Owe Miramar money? City wants to hire firm to collect unpaid debts from residents
Miramar residents who owe money to the city — whether from code violations or unpaid bills — could soon hear from a law firm.
City commissioners are expected to vote on Wednesday, March 18, on the hiring of a Miami-based law group to collect Miramar’s overdue balances, including long-standing code enforcement liens that have not been resolved through normal channels.
Under the proposed agreement, The Belony Law Group would handle collections and, if necessary, litigation. Instead of charging hourly fees, the firm would receive 20% of any money it recovers for the city. The city would cover approved litigation costs.
For Miramar property owners, it spells more aggressive enforcement.
City officials say the move is aimed at recovering money that has gone unpaid, which reflectss a broader trend among South Florida cities to pursue delinquent debts more aggressively.
In a memorandum to commissioners, Deputy City Manager Kelvin Baker said Miramar has “a critical need” to collect delinquent accounts and ensure properties come into compliance with city codes. The effort will also target unpaid invoices that have remained unresolved despite administrative efforts.
The Miramar News reached out to the city for comment on March 17 but did not receive an immediate response.
The law firm, led by attorneys Erigene Belony and Regine Monestime, specializes in municipal collections and code enforcement issues and has worked with other local governments. Miramar is not alone in turning to outside firms to recover unpaid debts.
Across Broward County, cities routinely use attorneys or collection agencies to pursue code enforcement liens and other overdue balances, particularly when cases drag on for years.
It’s unknown how much money is owed to the city of Miramar by residents who are delinguent on fees.
Cities such as Pembroke Pines, Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood have used outside legal firms or special magistrate processes to enforce liens, negotiate settlements or foreclose on properties in extreme cases. No money is given upfront by the cities.
These arrangements often mirror Miramar’s proposal: contingency-based contracts in which law firms are paid a percentage of what they collect, limiting upfront costs for taxpayers.
Code enforcement liens — which can accumulate daily fines for violations such as illegal structures or property neglect — can grow into tens of thousands of dollars, making them difficult for cities to recover without legal action.
By outsourcing collections, cities aim to increase compliance while bringing in revenue that might otherwise go uncollected.
The services of The Belony Law Group are not being awarded through a competitive bidding process, but through a procurement process under a procurement authority exemption.
The report from Baker says the work will be done by Belony, as project manager. Belony is a former chairman of the Miami-Dade County Equal Opportunity Board. He is joined by Monestime, an expert in code enforcement and lien collection matters, Baker says in his report.
Monestime is a veteran municipal attorney representing over five municipalities throughout South Florida.
She currently serves as assistant city attorney for the cities of Lauderhill and Tamarac, where she directly advises the Code Enforcement Boards on procedural compliance, lien imposition, and enforcement actions. Monestime also serves as a Special Magistrate for North Bay Village.
The law firm will target cases that have lingered for years that could now move toward litigation, potentially leading to liens being enforced through the courts or even foreclosure in extreme situations.
