to the City of implementing infrastructure and technology, and employing in-house personnel or paying outside counsel on an hourly fee basis which would otherwise be required.