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VILLAGE OF BISCAYNE PARK Village Commission Agenda Report #Item 12.b REGULAR MEETING
TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the Biscayne Park Village Commission
FROM: Rox Ross DATE: September 12, 2017 TITLE: Report on the 2017 Florida League of Cities (“FLC”) Annual
Conference Recommendation Visit the FLC website frequently for research and resources, advocacy committees and tips, online learning and FLC University in class schedules. Participate as often as your schedule permits to gain tools and methods for improving service to the community, and to gain perspective. Report I attended the FLC Annual Conference held August 17-19, at the World Marriott, Orlando, Florida. This 3-day event is crammed with overlapping sessions on a myriad of topics challenging cities across the state. Registration fee is $525, of which I will request ½ reimbursed by to me by the Village. On Thursday, 8/17, FLC offered Continuing Education in Ethics, which required pre-registration online and was booked to capacity. Having already met my Ethics requirements through online courses, I took the time to meet up with other elected officials to talk about our cities’ challenges and potential solutions.
In the afternoon, I visited the Grants Expo and spoke with agency reps about: - Culture Builds Florida, Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs
offering $1,000 to $2,500 Fast Track Grants supporting small organizations (including cities) with bi-annual submission deadlines on 3/12 and 9/12 for performances and exhibitions (A potential sources of funding for Foundation / Arts Advisory / Grants Board developed events);
- Florida Boating Improvement Program, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, offering funding for derelict vessel removal and development of public boat ramps;
- Grants Management Technical Assistance Program, FEMA, US Department of Homeland Security, offering
o funds that can be accessed state-wide when an emergency is declared within the state (flood mitigation, infrastructure support, emergency supplies), and
o free print material through its Ready Campaign to inform the public concerning emergency supplies and preparations;
- Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is expected to soon administer grants for vehicle / appliance charging stations (contact Sylvia Robinson, US Dept. Agriculture, [email protected] );
- Florida Recreational Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) offers grants awarded 50:50, 60:40 or 80:20 match for projects that provide outdoor recreation; projects below $50,000 quality for 100% grant, with local match required for projects over $50,000; and
- Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that helps millions of Americans improve the lives of their fellow citizens through service, through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, the Social Innovation Fund and the Volunteer Generation Fund – a potential source of volunteer or federally paid, municipal support staff with varying skill sets.
State Agency Representatives contact list is attached for reference. Next, I sat in on Cities 101 Workshop presented by Lynn Tipton, FLC University; Robert E. Lee, ICMA-CM. A repeat for me, but well worth the refresher and updates including discussion of
- HB 17, a Home Rule Pre-emption bill which would have seriously impacted local authority to raise revenue, which was narrowly defeated during 2017 Legislative Session;
- The importance of stressing “HOME RULE” on municipal webpages, agenda, signatures, letterheads; and
- The value of establishing a Citizens’ Academy to engage the community on city issues.
Follow this link to a 10-minute video explaining the role of cities in simple terms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFhx91TiLMw&feature=youtu.be
The Legislative Policy Committee that I’ve participated in for 2 years now, Finance, Taxation and Personnel Committee, met next to finalize legislative priority recommendations for the FLC Board’s consideration.
My last formal session for the day was a heart-wrenching presentation titled The Opioid Epidemic: Your City’s Role, presented by David Aronberg, State Attorney, West Palm Beach; Melanie Bevan, Police Chief, Bradenton; Adrian Washington, VP, OptumRx. The group brought attention to the magnitude of the challenge and the diversity of persons affected:
- Overall, Americans consume up to 80% of the World’s Prescription Opioids [CDC];
- Opioid Overdoes Death rates are increasing exponentially: 6,242 in 2000; 12,991 in 2005; 19,687 in 2010; 30,000 in 2014 [CDC].
The session also brought home for me the importance of supplying our first responders, including Police Departments with protection and life-saving tools like prophylactic mitigation ampules, AED’s and respirators.
FLC’s Casey Cook then engaged participants informally to discuss Vacation Rentals sharing the challenges, what is working and what needs to be addressed. Among the highlights:
- pre-2011 ordinances survive the state’s pre-emption on regulation;
- the 2014 amendment lifts the initial prohibition to regulate frequency and length of time limitations;
- negative impacts on affordable housing taken up by short-term rental enterprises; - negative impacts on local resources and infrastructure by intensity of use;
Thursday evening, I attended the Waste Pro Reception, and engaged representatives on the potential for setting up an ongoing battery recovery/disposal program and a hazardous waste / e-waste / shredding community event. Friday, 8/18’s first session was Funding and Timely Response and Recovery presented by David Lodwick and Mike Matheny of FMIT, pointing out that,
- National Flood Insurance Program expires 9/2017 absent any action to extend by Congress;
- AE Zone designations command a high insurance deductible; - FEMA's Public Assistance (PA) grant program provides federal assistance to
government organizations and certain private nonprofit (PNP) organizations following a Presidential disaster declaration;
- FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Program funding for eligible mitigation planning and projects that reduce disaster losses and protect life and property from future disaster damages, under the three programs: the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program, and the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Program;
- HMGP helps communities implement hazard mitigation measures following a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration in the state (even to areas not directly impacted), when requested by the Governor;
- The importance of taking stock, having a plan, knowing the value of city assets, and estimating recovery costs in advance in order to take advantage of the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act (SRIA), which in part closes the look-back period for de-obligation of FEMA funding.;
- FMIT participants should take advantage of the resources offered to complete inventories of city assets and other support – look at FMIT representatives as an extension of city staff;
- Review emergency plan and test it with regularity, remove key personnel and run a trial to make sure it still works as intended.
The Opening General Session included:
- International City Managers Association Presentation by Lee Feldman, Ft. Lauderdale City Manager, who shared a message of municipal services delivered with Challenge – Trust – Passion;
- Senator Jack Latvala, FL Senate District 16, who commented that the proposed ballot measure adding a $25,000 homestead exemption is not a tax cut but as described by Tallahassee, but a redistribution of tax obligation; and recommended potential partners like FPL to joint in an education campaign as the added business tax obligation is not in their interests;
- Keynote Speaker Chief David Brown, Ret’d Dallas, TX, who delivered passionate and compelling commentary on being raised by a single mom in the resource-poor neighborhood of Oak Cliff Texas, being called to help
protect his community from drug related violence through police work, rising through the ranks to Police Chief of Dallas, and the ultimate test of managing the crisis of July 7, 2016, when a sniper targeted and killed 5 police officers. Chief Brown takeaways: o take responsibility for your decisions; o put in an application or volunteer to help resolve the community issue you
complain of; o extend an invitation to an authentic relationship -- Invite someone to
dinner that doesn’t look like you or believe like you. I was moved to purchase Chief Brown’s book, Called to Rise, which I’m happy to share with anyone else who may want to read it.
The afternoon sessions included:
- New Homestead Exemption: What will it cost, Who Pays, Can it be Stopped, presented by Amber Hughes, FLC Legislative Advocate and Ryan Houck, Communications Strategist and Media Consultant, exploring strategies for an education campaign on the impact to city revenues.
- Wireless Communications Infrastructure: Preparing for 5G presented by Thomas Cloud and Mayor Gary Resnick, Gray Robinson, explaining the State’s recent pre-emption of local right-of-way authority over wireless infrastructure.
- Council-Manager Relations: Evaluating your City Manager presented by Ron Holifield, CEO, Strategic Government Resources
In the late afternoon I investigated MarketPlace Vendors, including:
- chargepoint+ Driving the future of transportation, offering charging station (potentially free of charge with city supported installation);
- FGBC Green Local Government Certification Program, reaping its success from sizeable return on investment for any municipality which takes part in their program;
- FMIT employee health insurance options At the risk of information overload, the next day, Saturday 8/19, I attended the Business Session: to review and approve Resolutions, Legislative Priorities, and the slate of Officers nominated for 2017-2018. I am happy to report that one of the officers installed is Councilman Isaac Salver, Bay Harbor Isles, who was voted in as 2nd Vice President. The full agenda, including approved resolutions and legislative action priorities, is attached for reference. My intention is to submit supporting resolutions for consideration by the Village Commission at the October Regular Commission Meeting. The Business Meeting was followed by the Second General Session, with:
- National League of Cities President, Matt Zone, Cleveland City Councilman, who advocates for alternative energy, green building and the arts, and invites everyone to visit NLC.org for resources on federal budget cuts, talking points, op-eds and more. - Sen. Bill Nelson, U.S. Senate, who shared in his comments that he continues to press for extending the moratorium on Gulf oil drilling before the Arms Services Committee at the request of panhandle Air Force Bases, and encourages us to support symbols of unity rather than symbols of division
- Mac Stipanovich, whose legal career spans across the political arena, warned that the times call for Churchill-type action: fight, fight, fight, and never surrender; there is no benefit from half-measures.
As the conference wound down, I grew anxious to start the drive home and so I decided to forego the afternoon session and Inaugural Celebration Saturday evening. Next summer the annual conference will be held 20 minutes from home, in Hollywood. I strongly recommend that, time permitting, every Commissioner take part in the event. Resource Impact The registration fee was $525 and hotel cost (without meals) was $600. In this budget year, the Commission allocated funding for Commission education, and I am requesting to be reimbursed ½ of the $525 registration fee from that line item, a total of $262.50. Attachment FLC Grant Expo contacts Business Session Agenda
Prepared by: Rox Ross
I
2017 FLC GRANTS EXPO
Need informotion on ovoiloble gronts ond technicolossistonce? Don't miss this opportunity to tolk with
representotives from vorious federol, stote ond nonprofitorgonizotions obout their gront progroms, ronging from
housing ond historic preservotion to emergencymonogement ond economic development, CInd much more!
Thursd oy, Augusl 1 7th1 1:00 o.m. to 3:00 p.m.Crystol Bqllroom Foyer
Porticipoting orgonizolions include:
Center for Municipol Reseorch ond lnnovotionFederol Emergency Monogement Agency
Florido Deportment of Agriculture ond Consumer Services' Florido Deportment of Economic OpportunityFlorido Deportment of Environmentol Protection
Florido Deportment of Stote, Division of Culturol AffoirsFlorido Deportment of Stote, Division of Librory ond lnformotion Services
Florido DeportmenÌ of TronsportotionFlorido Fish ond Wildlife Conservotion Commission
U.S. Deportment of AgricultureU.S. Deportment of Commerce
USDA Rurol DevelopmentVolunteer Florido
CULTURTBUILDSFLOR IDA
a FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DIVISION OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS
The Florido Deportment of Stote's Division of Culturql Affoirs ìs Florido's legislotively designoted stote orts ogency. ltsmìssion is to odvonce, support, ond promote orts ond culture to strengthen the economy ond quolity of life for oll
Floridiqns.
