Guide details local lobbying procedures.

The Bar's new Governmental and Public Policy Advocacy Committee has published a compendium of all city and county ordinances that govern lawyers' interactions with local officials.

And the committee, in conjunction with the City, County and Local Government Section, is looking to develop a model ordinance to try to bring uniformity to those local lobbying regulations.

"It's going to be a great resource for our members and for the public," Committee Chair Andrea Reilly said of the list.

The list was compiled by Andrew Lannon, Palm Bay city attorney and committee member, who said the majority of the work was done by Assistant City Attorney Rodney Edwards and others in his office.

They used www.municode.com and www.amlegal.com, which compile local ordinances, as well as reaching out to cities and counties throughout the state.

It was not a small task--there are 477 cities, counties, towns, and villages in Florida--although most municipalities do not have lobbying ordinances.

"This will help all of the lobbyists in the state who need to know what the local rules are when they approach cities and counties," Lannon said.

Reilly noted there are clickable links for counties and cities that have lobbying ordinances.

The list is on the committee's webpage at www.floridabar.org/about/cmtes/cmtes001.

Lannon and Reilly said a wide variety of lawyers will be helped by the compilation, such as those who handle building and zoning matters for clients. But Reilly noted it would have helped representatives from All Aboard Florida when they approached local governments about train track routes for the proposed express train service between Orlando, Miami, and Cocoa. It also will be invaluable to waste pickup, private utility, cable companies, and other concerns that offer franchise services to local governments, he said.

The list has led to the committee's next project, in conjunction with the City, County and Local Government...