Case Name: DALY v. STOKELL et al.
Court: Florida Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1953-03-13
Citations: 63 So. 2d 644
Docket Number: 
Parties: DALY v. STOKELL et al.
Judges: HOBSON, C. J., and THOMAS, ROBERTS and DREW, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 63
Pages: 644–647

Head Matter:
DALY v. STOKELL et al.
Supreme Court of Florida, en Banc.
March 13, 1953.
McCune, Hiaasen & Kelley, Ft. Lauder-dale, for appellant.
Boyd H. Anderson, Ft. Lauderdale, for appellees.

Opinion:
TERRELL, Justice.
The question in this- case involves the power of the City Commission of Ft. Lauderdale to make a contract with appellant to keep the streets cleared of wrecks, derelicts and other impediments to freely moving traffic. Appellant is in the wrecking and towing business. The contract in question provides day and night service for five years at five dollars for each impediment removed unless the owner requests that it be removed by some other towing company.
It is a matter of common knowledge that Fort Lauderdale has a serious traffic problem. Constricted land area for East, West municipal development and highway expansion sufficient to provide ample traffic flow to a heavily populated area to the South and return are responsible for this. The City entered into the contract in reliance on Chapter 24514, Special Acts of 1947, authorizing it to promulgate regulations governing the traffic or parking of automobiles on the streets. It appears to have been a perfectly reasonable contract within the contemplation of the statute; it is shown to have greatly facilitated the traffic situation, to have saved money for the taxpayers and in other respects, to have contributed to the convenience and general welfare of the city.
We find no merit to the contention that the contract is invalid and unenforceable because it runs beyond the length of term of the City Commissioners. It is shown that their terms are staggered and expire at different times. When this is the case, the City Commission is a continuing body and may contract for any reasonable time since there is no point at which the terms of all commissioners come to an end. There is no suggestion that five years is an unreasonable time for the contract to run.
Neither do we find any reason to become involved in the question of whether the contract emanated from a proprietory or governmental function. The City Commission construed it to be proprietory, essential to the orderly, business advantage of the city. It provided a 24-hour wrecker service by a bonded obligor, with first-class equipment, it is shown to have alleviated traffic congestion and in addition to this, it assures emergency repairs of city operated vehicles that are subject to call any time of the day or night. It is shown to have been in effect for three years, during which time it has been of decided advantage to the city in many ways, besides having saved its taxpayers many thousands of dollars.
We understand the test of a pro-prietory power to be determined by whether or not the agents of the city act and contract for the benefit and welfare of its people; any contract, in other words, that redounds to the public or individual advantage and welfare of the city or its people is proprietory, while a governmental function, as the term implies, has to do with the administration of some phase of government, that is to say, dispensing or exercising some element of sovereignty. Illinois Trust & Savings Bank v. City of Arkansas City, 8 Cir., 76 F. 271, 34 L.R.A. 518; Tuttle Bros. & Bruce v. City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 8 Cir., 176 F. 86. There is no precise dividing line between the two functions; they may sometime be difficult of distinction and may tend to overlap. In this case the city deemed its function proprietory and we refuse to hold them in error. We are concerned solely with a plain everyday bread and butter transaction for the advantage and welfare of the city. When they invade no constitutional prerogative such contracts should be upheld. The Commission so determined; their determination is entitled to great weight; they were dealing with a crucial business matter and the very purpose that actuated Commission-Manager form of City Government, was more' efficient business administration.
It is proper that legislative patterns be adhered to but given even a modicum of discretion a city Commission should not be straight-jacketed in its exercise when done in interest of the public welfare. We find no legal impediment to the contract in question and every extra legal consideration supports it. That is ample consideration for its approval.
The judgment appealed from is accordingly reversed.
Reversed.
HOBSON, C. J., and THOMAS, ROBERTS and DREW, JJ., concur.
SEBRING and MATHEWS, JJ., dissent.