DIVISION OF CULTURAL AFFAIRSGRANT PROGRAMS
e) O"nerol Progrom SupportProvides generol progrom support for Florido non-profit orgonizotionsengqging in culturol progromming such os history museums, sc¡ence museums,
youth ond children's museums, qrt museums, locol orts ogencies, stote serv¡ceorgonizotions, performing ort centers, orchestros, donce componies, theotergroups ond other discipline-bosed orgon¡zotions to promote occess, diversityond excellence in culturol octivities.\qn Aword' Moximum request of $I5O,OOO depending on the size ond type of
orgonizotion ond other foctors os outlined in the gront guidelines. Annuol
opplicotion deodline' June l.
€) Specific Culturol Project GrontsProvides funding for speciol culturol project gronts for nonprofit Floridocorporotions, locol or stote government, entities such os school districts,community colleges, colleges, universities, museums ond locol orts ogencies foroctivities in orts educotion ond orts ond culturol disciplines.\. A*ord' Moximum request of $25,OOO, depending on the type of project
proposed. Annuol opplicotion deodline, June l.
For more informotion: dos.myflorido.com/gronts
e) ¡ost Trock GrontsProvides expedited occess to funds supporting smoll orgonizotions throughorts ond culturol projects including, but not limited to, qrtist residencies,performonces or exhibitions.\ A*ord, Request of $I,OOO to $2,5OO. Bionnuol opplicotion deodlines: Morch l2
ond September 12.
d Cu ltu ro I Focilities Gro ntsA "bricks ond mortor" progrom thot coordinotes ond guides stote support forocquisition, renovotion or construction of culturol focilities such os performingort centers ond museums.t}, A*ord, Moximum request of $5OO,OOO; grontee orgonizotion moy not
receive more thon $1.5 m¡ll¡on in totol stote funding during o five stote fiscqlyeor period. Motch of leost 2'1. Reduced motch of I'l moy be requested byorgonizotions within REDI counties or communities ond orgonizotions withtotql support ond revenue of $l,OOO,OOI or less. Annuol opplicotiondeodline' June l.
e) Crlturol EndowmentsComprised of two components: Culturol Sponsoring Orgonizotion (CSO)designotion qnd receipt of o $24O,OOO Stote Motching Shore (SMs).Althoughboth ports require the submission of opplicotion moteriol, eoch contoinseligibility criterio thot ore unique to the components. An orgonizotion moy bedesignoted qs o CSO without submitting on opplicotion for on SMS. However,CSO designotion is on eligibility criterion for the receipt of on SMS.
\ Applicotion deodlines,% CSO designotion: no deodline-q,¡, StttS opplicotion: 3O doys prior to o regulor meeting of the Florido Council
on Arts ond Culture
Florido Deportrnent of Stote, Division of CulturolAffoirs5OO South Bronough Street lTqllohqssee,FL32399 O25O I Phone' 85O.245.6470 | Fox, 85O.245.6454
http,//dos.myf lorido.com/cultu rq I
>t Arts&EconomicProsperity@5A Projecl of Americans for the Arts
The Economic lmpoct of Nonprofit Arts ondCulturol Orgonizotions ond Their Audiences in
the Stqte of Floridq (Fiscot yeor 2ol5)
CULTUREBUILDSFLORIDAFLONIDA I}ÊPANIMËNÏ OÊ STATÊ
DIVISION Of CULTURÁL AffÀIPS
(:l lfZhNSl:Olt
+
florrda arts, rnc.
$4,676,207,338Totol lndustry Expenditures $2,28s,671,265 $2,39O,536,O73
Arts qnd CulturolOrggnizg_!-ion9
Arts ond CulturolAudiences
Totol lndustryExpendituresDirect Economic Activity
Economic lmpoct of Spending by Arts qnd Culturql Orgonizotions qnd Their Audiences
+
Full-Time Equivolent (FTE) Jobs Supported
Household lncome Poid to Residents
Revenue Generoted to Lsts.l Government
Revenue Generoted to Stote Government
72,1c8
$1,9ó7,17ó,OOO
$87,300,OOO
$150,842,OOO
60,258
$r,580,985,OOO
$113,8ó5,OOO
$róo,334,OOO
152,366
$5,549,159,OOO
$2ol,lós,ooo
$291,17ó,ooo
Economic lmpoct ofOrgonizotions
Economic lmpoct ofAudiences
TotolEconomic lmpoctTotol Economic lmpoct of Expenditures
Event-Relqted Spending by Arts ond Culturol Audiences Totoled $2.59 billion (excluding the cost of odmission)r
+
Totol Attendonce to Arts ond Culture Events
Percentoge of Totol Attendonce
Averoge Event-Reloted Spending Per Person
Totol Event-Reloted Expenditures
Meols ond Refreshments
Souvenirs ond Gifts
Ground Tronsportotion
Overnight Lodging (one night only)
Other/Miscelloneous
59,357,570
84.8%
$2e.37
$1,555,O11,954
10,639,564
15.2"/"
$so.ao
$1,0.57,524,119
69,997,15/,
roo.o%
$33.s5
$2,590,556,O73
Nonprofit Arts ond Culturol Event Attendees Spend on Averoge of $35.55 Per Person (excluding the cost of odmission)
$17.48
$3.s4
$3.o1
$z.to
$¡.le
$21.54
$s.¡l
$o.ot
$19.57
$3.e1
$ì8.1o
$3.81
$3.só
$4j7
$s.zs
Resident2
ÀttendeesNonresident2
ÀttendeesÂll
Culturol AudiencesAttendonce to Ârts ond Culture Events
Cotegory of Event-Reloted ExpenditureResident2
AttendeesNonresident2
AttendeesÂll
Culturol Audiences
Averoge Event-Reloted Spending Per Person $29.57 $5ó.8o $¡¡.s¡
Source, Arts & Economic Prosperity 5: The Economic lmpact of Nonprofit Arts ond Cultura/ Orgonizations and Their Audiences in the State of F/orida. For more
informotion obout this study or obout other culturol initiotives in the Stote of Florido, visit Citizens for Florido Arts's web site ot www.florido-orts.org.
Copyright 2l;.17 6y Americons for the Arts (www.AmericonsForTheArts.org).
About This StudyThis Arts & Ëconomic Prosperity 5 study wos conducted by Americons for the Arts to document the economic impoct of the nonprofitorts ond culture industry in 341 communities ond regions (ll3 cities, l15 counties, 8l multicity or multicounty regions, lO stotes, ond l2individuol orts districts)-representing oll 50 U.S. stotes ond the District of Columbio. The diverse communities ronge in populotion(l,5OO to more thon 4 million) ond type (smoll rurol to lorge urbon). Project economists from the Georgio lnstitute of Technologycustomized on input-output onolysis model for eoch porticipoting region to provide specific ond locolized doto on four meosures ofeconomic impoct: full-time equivolent jobs, household income, ond locol ond stote government revenue. These locolized models ollowfor the uniqueness of eoch locol economy to be reflected in the findings.
Americons for the Arts portnered with 25O locol, regionol, ond stotewide orgonizotions thot represent the 341 study regions (5O
portners included multiple study regions os port of their porticipotion). To complete this customized onolysis for the Stote of Florido,Citizens for Florido Arts joined the study os one of the 25O portners.
Surveys of Nonprofit Arts qnd CulturolORGAN¡ZATIONSEoch of the 25O portner orgonizotions identified the universe of nonprofit orts ond culturol orgonizotions thot ore locoted in itsregion(s) using the Urbon lnstitute's Notionol Toxonomy of Ëxempt Entity (NTEE) coding system, o definitive clossificotion system fornonprofit orgonizotions recognized os tox exempt by the lnternol Revenue Code. ln oddit¡on, the study portners were encouroged toinclude other types of eligible orgonizotions if they ploy o substontiol role in the culturol life of the community or if their primorypurpose is to promote porticipotion in, oppreciotion for, ond understonding of the visuol, performing, folk, ond literory ond medio orts.These include government-owned or government-operoted culturol focilities ond institutions; municipol orts ogencies ond councils;privote community orts orgonizotions; unincorporoted orts groups; living collections (such os zoos, oquoriums, ond botonicol gordens);university presenters, progroms, ond focilities; ond orts progroms thot ore embedded under the umbrello of o nonorts orgonizotion orfocility (such os o hospitol or church). ln short, if it disploys the chorocteristics of o nonprofit orts ond culturol orgonizotion, it is included.For-profit businesses (e.g., Broadway, motion picture theaters) and individual artísts were excluded from this study.
Notionolly, doto wos collected from o totol of 14,439 orgonizotions for this study. Response rotes omong oll eligible orgonizotionslocoted in the 341 study regions wos 54.O percent, ond ronged from 9.5 percent to IOO percent. Responding orgonizotions hodbudgets ronging from $O to $785 million (Smithsonion lnstitution). lt is importont to note thot eoch study region's results ore bosedsolely on the octuol survey doto collected. There ore no estimotes mode to occount for nonresponding orgonizotions. Therefore, theless-thon-lOO percent response rotes suggest on understotement of the economic impoct findings in most of the individuol studyregions.
ln the Stote of Florido, l,ó88 of lhe 4,312 eligible nonprofit orts ond culturol orgonizotions porticipoted in this study-on overollporticipotion rote of 39.1 percent. A list of the porticipoting orgonizotions con be obtoined from Citizens for Florido Arts.
Surveys of Nonprofit Arts qnd CulturqlAUDlENCESAudience-intercept surveying, o common ond occepted reseorch method, wos completed in oll 34.l study regions to copture informotionobout spending by oudiences of nonprofit orts ond culture events. Potrons were selected rondomly ond osked to complete o shortsurvey while ottending on event. A totol of 212,691ottendees completed the survey. The respondents provided itemized trovel portyexpenditure doto on ottendonce-reloted octivities such os meols, souvenirs, tronsportotion, ond lodging. Doto wos collected throughoutthe yeor to guord ogoinst seosonol spikes or drop-offs in ottendonce, ond of o brood ronge of events (becouse o night of the opero willtypicolly yield more spending thon o Soturdoy children's theoter production). Using totol ottendonce doto for 2Ol5 (collected from theporticipoting orgonizotions), stondord stotisticol methods were then used to derive o relioble estimote of totol orts event-relotedexpenditures by ottendees in eoch study region.
ln the Stote of Florido, o totol of 35,967 volid oudience-intercept surveys were collected from ottendees to nonpro{it orts ond culturolperformonces, events, ond exhibitions during 2Oló.
Studying Economic lmpoct Using lnput-Output AnolysisTo derive the most rel¡oble economic impoct doto, input-output onolysis wos used to meosure the impoct of expenditures by nonprofitorts ond culturol orgonizotions ond their oudiences. This highly-regorded type of economic onolysis hos been the bosis for two NobelPrizes in economics. The models ore systems of mothemoticol equotions thot combine stotisticol methods ond economic theory in on
oreo of study colled econometrics. The onolysis troces how mony times o dollor is respent within the locol economy before it leoves thecommunity, ond it quontifies the economic impoct of eoch of those rounds of spending. Project economists customized on input-outputmodel for eoch of the 34.l porticipoting study regions bosed on the locol dollor flow omong 533 finely detoiled industries w¡thin ¡ts
economy. This wos occomplished by using detoiled doto on employment, incomes, ond government revenues provided by the U.S.
