Mark P. Barnebey
Principal
Mark Barnebey has practiced in land use and local government law for forty (40) years. He currently serves as City Attorney for the City of Palmetto (16 years), and counsel for several special districts and agencies. He served as the senior land use attorney for Manatee County for 13 years and as School Board Attorney or special counsel for another 15 years. He is Board Certified in City, County and Local Government Law.
Mark has also successfully represented clients regarding a wide variety of development projects including multiuse projects, an arena, and a power plant. As part of his practice, he has served as a hearing officer, special magistrate or meditator for various land use, purchasing, and other matters for various jurisdictions, including Hillsborough County, Sarasota County, Marion County and various municipalities. Among his lecture presentations, he has participated in all thirty (30) City, County and Local Government Law certification review courses. He has received the two highest honors from two statewide bodies, the Ralph A. Marsicano Award from the City, County and Local Government Law Section of the Florida Bar and the George W. Simon, Jr. Award from the Florida Planning and Zoning Association.
Honors
- Distinguished Alumni, Florida State University College of Social Sciences and Public Policy (2023)
- Founder, Mark and Marianne Barnebey Planning Studio, Urban and Regional Planning Department, Florida State University;
- Founder, Mark and Marianne Barnebey Leadership Lecture Series, Florida State University.
- The Good Hero Award, SRQ Magazine (2022)
- Ralph A. Marsicano Award from the City, ·county, Local Government Section, The Florida Bar (2012)
- George W. Simons, Jr. Award for Outstanding Contributions to Planning and Zoning in the State of Florida, ·Florida Planning and Zoning Association (2010)
- Paul S. Buchman Award for outstanding contributions to local government law from the City, County and Local Government Section, The Florida Bar (2004) Contribution to Promoting Professionalism and Ethics, The Florida Bar (2001)
- Outstanding Contributions to the Section, The Florida Bar, Local Government Law Section (1994)
- Outstanding Contributions in the Area of Legal Writing, Local Government Law Section, The Florida Bar (1992)
- Outstanding Community Service Leader, Manatee County Bar Association (2011)
- Best Lawyers in America@
- Florida Super Lawyers®
- Florida Trend, Legal Elite
- AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
- Who’s Who in America
- Who’s Who in American Law
Bar Associations
- Manatee County Bar Association
- Florida Bar Association. City, County and Local Government Law Section
- Chair, 1999 – 2000
- Chair-Elect, 1998 – 1999
- Secretary-Treasurer, 1997 – 1998
- Committee Co-Chair, Professionalism and Ethics, 2000 – 2008
- Executive Council, 1994 – present
- Co-chair, Joint Land Use and Environment Seminar, 1992 – 1996
- Florida Bar Association, Environmental and Land Use Law Section, 1983 – present
- Florida Bar Association, Grievance Committee, Circuit 12B
- Chair, 1997 – 1998
Professional
- Florida Municipal Attorney’s Association
- President, 2023
- Treasurer, 2021 – 2023
- Bradenton Area Economic Development Corporation
- Chair, 2015-2016
- Florida Planning and Zoning Association
- State Director, 1985 – present
- State President, 1993 – 1994
- Master, Manatee American Inn of Court, 2014 – present
- Master, 2014-2016
- Emeritus, 2016 – present
- Florida Planning and Zoning Association, Gulf Coast Chapter
- President, 1988 – 1989; 1991 – 1992
- Outstanding Chapter Award, 1989
- City of Bradenton Architectural Review Board
- Member, 1985 – 2000
- Vice Chairman, 1991 – 1997
Community
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- Manatee Chamber of Commerce
- Board of Directors, 2015, 2018 – present
- Take Stock in Children of Manatee County
- Board of Directors, 2015 – 2023
- Board Member Emeritus – 2023
- Chair, 2019 – 2021
- Just for Girls Foundation
- Former Chair, 2021
- Board of Directors, 2010 – present
- Habitat for Humanity, Finance Committee, 2010
- USF Brunch on the Bay Committee, 2005 – 2014
- Manatee County Library Foundation
- President, 2006 – 2008
- Golden Herald Student Awards Judge, 2009 – 2012
- Jessie P. Miller Elementary School Advisory Council
- Chair, 1996 – 1998
- Manatee River Fair Association
- Associate Director, 1998 – 2000
- Director, 2001 – present
- The Great Outdoors Conservancy
- Board Member, 2003 – 2006
- Gold Star Club
- Founding Member, 1999 – present
- Board of Directors, 2006 – present
- Manatee Players
- Director 2001 – 2011
- Head Start, Policy Council
- Member, 2001 – 2003
- Faith United Methodist Church
- Founding Member; Trustee; Finance Committee; Teacher; Administrative Council Member; Youth Leader
- Imagine Manatee
- Steering Committee, 2003
- Realize Bradenton
- Steering Committee, 2008 – 2009
- City of Bradenton Public Art Committee
- Chair, 2018 – present
- Manatee County Historical Commission
- President, 2008 – 2010
- Manatee Chamber of Commerce
- Florida State University – College of Law (J.D., with honors, 1983)
- Florida State University – Master of Science and Planning (1983)
- Florida State University – Bachelor of Science, Finance and Government (1978)
Representative Matters Mark Barnebey has represented private clients in various capacities including the following:
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- Obtained development entitlements for a natural gas power plant.
- Obtained approvals for international, national and local real estate companies and retailers.
- Work with County to obtain approval for an 8,000-seat multipurpose arena.
- Obtained DRI and large project entitlements.
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He has represented numerous local governments, including the following:
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- Served as chief land use counsel for Manatee County for over 13 years.
- Served as school board attorney and special land development counsel for the school board of Manatee County for 12 years.
- Has been City Attorney for Palmetto for over 5 years.
- Represented numerous special districts, intergovernmental agencies and community development districts along the West Coast as General Counsel or Special Counsel.
- Successfully defended special taxing district against multi-million dollar claims for violations of the Government in the Sunshine law and Public Records Act.
- Participated in the drafting of an award-winning county comprehensive plan.
- Assisted with The Accord, an intergovernmental agreement on growth and development, between six cities, a county and a school district.
- Negotiated the Inter-local Agreement between the City of Bradenton, the Bradenton Downtown Development Authority, and Manatee County regarding the purchase, construction, and tax increment financing of the Manatee County Administration Complex.
- Prepared Inter-local Agreement between Sarasota County and Manatee County for the development of a major bi-county thoroughfare – University Parkway.
- Represented the School District on construction contracts for a variety of education facility projects, including several multi-million dollar school facilities. Provided representation as to the development of the Palmetto Elementary School, the Boys and Girls Club, and Just for Girls Club on a shared campus with public and private entities and numerous land owners, including the National Guard. This project received statewide recognition from both the American Planning Association and the Florida Planning and Zoning Association.
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