Deportment of Commerce (County Business Potterns, the Regionol Economic lnformotion System, ond the Survey of Stote ond LocolFinonce), stote ond locol tox doto (e.g., soles toxes, lodging tox, property toxes, income tox, ond miscelloneous locol option toxes), ondthe survey doto collected from the responding orts ond culturol orgonizotions ond their oudiences.
estimoted ottendonce by residents plus the overoge per person event-relqted expenditure for nonresidents multiplied by the totol estimoted ottendonce by nonresidents.
2 For the purpose of this study, residents qre qttendees who live within the Stote of Florido; nonresidents live elsewhere.
Á comprehensive description of the methodology used úo complete the notiono/ study is ovoiloble at www.AmericansForTheArts.org/Economic/mpoct.
Eligible program
participants
Participants shall include
county governments,
municipalities, and other
governmental entities of the
State of F
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Safety H
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Eligible uses of
proE¡ram
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Program
funds may only be
spent on costs necessaryforthe planning, design,perm
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otorized vessels on coastalor inland w
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Florida B
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The F
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is established in accordance with section 206.606(1-X
b)3., F
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a portion of the funds collected from fuel sales tax that is transferred to the S
tate Gam
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Section 328.72(1.5), F
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each vessel registration fee to bedeposited into the M
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public launching facilities.P
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public launching facilities, includingrelated su pport facilities.
Derelict vessel rem
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For m
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Phone: (850) 488-5600
Fax: (850) 488-9284
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to State, regional, local, and T
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grants managem
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adapts to fit the specific needs of the jurisdictions and is sustained by FE
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Technical A
s sistance S ervrces
lnformation R
esources
Delivery of inform
ation, including sample
resources and publications from recipient or
subrecipient colleagues; networking and
referral.
Exam
ples:.
Share sam
ple monltoring report form
sand protocols w
ith an SA
A requesting
assistance in developing a subrecipient
monitoring program
for their FE
MA
grants.
Provide guidance on federal financial
audits for a UA
SI in preparation for a
program audit. ln such cases, referral
to specific guidance in the Code of
Federal R
egulations is provided to therequesting agency.
Tem
plates, Models and S
amples
Developm
ent of models, tem
plates and
samples addressing specific issues, as
requested by the recipient or subrecipient.
Exam
ple:.
Preparation of a B
asic Grants
Managem
ent Workshop curriculum
in
the form of a P
ower P
oint presentation
which can be delivered by the requesting
agency or TA
Provider at an annual
statewide grants w
orkshop.
On-sÍte D
irect Deliveries and/or
Workshops
Meeting facilitation; direct gu¡dance and
consultation; intensive, short-term, site-specific
workshops. T
he duration of the TA
delivery
varles depending upon the TA
requestor's
needs.
Exam
ples:.
On-site D
irect TA
Deliveries: C
reation and
delivery of customized, on-slte guidance
specific to the requesting jurisdiction's
needs, including updating grants
managem
ent policies, procedures, forms
and processes. DirectT
A delivery
generally occurs over several days.
On-site D
irect TA
Workshops
(e.9. for a
SA
A's subrecipients): D
elivery of on+ite
assistance with a locally-held w
orkshop
for subrecipients covering effective grant
administration.
a
a
á*onal¡tem
s to Consider A
dding to an Em
ergency Supply K
it:
E P
rescription medications and glasses
E hfant form
ula and diapers
fl pet food and extra water for your pe't
D lm
portant family docum
ents such as copies of insurance policies'identification and bank account records in a w
aterproof, portable container
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ash or traveler's checks and change
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mergency reference m
aterial such as a first aid book or information
from w
ww
.ready.gov
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leep¡ng bag or warm
blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding
if you live in a cold'weather clim
ate.
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omplete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt' long
pants and sturdy shoes. Gonsider adrüitional clothing if you live in a
cold.weather clim
ate'
fl Household chlorine bleach and m
edicine dropper - When dìluted nine parts w
ater
to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an em
ergency, you canlse ittotreat w
ater by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. D
o not
use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
fl f¡re Extinguisher
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atches in a waterproof container
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eminine supplies and personal hygiene item
s
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aper and pencil
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ooks, games, puzzles or other activities for children
Ready
Prepare. P
lan. Stay
st
Hom
elandS
ecurityw
ww
.ready.gov
tr
EEET
EI
EEEI
EEI
EI
Recom
mended ltem
s to Include ina B
asic Em
ergency Supply K
it:
Water, one gallon of w
ater per person per day for at least thrce days,for drinking and sanitation
Food, at least a three.day supply of non-perishable food
Battery'pow
ered or hand cranfir radio and a NoaA
weather R
adio with
tone alert and extra batteries for both
Flashlight and extra bat{eries
First aid kit
Whistle to signal for help
Dust m
ask, to he¡p filter contanrinated air and ptasticsheeting and duct tape to shelüer-in.place
Moist tow
elettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
Wrcnch or pliers to turn off utilities
Gan opener for food (if kit corrtains canned food)
Local maps
Through iE
Ready C
ampaign,
the U.S
. Departm
ent of Hom
eland Security
educates and empow
ers Am
ericans to takesom
e simple steps to prepare for and
respond to potential emergencies, including
natural disasters and terrorist attacks. Ready
asks individuals to do three key things: getan em
ergency supply kit, make a fam
ilyem
ergency plan, and be inform
ed about thedifferent types of em
ergencies that couldoccur and their appropriate
responses.
All A
mericans
should have some basic
supplies on hand in order to survive for atleast three days if an em
ergency occurs.F
ollowing is a listing of som
e basic items that
every emergency supply kit should include.
How
ever, it is important that individuals
review this list and consider w
here they liveand the unique needs of their fam
ily in orderto create an em
ergency supply kit that will
meet these needs. lndividuals should also
consider having at least two em
ergencysupply kits, one full kit at hom
e and smaller
portable kits in their workplace, vehicle or
other places they spend time.
#R
eadyP
repæe P
læ. S
tay lufomed.@
U.S
. Departm
ent of Hom
eland S
ecurityrW
ashington, D
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Land and Water Conservation FundProvides federal funds to acquire or develop lands for public
outdoor recreation. El igi ble a pplica nts: loca I gove rn menta I
entities with the legal responsibility for providing public
outdoor recreatíonal sites and facilities.
. Grant awards must be matched 50:50.
. Refer to the current application for maximumgrant amounts.
. Funding is contingent upon approval by theNational Park Service.
Florida Recreation DevelopmentAssistanceProvides state funds to acquire or develop lands for public
outdoor recreation. Eligible applicants: municipal and countygovernments and other authorized entities with the legal
responsibility to provide public outdoor recreation.. Projects of 550,000 or less qualify for a 100 percent grant.
A local match is required for grants greater than 550,000.. Maximum grant amount is 5200,000.
Recreational TrailsProvides federal grants for projects that provide, renovate orma intai n motorized a nd non-motorized recreationaltrails, trail heads and trailside facilities. Eligible applicants:municipal or local governments, state agencies, federalagencies, lndian tribal governments, and nonprofitcorporations that have an agreement with a governmental
agency to develop public lands.
. All grant awards must be matched. Applicants choose
either 50:50,60:40, or 80:20 match.
. Refer to the current application for maximumgrant amounts.
Florida Communities TrustTwo grants are funded through Florida Forever.
Parks and Open Space provides grant funds to localgovernments and nonprofit organizations to acquireconservation lands, urban open spaces, parks and greenways
Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts provides grants toacquire interests in land for the restoration and preservationof worki ng waterf ronts.
. Small local governments and cities with a population of10,000 or less, small counties with a population of 75,000or less, and nonprofit organizations qualify for a 100percent grant.
. A local match is required of all other applicants.
The Lond ond Recreotion Grants Section promotes and
fosters portnerships to enhance ond sustoin Florido's noturolond cultural resources ond provide increased outdoorrecreational opportunities for Florido's residents ond visitors.
Scon this code with your smortphone for informatíon oboutLand ond Recreation Gronts.
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Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Land and Recreation Grant Programsfl ori d ad ep. gov / ooo / land-an d-recreation-gra nts
8s0-245-2501
07t17
State Agency Representatives
FEMA. RIV
Sharrie Abramssh arrie. a bra ms@fe m a. d h s. gov
Corrinne Epsteinco ri n n e. e p ste i n @f e m a. d h s. g ov
Richard Floodri c h a rd. f I oo d @f e m a. d h s. g ov
Andrea GordonA n d re a. g o rd o n @f e m a. d h s. g ov
3003 Chamblee Tucker RoadAtlanta, GA 30341
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Deborah Furrowde bo ra h. f u rrow@m yfwc. co m
620 S. Meridian StreetTallahassee, FL 32399
Florida Department of Agriculture and ConsumerServices
Natasha Gondern ata sh a. g o n de r@f re shf ro mfl ori d a. co m
Gail Staffordg ai L stafford@fre shf ro mfl o rid a. co m
600 S. Calhoun Street, Suite 804Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Chun [email protected]
8390 Champions Gate Blvd.Champions Gate, FL 33896
U. S. Department of Commerce
Greg [email protected]
401 W. Peachtree Street, N.W., Suite 1830Atlanta, GA 30308
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
Sean Lewisse a n. I ew i s@deo. m yf I o ri d a. co m
107 E. Madison Street, Caldwell BuildingMSC 160Tallahassee, FL 32399-6508
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Pam Listerp a m. I i ste r@d e p. state.fl. u s
Linda ReevesI i n d a. re eves@d e p. state.fl. u s
Shanin Speas-Frostsh a n i n. spe a sf rost@d e p. state.fl. u s
3900 Commonwealth Blvd., MS 3505Tallahassee, FL 32399
Florida Department of State, Division of GulturalAffairs
CURTIS Youngcu rti s. yo u n g @d os. myfl o rid a. co m
500 S. Bronough StreetTallahassee, FL 32399
Florida Department of State, Division ofLibraries/lnformation Services
Tyeler Mcleantyeler. mclean@dos. myflorida. com
500 S. Bronough StreetTallahassee, FL 32399
Florida Department of Transportation
Lorraine MoyleI o rra i n e. m oyl e@d ot. state. fl. u s
Jennifer Weeksje n n ife rg.weeks@dof. sfa te.fl. u s
605 Suwannee Street, MS-75Tallahassee, FL 32301
Volunteer Florida
Jovita Woodrichjov ita@vol u n te e rF I orid a. o rg
3800 Esplanade Way, Ste. 180Tallahassee, FL 32311
Florida League of CitiesBusiness Session
Saturday, August 19, 20L7
9:00 am - 10:00 amSago Room
t. Call to Order
2. Approval of 20L6 Minutes
3, Reports of Policy and Ad Hoc Committees (written only; copies are
attached)
4. Unfinished Business
5. New Business:o Report of the Resolutions Commítteer Report of the Legislative Committeer Report of the Nominating Committee - Election of Officers
6. Comments for the "Good of the Order"
7. Adjourn
Florida League of Cities 2017 Annual Conference Committee Reports
REPORT OF THE ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEEChair: Nathanial J. Birdsong, Mayor Pro-Tem, City of Winter Haven
The League's membership adopted one legislative priority for the 2017 legislative session recommended by the Energy,
Environment, and Natural Resources Legislative Policy Committee. The priority addressed the sustainability of Florida's
natural resources and energy needs.
The League adopted the following policy priority:
The Florídø League of Cítíes SUPPORTS measr4res thøt promote o. sustøínøble Florída, includíng legisløtíon that:
. Incentívízes the development ønd expønsíon of reclaímed water whíle protecting publicrøtep øyer investmenls in recløimed w ater ínfrøstr ucture ;
r lssisls municípøl utílítíes ín addressíng infrøstructure deft.cìts;
c Møintøíns the øulhoríþ of munícipalítíes to operate public utílíties;o Protects ønd improves the quatíty of water, íncluding surføce waler, drínkíng water ønd
øquífers;o lruposes ø statewide ban on hydraulíc fracturíng;o Increøses the øbílíty of local governments to uddress wøter quality ímpaírment attributable to
excess nutríents; ønd¡ fncreøses støte ønd locøl efforts to mítígøte ønd ødøpt to increøsíng lídal and stormwøler
flooding.
These issues met with varying success inthe 2017 legislative session:
Water Quality, Water Supply & Infrastructure:,A,t least four bills were introduced that would have provided recurring funding for water supply ând water quality
projects, or funding for septic-to-sewer conversions in specific areas of the state, These bi1ls failed to receive a
hearing - the legislarure instead focused its efforts and money on combating water quaJity impacts associated withLake Okeechobee discharges. SB 10 (Bradley), signed into law, establishes a plan and funding mechanisms for water
srorage projects around Lake Okeechobee, Finally, bills that would have mandated septic tank inspections when
property is bought and sold passed the House, but died in the Senate.
Fracking,A.t least five bills were introduced that would have banned fracking statewide, but the House refused to give any ofthem a hearing.
Natural Hazard Mitigation & Adaptation:HB 181 (Jacobs) creates an interagency working group for state agencies to share information and coordinate on
initiatives relating to nafural hazards. This bill passed and was signed by the Governor. Efforts to secure recurringfunding for coastal and inlet protection and renourishment started strong, but stalled in the final weeks of session.
However, the legislature provided $50 million in this year's budget for beach and inlet projects.
t
REPORT OF THE FINANCE, TAXATION & PERSONNEL COMMITTEEChair: Council Member Robert Yaffe, Town of Bay Harbor Island
The League's membership adopted two legislative priorities for the 2017 session recommended by the Finance, Taxationand Personnel Legislative Policy Committee. One priority addressed the protection of two municipal general revenues, thecommunication services tax (CST) and the local business tax. The other priority addressed municipal levy of the localoption infrastructure surtax,
With regards to the CST and the local business tax, the League adopted the following policy priority
The Florìda League of Cìlies SUPPORTS legislatíon thøt protects generøl revenues collected from thecommunícøtíons services tøx and the local busíness tax, These revenaes are essentíøl to providíng municipøl services,such øs publíc søfely, constructíng ønd møíntøíníng transportøtíon ínfrøstructure ønd provídíng for public pørks øndopen spaces, A díversí/ied revenue base ís necessøry for the Jiscal støbílity of locøl governments ønd. improves lheírøbílity to serve citizens ønd businesses,
The most notable bills filed during the 2017 session relating to the CST include, SB 1636 (Artiles) and HB 1377(Miller, M.) which defined "internet video service" and excluded this type of service from the definition ofoocommunications services" and therefore from the CST. Under the bills, oointernet video service" meant asubscription video programming service received by the end user customer by means of a wired or wirelessinternet connection. Additionally, the bills prohibited a government from levying or collecting any tax, charge,fee or other imposition on the purchase of any internet video service. These bills were not evaluated for a fiscalimpact. The bills died in committee.
Regarding legislation relating to the local business tax, CS/CS/SB 330 (Steube) and CS/CS IHB 487 (Renner) wouldhave created new exemptions for veterans, certain spouses of veterans and low income people from the localbusiness tax. CS/CS/SB 330 also exempted business when an exempt individual owned a controlling interest.CS/CS/HB 487 exempted businesses with fewer than 100 people if an exempt individual owned majorityinterest in the business. CS/CS/HB 487 also allowed certain cities that impose a local business tax on merchantsmeasured by gross receipts from to continue imposing the tax. CS/CS/SB 330 died in committee, CS/CSÆIB487 died in the House awaiting final action.
With regards to the municipal levy of the 1ocal option infrastructure surtax, the League adopted the following policypriority:
The Florída League of Cítíes SUPPORTS legisløtion that provìdes ø mechønìsmfor municípalítìes to levy the LocalGovernment Infrøstructure Surtax, if øpproved by voters.
No bills were filed to give authority for municipalities to levy aLocal Government Infrastructure Surtax.
Additional information on can be found at ,
2
REPORT OF THE GRO\ryTH MANAGEMENT & ECONOMIC AFFFAIRS COMMITTEEChair: Mayor William Capote, Cify of Palm Bay
The League's membership adopted two legislative priorities for the 2017 Session recommended by the Growth
Management & Economic Affairs Legislative Policy Committee. One priority addressed supporting legislation to improve
municìpalities' use of community redevelopment agencies (CRAs). The second priority expressed opposition to legislation
which restricted a municipality's ability to set impact fees or transportation concunency.
The CRA priority provided as follows:
The Florídø League of Cítíes SUPPORTS legìsløtìon to ímprove municìpølítíes' use of communíty redevelopment
øgencíes to effectìvely cørry out redevelopment ønd community revitølizøtion ín øccordønce wíth home rule.
During the 2017 Legislative Session, legislation was filed that would have severely restricted the ability of CRAs to
conduõt their originãl purpose and would have created a process by which to terminate all CRAs in Florida. The Florida
League of Cities opposed the bills.
CS/SB 1770 (Lee) and CS/CS/CS/HB 13 (Raburn) would have increased audit, ethics, reporting and accountability
measures for community redevelopment agencies (CRAs). The bills would have required CRAs to annually submit
additional reporting information to the state, including the number of CRA projects (the term "projects" was not defined)
and the amount of money spent on affordable housing within the CRA. The bills would have required CRA procurement
to comport with city and county procurement procedures. Of specifrc concern to cities, the bills outlined a process by
which CRAs could be phased out and restricted the use of tax increment financing (TiF) funds to only those purposes
specified in statute. This restriction would have eliminated the ability of the CRA to fund what could be considered
tiaditional CRA projects such as infrasffucture, streetscapes, sidewalks, building improvements, parks, security and the
like. The House and Senate bills differed on some key provisions. CS/SB 1770 would have required a supermajority vote
of the governing body that created the CRA to maintain any existing CRAs past2037. CS/SB 1770 would have allowed
for the creation of a new CRA, but only with a supermajority vote of the city or county creating it. CS/CS/CS/IIB 13
would have prohibited the creation of a new CRA unless authorized by a special act of the Legislature. CS/SB 1770 failed
to pass the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development by a 2-5 vote'
CS/CS/CS/HB 13 was amended on the House floor to address concerns regarding the limitation on the use of TIF funds.
Under the final version of CS/CS/CS/HB 13, CRAs would have been able to continue expending TIF funds on traditional
CRA projects. CS/CS/CS/HB 13 passed the House on a'78-37 vote. The bill died awaiting action by the Senate.
The Impact Fee priority provided as follows:
The Florídø League of Cíties OPPOSES legisløtìon that restricts ø manícipalìtíes' Home Rule øuthority to set ímpøct
fees or trønsportøtion concaruency,
During the 2017 session, no legislation or amendments were filed regarding Impact Fees.
REPORT OF THE TRANSPORTATION & INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS COMMITTEEChair: Mayor Woody Brown, City of Largo
The League's membership adopted two legislative priorities for the 2017 session recommended by the Transportation and
Intergovernmental Relations Legislative Policy Committee. One priority addressed transportation funding and the other
addressed the use of drones by first responders.
3
The transportation funding policy priority provided as follows:The Florída Leøgue of Cities SUPPORTS legíslatíon that provídes ølternatíve revenue sources ønd enhønced trønsítfandíng for local government
The 2017 -201 8 budget for the state of Florida allocates $5.6 billion for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)S-Year Work Plan. This amount includes $22.3 billion for construction, $2.6 billion for right-of-way purchase andmaintenance, and $5.4 billion for freight logistics and passenger operations, While there was an overall increase in theamount of money provided to FDOT to carry out its functions, there was limited discussion of any new transportationrevenue streams for either the state or local governments. The one revenue related bill that did pass, CS/CS/HB 865(Williamson) is the Department of Transportation's legislative package. The bill creates the Florida Smart City Challengegmnt program for municipalities to provide for the advancement of infrastructure to support autonomous and connectedvehicles. Effective July l, 2017. Chapter No, 2017-42, The Transportation and Intergovernmental Relations policycommittee also recommended a policy statement related to the use of drones by law enforcement. The League adopted bythe following policy priority related to drones:
The Florida League of Cities SUPPORTS legíslatíon that øllows first responders to use drone technology lo save lívesønd protect people ønd property, In addítíon, such legísløtíon should allow municípølìties to contínue lo øpplygenerally applicøble løw to regulate drone technology to ensure publíc søfety ønd retøín quølíty of lW whíle protectingcivíl liberty.
Unforhrnately, instead of allowing local governments to regulate the use of drones, the legislature preempted thatauthority to the state, except for in limited circumstances relating to personal delivery devices. CS/HB 1027 (Yarborough)preempts local governments from enacting or enforcing any ordinance or resolution relating to the design, manufacture,testing, maintenance, licensing, registration, certification or operation of an unmanned aircraft system. This preemptionincludes airspace, altitude, flight paths, equipment or technology requirements. Pilot, operator or obseryer qualificationsand training and certifrcation requirements are also preempted to the state. However, local governments do retainauthority to enact and enforce local ordinances relating to nuisances, voyeurism, harassment, reckless endangerment,property damage or other illegal acts arising from the use of unmanned aircraft systems provided the ordinances do notspecifically relate to the use of an unmanned aircraft system. In addition, the bill prohibits a person from knowingly andwillfully operating a drone over, or allowing a drone to make contact with or come within a specific distance of, a criticalinfrastructure facility that is close enough to interfere with the operations of, or cause a disturbance to, the facility,Counties or municipalities do retain the authority to regulate the operation of personal delivery devices and are authorizedto adopt regulations for the safe operation ofthese devices. Effective July l, 2017.
REPORT OF THE URBAN ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEEChair: Councilwoman Dawn Pardoo City of Riviera Beach
The League's membership adopted two legislative priorities for the 2017 legislative session recommended by the UrbanAdministration Legislative Policy Committee. One priority dealt with addressing the abuses of the public records law inFlorida and the second priority dealt with short-term rental properties.
The League adopted the following priority for public records:
The Florída League of Cities SUPPORTS publíc records reþrm to dßcourøge or elimínate schemes desígned togenerøte violations of publíc records laws ønd disrupt øgency operations.
Legislation supported by the League passed the Legislature and was approved by the govemor during the 2017 Session,CS/CS/SB 80 (Steube) requires the court to award reasonable costs of enforÇement and attorney fees in a public recordlawsuit if the govemmental entity unlawfully refused to allow a record to be inspected or copie d and the complainant
4
provided'wïitten notice to the governmental entities custodian of records fîve business days before filing the civil action.
The notice provision applies only if the governmental entity has posted the contact information for the agency's custodian
of records in its primary administrative building where public records are usually created, maintained and requested, and
on the government's website. The bill requires the court to assess and award reasonable costs of enforcement and attorney
fees against the complainant if the request or lawsuit was filed for an improper purpose. Finally, the bill clarifred that
Chapter I 19 does not create a private right of action authorizing the award of monetary damages for a person who brings
an action to enforce the provisions of the public record law. Payments by the responsible agency may only include the
reasonable cost of enforcement, including reasonable attorney fees, directly attributable to a civil action brought to
enforce the public record law.
The League adopted the following priority on short-term rentals:
The Floridø Leøgue of Cítíes SUPPORTS legísløtíon thøt restores local zonìng uuthorily wíth respect to short-termrentøl propertìes thereby preservíng the integríty of Florida's neighborhoods ønd communítíes, The Florid.a League ofCítíes OPPOSES legíslatíon thøt preempts munìcipøl øuthoríty øs ít reløtes to the reguløtíon of short-term vøcøtíon
rental properties.
There were numerous bills filed dealing with short-term rentals. Two bills supported by the League, HB 6003
(Richardson) and SB 1516 (Rader), would have removed the cunent preemption in statute preventing cities from
regulating these properties through zoning, Unfortunately, these bills were never heard in any of their committees ofreference.
Two bills opposed by the League, CS/HB 425 (LaRosa) and CS/CS/CS/SB 1S8 (Steube), would have amended current
law to prohibit cities from adopting any regulations specific to short-term rentals. CS/HB 425 nanowly passed the House,
but died awaiting action by the full Senate. CS/CS/CS/SB 188 passed its committees of reference and was laid on the
table.
REPORT OF'THE FEDERAL ACTION STRIKE TEAMChair: Mayor Joe Durso, City of Longwood
The Federal Action Strike Team (FAST) was created to support the League's strategic plan objective to strengthen federal
relations. The primary purpose of the committee is to establish proactive and reactive communications with the Floridacongressional delegation in support of federal municipal policy.
The FAST committee has made a strong commitment to shaping federal municipal policy and has taken action on anumber of federal issues including:
r FEMA Deobligations - Improving the Disaster Assistance program for cities and providing a reasonable time framethat cities can be asked to pay back FEMA dollars years after the disaster took place,
o Municipal Financing - Preserving the tax-exempt status for municipal bonds.r Flood Insurance * Supporting federal legislation to reauthorize the National Flood Inswance Program.o Marketplace Fairness/ Remote Transactions Parity - Supporting federal legislation that allows state and local
governments the flexibility to collect the taxes akeady owed to them on remote online purchases - not raising existingtaxes or imposing new ones, and placing brick and mortar stores on a level playing field with online retailers.
To date, FAST has coordinated several successful Fly-ins to Washington D.C., where city officials have met directly withmembers of the Florida congressional delegation. Earlier this year, the FAST Fly-in included 28 municipal officials fromaround the state. Participants met with Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio and20 members (or staff) of Florida's 27-
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member congressional delegation. The next fty-in is scheduled for October 'l,l-12,2017. All municipal officials areinvited to participate.
The National League of Cities' City Summit conference is this November l5- 18, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Thefollowing municipal officials currently serye on the NLC Board of Directors: Councilman P.C. Wu, Pensacola, MayorMatthew Surrency, Hawthorne, Mayor Frank Ortis, Pembroke Pines and Mayor Pro Tem Gil Ziffer, Tallahassee.
REPORT OF THE ADVOCACY COMMITTEEChair: Commissioner Phillip Walker, City of Lakeland
The 2017 legislative session was a challenging one for Florida's cities. The FLC membership was an essential part of theLeague lobbying success as cities rallied together in the name of Home Rule. Many city officials came to Tallahasseeduring session to directly lobby the League's Legislative Action Agenda and other municipal issues.
Florida League of Cities 2017 Legislative Awards
The Florida League of Cities is pleased to recognize the following legislators and city officials who participated ina successful legislative session for Florida's municipalities.
Defender of Home Rule AwardThe Florida League of Cities has bestowed the Defender of Home Rule Award to three legislators who stronglydefended the principles of municipal Home Rule this past legislative session. The awards will be presented at the
Second General Session during the FLC Annual Conference,
Senator Jeff Clemens, D-31 (Palm Beach County)Representative Danny Burgess, R-38 (Ridge)
Home Rule Hero AwardThe Home Rule Hero Award was created to recognize city officials who went above and beyond to advocate theFLC Legislative Agenda this past legislative session. Home Rule Heroes are presented with their award at alocal/regional league meeting,
Mayor Mitchell Reeves, City of Atlantic Beach (Northeast FL)Vice Mayor Leo Longworth, City of Bartow (Ridge)Commissioner Trish Pfeiffer, City of Bartow (Ridge)Mayor Jordan Leonard, Town of Bay Harbor Islands (Miami-Dade County)Commissioner Tom Shelly, Town of Belleair (Suncoast)Ms. Debra Sullivan, City Clerk, City of Belleair Bluffs (Suncoast)Mayor Susan Haynie, City of Boca Raton (Palm Beach County)Mayor Peter Simmons, City of Bonita Springs (Southwest FL)Mayor Wayne Poston, City of Bradenton (ManaSota)Council Member Jim Burch, City of Cape Coral (Southwest FL)Councilmember Bill Jonson, City of Clearwater (Suncoast)John Titkanich, City Manager, City of Cocoa (Space Coast)Mayor Greg Ross, City of Cooper City (Broward County)Vice Mayor Dan Daley, City of Coral Springs (Broward County)Commissioner Scott Black, City of Dade City (Ridge)Mayor Robert F. Apgar, City of Deland (Volusia)Mayor Scott Fischer, City of Destin (Northwest FL)
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Carisse LeJeune, City Manager, City of Destin Q.trorthwest FL)Bea L. Meeks, City Clerk, City of Edgewood (Tri-Counfy)Lee R, Feldman, City Manager, City of Fort Lauderdale (Broward County)Mayor Jack Seiler, City of Fort Lauderdale (Broward County)Councilman Forrest Banks, City of Fort Myers (Southwest FL)Mayor Randy Henderson, City of Fort Myers (Southwest FL)Councilwoman Teresa Watkins Brown, City of Fort Myers (Southwest FL)Mayor Linda Hudson, City of Fort Pierce (Treasure Coast)Michael Beedie, City Manager, City of Fort Walton Beach (lt{orthwest FL)Mayor Matthew Surrency, City of Hawthome (Alachua County)Mark Ryan, City Manager, City of Indian Harbour Beach (Space Coast)Mayor Drinda Merritt, Town of Inglis (Suwannee River)Councilmember Matthew Schellenberg, City of Jacksonville (Northeast FL)George Forbes, City Manager, City of Jacksonville Beach (Northeast FL)Mayor Charlie Latham, City of Jacksonville Beach Q'{ortheast FL)Vice Mayor Kimberly Glas-Casho, Town of Lake Park (Palm Beach County)Commissioner Phillip Walker, City of Lakeland (Ridge)Mayor R. Howard Wiggs, City of Lakeland (Ridge)Vice Mayor Jamie Robinson, City of Largo (Suncoast)Mayor Joe Durso, City of Longwood (Tri-County)Mayor Kathy Meehan, City of Melbourne (Space Coast)Councilmember Cal Rolfson, City of Mount Dora (Lake County)Mayor Bill Barnett, City of Naples (Southwest FL)William Moss, City Manager, City of Naples (Southwest FL)Councilman William Schaetzle, City of Niceville (Okaloosa County, Northwest FL)Councilman Anthony DeFillipo, City ofNorth Miami Beach (Miami-Dade County)Mayor George Vallejo, City of North Miami Beach (Miami-Dade County)Mayor Linda Yates, City of North Port (ManaSota)James Hanson, Town Manager, Town of Orange Park (ltiortheast FL)Mayor William Partington, City of Ormond Beach (Volusia)Mayor V/illiam Capote, City of Palm Bay (Space Coast)Mayor Carol McCormack, Town of Palm Shores (Space Coast)Douglas J. Sale, Attorney, City of Panama City Beach (Northwest FL)Councilmember P.C. Wu, City of Pensacola (Northwest FL)Kenneth Buchmano Attorney, City of Plant City (Ridge)Councilperson Dawn Pardo, City of Riviera Beach (Palm Beach County)Council Vice Chair T. Patrick O'Neill, City of Rockledge (Space Coast)Mayor Kevin Ruane, City of Sanibel (Southwest FL)Commissioner Willie Shaw, City of Sarasota (ManaSota)Councilman Dominick Montanaro, City of Satellite Beach (Space Coast)Mayor Leslie Waters, Cify of Seminole (Suncoast)Commissioner Vinny Barile, Town of Sewall's Point (Treasure Coast)Commissioner Tom Campenni, City of Stuart (Treasure Coast)Mayor Troy McDonald, City of Stuart (Treasure Coast)Commissioner Scott Maddox, City of Tallahassee (Northwest FL)Kent Olson, Deputy Treasurer/Clerk, City of Tallahassee (Northwest FL)Mayor Pro Tem GilZiffer, City of Tallahassee (Northwest FL)Council Chairman Michael Suarez, City of Tampa (Ridge)Mayor Heyward Strong, City of Valparaiso (Northwest FL)Terry Atchley, City Manager, City of Wauchula (Ridge)Chevelle Nubin, Village Clerk, Village of Wellington (Palm Beach County)
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Mayor Daniel Stermer, City of Weston (Browæd County)Danel Thomas, Assistant City Manager/CFO, City of V/eston (Broward County)Mayor Gary Resnick, City of Wilton Manors (Broward County)Mayor Gary Bruhn, Town of Windermere (Tri-County)
Legislative Appreciation AwardThe following legislators ïvere presented a Legislative Appreciation award for working with FLC lobbyists on keyissues, offering amendments on our behalf and generally being supportive of FLC positions.
Senator Aaron Bean, R-4 (l'trortheast FL)Senator Audrey Gibson, D-ó (Northeast FL)Senator Kathleen Passidomo, R-28 (Southwest FL)Senator Bobby Powell, D-30 (Palm Beach County)Senator Peny E, Thurston, Jr., D-33 (Broward County)Representative Loranne Ausley, D-9 (Northwest FL)Representative Jose Felix "Pepi" Diaz, R-116 (Miami-Dade County)Representative Bobby DuBose, D-94 (Broward County)Representative Joe Geller, D-100 (Miami-Dade County)Representative Bill Hager, R-89 (Palm Beach County)Representative Don Hahnfeldt, R-33 (Lake County)Representative Shawn Harrison, R-63 (SunCoast)Representative Mike Miller, R-47 (Tri-County)Representative George Moraitis, R-93 (Broward County)Representative Kathleen Peters, R-69 (Suncoast)Representative Richard Stark, D-104 (Broward County)
Freshman Legislative Appreciation AwardsThis award is presented to freshmen legislators who show strong and consistent support of League issues duringlegislative session.
Senator Gary Farmer,D-34 (Broward County)Representative Kamia Brown, D-45 (Tri-County)Representative Mel Ponder, R-4 (Ì.{orthwest FL)
Legislative Staff Appreciation AwardsFLC also presented awards to several legislative staff members who helped the FLC lobbying team this pastlegislative session.
Matt Alford (Stewart)Evelyn DuPlecy (J. Clemens)Chauncey Graham (J. Clemens)Chris Hud¡ryalker (J. Rodriguez)RJ Myers (Peters)Nikolas Pascual (J. Diaz)Pierce Schuessle (Lee)Jonathan Till (Burgess)
Legislative Key Contact ProgramThe League is continuously working to rebuild the key contact program. The League encourages city officialswith a strong relationship with a member of the Florida Senate and/or House of RJpresentatives to sþ up as alegislative key contact.
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Legislative Key Issue Sign-upIn addition to the Legislative Key Contact program where city officials sign up to serve as a direct point ofcontact for a legislator, FLC has also developed a Legislative Issue Sign-up for city officials to select their 3 top
FLC issues that they would like to specifically advocate during session. Signing up for an issue means they willassist FLC with one or more of the following:r Responding to FLC Legislative Alerts and contacting legislators on the issue,
o Providing data to FLC and legislators explaining how the issue affects your city and citizens. Beine available to provide legislative testimony on the issue, if needed.
Improving Legislative Communications During SessionFLC is working to develop tools to help city officials keep the FLC staff informed about legislativecommunications during session. It is critical to know when municipal officials are communicating with theirlegislators on FLC priority issues.
LocaVRegional LeaguesThe Local/ Regional League Offrcers and Directors met Thursday, August 17. These meetings, held inconjunction with the FLC Annual Conference and Legislative Conference, provide an opportunity for the FLClobbying team to discuss key priority issues and advocacy strategies, and provide a forum for the Local/Regionalleagues to share ideas and coordinate efforts.
Lobbying in Tallahassee during Interim Committee Meetings/Legislative Session
House and Senate Interim Committee meetings begin September 12. The League encourages municipal officialsto come to Tallahassee before session begins to help advocate the 2018 Legislative Action Agenda. The 2018
FLC Legislative Action Days are scheduled for January 30-31, 2018 in Tallahassee. The League hopes to have a
strong representation of municipal officials in Tallahassee to convey a strong unified message in support of the
FLC legislative priority issues.House/Senate Interim Committee Dates:
September 12- 15
October 9-13
October 23-27
November 6-9
November 13-17
December 4-8 (FLC Legislative Conference is Dec. 6-8 in Orlando)
Regional Advocacy TeamsOver the past five years, the Florida League of Cities has successfully developed six regional advocacy teams,
They include local elected officials in the Tri-County, Space Coast, Suncoast, Treasure Coast, Ridge and
Miami Dade Leagues. The mission is to develop core teams of highly skilled advocates and key contacts withstate legislators. The results ofthe project continue to be very encouraging. Both veteran and new advocate
team members are more engaged in advocacy in their cities and in Tallahassee. And government leaders at the
state and local level are developing and/or strengthening their relationships.
Tri-CountyMayor Ray Bagshaw, EdgewoodMayor Pat Bates, Altamonte SpringsMayor Gary Bruhn, WindemereCommissioner Carolyn Cooper, V/inter ParkMayor Joe Durso, Longwood*
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Commissioner Samuel Ings, OrlandoMayor Joe Kilsheimer, ApopkaDeputy Mayor Jo Ann Lucarelli, Lake MaryCommissioner Joseph McMullen, OaklandCommissioner Bobby Olszewski, Winter GardenMayor Lydia Pisano, Belle Isle*Commissioner Cade Resnick, Winter SpringsCommissioner Sara Shaw, KissimmeeDeputy Mayor Donald Shroyer, St. CloudCommissioner Rosemary Wilsen, OcoeeAlternates:Commissioner Tony Ortiz, Orlando
SuncoastVice Mayor Joe Barkley, Belleair BluffsVice Mayor Thom Barnhorn, SeminoleCommissioner Scott Black, Dade CityMayor Sandra Bradbury, Pinellas ParkCouncilmember Christine Brown, GulfportCouncilman Rick Butler, Pinellas ParkCommissioner Cheri Donohue, Temple TerraceMayor Max Elson, South PasadenaVice Mayor Heather Gracy, DunedinCouncil Member Bill Jonson, ClearwaterCommissioner Cliff Merz, Safety HarborVice Mayor Leslie Notaro, Belleair BeachCouncilmember Karl Nurse, St. PetersburgCommissioner Mike Petruccelli, Indian ShoresVice Mayor Elaine Poe, Madeira BeachVice Mayor Jamie Robinson, LargoCouncil Member Dan Saracki, OldsmarCommissioner Tom Shelly, BelleairCouncilman Mike Suare z, T ampaAlternates:Mayor Leslie Waters, SeminoleCommissioner Jack Nazario, Belleair Bluffs
Treasure CoastMayor Linda Hudson, Ft. PierceVice Mayor Shannon Martin, Port St. Lucie*Commissioner Vincent Barile, Sewall's PointCommissioner Tom Campenni, StuartCouncil President Ann Kagdis, Ocean BreezeAlternates:Councilwoman Jolien Caraballo, Port St. Lucie*Councilman David Wagner, Ocean Breeze*
Space CoastVice Mayor Matt Barringer, Titusville*Councilman Mike Brown, Cape Canaveral*Mayor'William Capote, Palm Bay
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Mayor Rand Canoll, Melboume VillageCouncilman Stu Glass, IndialanticCouncilman Dick Kom, MalabarMayor Carol McCormack, Palm ShoresMayor Kathy Meehan, MelboumeCouncilman Mike Miller, Cocoa BeachtCouncilman Dominick Montanaro, Satellite BeachVice Mayor Pat O'Neill, RockledgeCouncilman J, Tice, West Melboume*Commissioner Tim Tumulty, Cocoa BeachCouncilwoman Brenda Warner, CocoaMayor Del Yonts, Grant-Valkaria*
Ridge LeagueCommissioner Scott Black, Dade CityMayor Sam Fite, Bowling Green*Mayor Eugene Fultz, Lake WalesMayor Joe LaCascia, Polk CityMayor Charles Lake, Lake AlfredCommissioner Leo Longworth, BartowCouncilwoman Barbara Manley, Fort MeadeMayor Tim Pospichal, Aubumdale*Councilman Collins Smith, MulberryMayor Marlene Wagner, Lake HamiltonCommissioner Phillip Walker, LakelandCouncilwoman Judy Wertz-Strickland, ArcadiaMayor Howard Wiggs, Lakeland
Miami Dade CountyYolanda Aguilar, City Manager, West MiamiCouncilman Jon Burgess, HomesteadMayor Claudia Cubillos, El PortalVice Mayor Tim Daubert, Miami LakesCommissioner Anthony DeFillipo, North Miami BeachMayor Oliver Gilbert, Miami GardensCommissioner Michael Grieco, Miami BeachMayor Jordan Leonard, Bay Harbor IslandsCouncilman Elvis Maldonado, HomesteadCommissioner Francis Suarez, MiamiMayor George Vallejo, North Miami Beach *New Members
tt
Proposed Florida League of Cities 20L7 Resolutions
1. City of Boca Raton
2. Florida City Government Week
3, ConstitutionRevisionCommission
4
5
Homestead Exemption Proposed Constitutional Amendment
Community Development Block Grant Program
6. Federal Budget for FY 20L8
7 Municipal Financing
I
I
Reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program
Properly Assessment Clean Energy (PACE) Programs
10. Unmanned Aircraft Systems - Drones
11. FEMA De-obligations
Procedures for Submitting ResolutionsFlorida League of Citiesr 91st Annual Conference
World Center Marriotto Orlando' FLAugust l7 -L9,24fi
In order to fairly systematize the method for presenting resolutions to the League
membership, the following procedures have been instituted:
(1) Proposed resolutions must be submitted in writing, to be received in the League
offrce by July 12,2017, to guarantee that they will be included in the packet ofproposed resolutions that will be submitted to the Resolutions Committee.
(2) Proposed resolutions will be rewritten for proper form, duplicated by the League
offrce and distibuted to rnembers of the Resolutions Commitüee. (Whenever
possible, multiple resolutions on a similar issue will be rewritten to encompass
the essential subject matter in a single resolution with a listing of originalproposers.)
(3) Proposed resolutions may be submitted directly to the Resolutions Committeeat the conference; however, a favorable two-thirds vote of the committee willbe necessary to consider such resolutions.
(4) Proposed resolutions may be submitted directly to the business session of the
conference without prior commifiee approval by a vote of two-thirds of themembers present. In addition, a favorable weighted vote of a majority ofmembers present will be required for adoption.
(5) Proposed resolutions relating to state legislation will be referred to the
appropriate standing policy committee. Such proposals will not be consideredby the Resolutions Comrnittee at the conference; however, all state legislativeissues will be considered by the standing policy councils and the LegislativeCommittee, prior to the membership, at fhe annual Legislative Conference each
fall. At fhat time, a state Legislative Action Agenda will be adopted.
(6) Proposed resolutions must address either federal issues, state constitutionalissues, matters directly relating to the conference, matters recognizing statewide
or national events or service by League officers. All other proposed resohitionswill be referred for adoption to either the Florida League of Cities Board ofDirectors or FLC President.
(7) Proposed resolutions must directly pertain to municipal affairs (see attached).
Municipalities r¡nable to formally adopt a resolution before the deadline may submit a
letter to the League office indícating their cþ is considering the adoption of a
resolution, outlining the subject thereof in as much detail as possible, and this letter willbe forwarded to the Resolutions Committee for consideration in atrticipation of receiptof the formal resolution.
2017-at
A RESOLUTION OF THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, INC.,EXPRESSING APPRECIATTON TO BOCA RATON, FLORTDA, FOR ITSSUPPORT OF SUSAI\I HAYI\IE AS PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDALEAGUE OF CITIES.
WIIEREAS, Susan Haynie, mayor of Boca Raton, Florida, served as president of theFlorida League of Cities from 2016 through 2017; and
\ryHEREAS, the citizens, councilmembers and staff of Boca Raton were mostunderst¿nding of the demands placed upon Mayor Haynie in her role as president of the læague;and
WHEREAS, during her presidency, Mayor Haynie focused on creating the "Safe Cities,Safe Florida Initiative" to provide educational opportunities, to shengthen partnerships and toshare tools and resources for Florida's cities to better protect their citizens in times of crisis; and
lryHEREAS, the membership and staff of the League recognize the commitment of theCity of Boca Raton to Mayor Haynie's presidency ensured her active participation in Leagueactivities and unselfish service to the Leagae, and permitted her to successfully promote theprograrns, projects and philosophy ofthe League during the past year; and
WHEREAST the membership and staff of the Læague also wish to recognize and personallythank Executive Assistant Pamela Gregory Johns and all of the dedicated Boca Raton city staff fortheir efforts in providing outstanding assisüance to President Haynie and the FLC staff incoordinating her duties with the city and with the l-eague; Pamela and all city staffwent above andbeyond the call of duty, and their outstanding contributions to this effort are applauded and greatlyappreciated.
NOWO THEREFOREO BE TT RESOLVED BY THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OFcITrES,INC.:
Section 1. The Florida League of Cities' membership and staff do officially and personallyappreciate the commitment Boca Raton's citizens, councilmembers and staff made to MayorHaynie's presidency.
Section 2. A copy of this resolution be presented to the City of Boca Raton.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Florida Iæague of Cities, Inc., in conference assembledat the League's 91't Annual Conference, at the Orlando World Center Marriott, Orlando, Florida,this 19th Day of August2017.
Gil Ziffer, First Vice hesidentFlorid¿ League of Cities,Inc.Commissioner, Cify of Tallahassee
ATTEST:Michael Sittig, Executive DirectorFlorida League of Cities, Inc.
Submitted by: FLC Staff
z0fi-02
A RESOLUTION OF THE FLORTDA LEAGUE OF CrrIES, INC.,RECOGNIZING TIIE \ryEEK OF OCTOBER 23-29,2017 AS "FLORTDACITY GOVERNMENT WEEK' AND ENCOURAGING ALL FLORIDACITY OI.FICIALS TO SUPPORT THIS CELEBRATION BYPARTICIPATING IN THE ..MY CITY: I'M PART OF IT,I,M PROUD OFtT!" ACÏIVIil$S.
\THEREAS' city government is the government closest to the people, and the one with the
most direct daily impact upon its residents; and
\ryHEREAS, city govemment is administered for and by its citizens, and is dependent uponpublic commitment to and understanding of its many responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, city govemment officials and employees share the responsibility to pass along
their understanding of public seryices and their benefits; and
WHEREAS, Florida City Government Week is a very important time to recognize the
significant role played by city govemment in our lives and to spread the word to all Floridians that
they can shape and influence this level of government, which is closest to the people; and
\ilHEREAS, the Florida læague of Cities and its membercities have joinedtogetherto teach
students and other citizens about municipal government through a variety of different projects and
information.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY TTIE FLORIDA LEAGUE OFCITIES,INC.:
Section 1. The Florida Iæague of Cities, Inc., encourages all city officials, city employees,
school offrcials and citizens to participate in events that recognize Florida City Government Week
and to celebrate it throughout Florida.
Section 2. The Florida Iæague of Cities, Inc., supports and encourages all citygovernmentsto promote, sponsof and participate ín "My City: I'm Part of It, I'm Proud of It!"
Section 3. A copy of this resolution be provided to Florida Governor Rick Scott, the FloridaCabinet, Florida School Boards Association and the membership of the Florida League of Cities,Inc.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Florida League of Cities, Inc.o in conference assembled
at the læague's 9l't Annual Conference, atthe Orlando'World Center Marriott, Orlando, Florida,this 19th Day of Augast}}l7.
Susan Haynie, PresidentFlorida læague of Cities,Inc.Mayor, City of Boca Raton
ATTEST:Michael Sittig, Executive DirectorFlorida League of Cities,Inc.
Submitted by: FLC Staff
2017-03
A RESOLUTION OF THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, INC.' URGINGTHE 2OI7.T8 CONSTITUTION REVISION COMMISSION TOSTRENGTHEN MUNICIPAL HOME RULE AUTHORITY ANI)FURTHER RESTRICT UNFUNDED STATE MAI\DATES.
lryHEREAS, Section 2 of Article XI of the Florida Constitution establishes and describes
the duties, poîfvers, structure and function of the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC); and
\ryHEREAS, the CRC meets every20 years, and it is meeting in 2017-18 for onlythe third
time in the state's history, and is reviewing and will reconünend changes to Florida's constitution
that may appear on the 2018 general election ballot for the consideration of Florida's voters; and
WHEREAS, the CRC is composed of 37 members: the attorney general of Florida, 15
members appointed by the governor, nine members appointed by the speaker of the House, nine
members appointed by the Senate president, and three rnembers appointed by the chiefjustice ofthe Florida Supreme Court; and
\ryHEREAS, the Ftorida l.eague of Cities was created in 1922 to work for the general
improvement of its members, Florida's municipalities; and
WHEREAS, the Florida League of Cities believes that local self-government is the
keystone of American democracy and constitutional municipal home rule authority should be
preservedo protected and expanded; and
\THEREAS' municipalities are the only optional form of government, created to serve the
needs and desires of its citizens; and
WHEREAS, municipalities are the govemments closest to the people and are governed by
citizen legislators who have distinguished themselves in the communiff and as public servants;
and
WHEREAS, the more than 2,000 municipal elected officials, representing over 400 cities
that comprise the Florida League of Cities, recognize the CRC will weigh in on a variety ofproposals that potentially affect municipal home rule authority and the ability of city officials to
respond to the needs and conveniences oftheir citizens; and
WHEREAS, the Florida læague of Cities finds it is in the best interest of its members to
have local perspectives and concerns adequately voiced before the CRC.
NO\ry, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OFcITrES,INC.:
Section 1. The Florida League of Cities, Inc., urges the CRC to adopt proposals thatstrengthen municipal home rule authority and further restrict unfunded state mandates.
Section 2. This resolution shall become effective upon adoption and shall remain in effectuntil repealed and hereby repeals all conflicting resolutions.
SectÍon 3' A copy of this resolution be provided to Governor Rick Scott, House SpeakerRichard Corcoran, Senate President Joe Negron, CRC Chairman Carlos Beruff, the 3ó membersof the CRC, and the membership of the Florida læague of Cities, Inc.
PASSED AhiD ADOPTED bythe Florida Iæague of Cities,Inc., in conference assembledat the lrague's 91't Annual Conference, at the World Center Marriott, Orlando, Florida, this 19thDay of Augu$2Afi.
Susan Haynie, PresidentFlorida League of Cities, Inc.Mayor, City of Boca Raton
ATTEST:Michael Sittig, Executive DirectorFlorida League of Cities,lnc.
Submitted by: FLC Staff
24fi-04
A RESOLUTION OF THE FLORTDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, INC.'oPPOSTNG AMENDMENT I, WHICH CRAATES AN ADDTTIONALTIOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, TO FLORIDA'S CONSTITUTION ANDURGING VOTERS TO REJECT IT ON THE 2018 GENERAL E,LECTIONBALLOT.
\ryHEREAS, Florida's current property tax system is riddled with carveouts and loopholes
that benefit some property úaxpayers atthe expense of others; and
WHEREAS, this system is inherently convoluted, impractical and unfair; and
WHEREAS, during the 2017 Iægislative Session the Florida lægislature passed IIJR7105, a proposed constitutional amendment, which will be placed on the 2018 general election
ballot as o'Amendment 1"; and
\ryHEREAS, Amendment I increases by up to $25,000 the current homestead exemption
for non-school property taxes by exempting the assessed value of a homestead property between
$100,000 and up to $125,000; and
\ff EREAS, y',mendment 1 exacerbates the problems with the current property tax system;
\ryHEREAS, although Amendment I masquerades as a tax cut, it is essentially a backdoor
tax hike on many Floridians; and
WHEREAS, Amendment I disrupts the revenue stream laryely used by cities, towns and
village to fund law enforcement and fire protection; and
\ryHEREAS, Amendment 1 shifts the üax burden to small business owners and non-
homestead property owners, who are likely to face higher property taxes as a result; and
WHEREAS, some state legislators preach tax cuts while passing unfunded mandates; and
\YHEREAS' the political priorities of these legislators come atthe expense of Florida'scities, towns and villages and their taxpayers; and
lryHEREAS, the Revenue Estimating Conference estimates in the first yeff ofimplementation, Fiscal Year 2020-19, the proposed constitutional amendment will have a negative
fiscal impact on local communities of approximately $645 million.
NO\ry' THEREFORE' BE IT RESOLVED BY THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OFCITIES, INC.:
and
Section 1. The Florida League of Cities, lnc. urges Floridians to be aware that Amendment1 is not a true tax cut.
Section 2. The Florida læague of Cities, Inc. urges Florida's residents to VOTE NO onAmendment I on the 2018 General Election ballot.
Section 3. A copy of this resolution be provided to the membership of the Florida Leagueof Cities, Inc. and other interested parties.
PASSED AND ADOPTED bythe Florida League of Cities,Inç., in conference assembledat the læague's 9l't Annual Conference, at the Orlando World Center Marriott, Orlando, Florida,this 1 9th Day of August 2017.
Susan Haynie, PresidentFlorida League of Cities, IncMayoro City of Boca Raton
ATTESTMichael Sittig, Executive DirectorFlorida League of Cities, lnc.
Submitted by: FLC Staff
20t7-0s
A RESOLUTION OF THE FLORTDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, INC., URGTNGCONGRESS TO MAINTAIN FTJNDING FOR THE COMMUNITYDEVELOPMANT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.
\THEREAS' the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program was enacted
and signed into law by President Gerald Ford as the centetpiece of the Housing and CommunityDevelopment Act of 1974; and
WHEREAS, the CDBG progftim has as its primary objective "the development of viableurban communities, byproviding decent housing and a suitable living environment and expandingeconomic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income"; and
\ryHEREAS, the CDBG program has considerable flexibility to allow municipalities tocarry out activities that are tailored to their unique affiordable housing and neighborhood
revitaltization needs ; and
lryHEREAS, the National kague of Cities, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the NationalAssociation of Counties, and state and local govemment-sector associations are unanimous in theirsupport of the CÐBG and the need to keep this program intact; and
lryHEREAS, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the
CDBG is most commonly used to support activities that improve the quality of life in communities;
to promote energy conservation and renewable energy resources; for construction of and
improvements to public infrastructure such as streets, sidewalks, and water and sewer facilities;and for small business assistance to spur economic development and job creation/retention; and
WHEREAS, since 2010, Congress has cut CDBG funding by more than $l billion; and
\ryHEREAS, nationally, for every dollar of CDBG funding invested in a project another
$4.05 is leveraged from other sources; and
WHEREAS, the CDBG program has created or retained more than 42I,}A0jobs for low-and moderate-income persons through avaríety of economic development activities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OFCITIES,INC.:
Section 1. The Florida League of Cities, Inc., urges Congress to provide at least $3 billionin formula frrnding for CDBG
Section 2. A copy of this resolution be sent to the Florida Congressional Delegation, the
National læague of Cities, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and UrbanDevelopment, and the membership of the Florida League of Cities, Inc.
Section 3. This resolution shall become effective upon adoption and shall remain in effectuntil repealed and hereby repeals all conflicting resolutions.
PASSED AND ADOPTED bythe Florida læague of Cities,Inc., in conference assembledat the Læague's 91't Annual Conference, at the World Center Marriott, Orlando, Florida, this lgthDay of August2017.
Susan Haynie, PresidentFlorida League of Cities,Inc.Mayor, City of Boca Raton
ATTEST:Michael Sittig, Executive DirectorFlorida læague of Cities, Inc.
Submitted by: FLC Staff
2017-06
A RESOLUTION OF THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, INC. URGINGCONGRESS TO MAINTAIN FUNDING FOR FEDERÂ.L PROGRAMSTHAT PROVIDE NEEDED RESOURCES FOR FLORIDA'S CITIES.
WHEREAS, in the five years since federal budget sequestration was enacted under the Budget
Control Act.of 2011, funding for discretionary programs has fallen by approximately $2 billion; and
WHEREAS, these cuts have impacted every city in America and have made the challenges offostering greater economic opportunity even more difficul! and
IVHERüAS, cities are using every tool at their disposal to stretch the value of local tax dollars to
provide needed services to their citizens; and
WHEREAS, earlier this yea¡ President Trump released his budget proposal for the 2018 which
recommends cutting more than $54 billion in firnding for domestic programs that cities rely on; and
WHEREAS' the administrationos proposed budget recommends eliminations or drastically
cutting funding for scveral important federal programs that provide assistance to cities' including:
¡ Eliminating the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program;
o Eliminating the HOME progam;r Eliminating the TIGER grant program;
o Eliminating the Federal Transit Administration's New Starts grants prog¡am;
o Eliminating the National Flood Insurance Program's Flood Hazatd Mapping program;
. Cutting $500 million from the water and wastewater loan and grant program for rural
water projects;r Cutting $326 million from the Superfund progïùm;
r Cutting $11 million from the Brownfields prograrn; and
o Cutting $239 rnillion from the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program, among many
other proposed cuts
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OFCITTES,INC.:
Section 1. That the Florida League of Cities, Inc.o urges Congress to pass a budget that
preserves full funding for important federal programs that help cities better serve the needs of theircitizens.
Section 2. A copy of this resolution be sent to President Donald Trump, the FloridaCongressional Delegation, the National League of Cities, and the membership of the Floridalæague of Cities,Inc.
Section 3. This resolution shall become effective upon adoption and shall remain in effectuntil repealed and hereby repeals all conflicting resolutions.
PASSED AND ADOPTED bythe Florida læague of Cities,Inc., in conference assembledat the Læague's 9l't Annual Conference, at the World Center Marriott, Orlando, Florida, this 19th
Day of August 2017.
Susan Haynie, PresidentFlorida I-eague of Cities,Inc.Mayor, City of Boca Raton
ATTEST:Michael Sittig, Executive DirectorFlorida League of Cities,Inc.
Submitted by: FLC Staff
2017-07
A RESOLUTION OF THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITTES, INC., URGINGTHE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AI{D CONGR3SS TOPRESERVE TI{E CURRENT TAX-EXEMPT STATUS OF INTERESTEARNED ON MUNICIPAL BONDS AND REJECT ANY PROPOSALTIIAT \ryOULD REDUCE OR ELIMINATE TIIE FEDERAL TAXEXEMPTION ON INTEREST EARNED ON MUNICIPAL BONDS.
IVHBREAS, since 1913, when the federal income tax was imposed, the interest earned on
municipal bonds has been exempt from federal taxation; and
WHEREAS' municipal bonds have been the primary method by which state and localgovernments finance public capiøl improvements and infrastructure construction such as schools,
hospitals, water and sewer systems, roadso highways, utilities, public safety structures, bridges and
tunnels; and
\THEREAS' the projects funded through municipal financing are engines ofjob creation
and economic growth; and
WHEREAS, the $3.7 trillion municipal bond market is the primary financing tool used bymunicipalities and other governments to finance three-quarters of the total U.S. investment ininfrastructure projects that provide essential services; and
WHEREAS, local governments save an average of 25 to 30 percent on interest costs withtax-exempt municipal bonds, as compared to taxable bonds, due to investors accepting a lowerinterest rate on tax-exempt bonds; and
\THEREAS' these savings allow state and local governments to invest more in criticalinfrastructure and essential services and provide construction jobs while holding down the cost to
taxpayers; and
\ilIIEREAS, over the last few years, several proposals have included a proposed reduction
or elimination of the current tax exemption on interest earned from tax-exempt municipal bonds;
and
\ryTIEREAS, it is estimated that if the tax exemption had been fully eliminated over the
last decade, it would have cost state and local governments an additional $495 billion in interestexpense; and
\ryHEREAS, Intemal Revenue Service data shows that more than 50 percent of municipalbond interest is paid to individuals 65 years of age and older, who in many cases live on fixedincomes; and
WHEREAS, without the tax-exemption for municipal bonds, state and local governmentseither would pay far more to raise capital-a cost that ultimately would be borne by taxpayersthrough higher taxes-or be forced to reduce infrastructure spending.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVßD BY THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OFCITIES, rNC.:
Section 1. The Florida teague of Cities, lnc., urges President Donald Trump and Congressto preserve the current tax-exempt status of the interest earned on municipal bonds and oppose anyattempt to cap or eliminate the tax exemption on the interest earned on municipal bonds.
Section 2. A copy of this resolution be sent to President Donald Trump, the FloridaCongressional Delegation, the National League of Cities and the membership of the FloridaLeague of Cities,lnc.
Section 3. This resolution shall become effective upon adoption and shall remain in efflectuntil repealed and hereby repeals all conflicting resolutions.
PASSED AND ADOPTED bythe Florida League of Cities,Inc., in conference assembledat the læague's 91't Annual Conferenceo at the Orlando V/orld Center Marriott, Orlando, Florida,this 19tr'Day of August 2017.
Susan Haynie, PresidentFlorida Iæague of Cities,Inc.Mayor, City of Boca Raton
ATTESTMichael Sittig, Executive DirectorFlorida League of Cities, Inc.
Submitted by: FLC Staff
20fi-48
A RESOLUTION OF THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, INC., URGINGCONGRESS TO REAUTHORIZE TIIE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCEPROGRAM.
WHEREAS, floods are the most common and most destructive natural disaster in the
United States and Florida; and
\ryHEREAS, the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 created the National FloodInsurance Program (NFIP) in response to the lack of available private flood insurance and
continued increases in federal disaster assistance due to floods; and
WHEREAS, the NFIP allows property o\ryners in participating communities to buyinsurance to protect against flood losses; and
WHEREAS' flooding is a serious risk in Florida due to the state's geography and
proximity to watero both inland and coastal; and
\ryIIEREAS, this issue is a critical concern for our state, as Florida has the largest number
of participants in the NFIP and pays four times more into the program than it receives in claimpayments; and
\ryIIEREAS, on July 6,2012, the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Aet of 2012
was signed into law, reauthorizing the NFIP through September 30,2A17; and
TVHEREAS, as a government program, the NFIP should treat its customers equitably and
should adhere to insurance principals that rates must not be excessive, inadequate or unfairlydiscriminatory; and
\ilHEREAS, properties should be rated based on their ability to withstand risk, not their
use or ownership structure; and
\THEREAS' necessary increases in premiums should be implemented with regard to
customerso abilify to absorb those increases; and
WHEREAS, Senator Rubio, Senator Nelson and other U.S. Senators are sponsors of bi-partisan legislation titled the Sustainable, Affordable, Fair, and Efficient National Flood Insurance
Program Rìauthorization Act (SAFE NFIP), S. 1368 which would reauthorize the NFIP program
for six years; and
\ilHEREAS, this legislation would include provisions increasing the limitation on liabilityrelating to Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC), clarifying programs and responsibilities for molddamage and expanding coverage under the program for both residential and nonresidential
properties.
NO\ry, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OFCITIES,INC.¡
Section 1. The Florida Iæague of Cities, Inc., supports S. 1368 and urges Congress toreauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program, which addresses accuftrcy in flood mappingtransparency and broader-based solutions for funding.
Section 2. A copy of this resolution be sent to President Don¿ld Trump, the FloridaCongressional Delegation, the National League of Cities and the membership of the FloridaLeague of Cities, lnc.
Section 3. This resolution shall become effective upon adoption and shall remain in effectuntil repealed and hereby repeals all conflicting resolutions.
PASSED AIrID ADOPTED bythe Florida læague of Cities,Inc.o in conference assembledat the læague's 91't Annual Conference, at the Orlando World Center Marriott, Orlando, Florida,this 19th Day of August 2017.
Susan Haynieo PresidentFlorida League of Cities,Inc.Mayor, City of Boca Raton
ATTEST:Michael Sittig, Executive DirectorFlorida læague of Cities, Inc.
Submified by: FLC Staff
2017-t9
A RESOLUTION OF THE FLORTDA LEAGUE OF CITTES, INC.,URGING CONGRESS TO PRESERVE THE PROPERTYASSESSED CLEAN ENERGY (PACE) PROGRAMS.
WHEREAS, in 2010, the Florida Legislafure enacted legislation creating theProperty A,ssessed Clean Energy, or PACE, program, which allows local governments tomake loans to properfy owneß for the pulpose of installing renewable energy devices ontheir properfy and to collect payrnents on the loan through a special assessment; and
\ryIIEREAS, 32 states plus the District of Columbia have passed laws enablinglocal governments to develop PACE programs; and
WHEREAS, the building sector accounts for 39 percent of the nation's energy use,72 percent of its electricify use, one third of all global greenhouse gas emissions andrepresents the single largest, most accessible opportunity for deep emission cuts in theUnited States; and
WHEREAS, PACE financing programs ate an innovative local governmentsolution to help property owners finance energy effrciency and renewable energyimprovements - such as energy efficient boilers, upgraded insulation, new windows, solarinstallations, etc. - to their homes and businesses; and
WHEREAS' investing in cost-effective energy efficiency and renewah,le energyimprovements to homes and businesses can save energy, cut utility bills up to $140 billionper year, create thousands of local jobs, reduce reliance on fossil firels, and dramaticallyreduce greenhouse gas emissions; and
\ryIIEREAS, the PACE program removes many of the barriers of energy effrciencyand renewable energy retrofits that othenvise exist for residential homeowners andbusinesses, particularly the high upfront cost of making such an investment and the long-term ability to reap the benefits of cost savings; and
WHEREAS' a recent sfudy by the University of North Carolina, Center forCommunity Capital, found default risks are on average 32percent lower in energy efficienthomes and recommends the lower risks associated with energy efficiency should be takeninto consideration when underwriting mortgages; and
\ryHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Energy strongly supports PACE, and in 2010,the department dedicated $150 million to assist in the development of local PACEprograms and issued guidelines to ensure that PACE programs rneet safety and soundnessrequirements and adequately protect property owners, taxpayers, and investors in the bondand mortgage markets; and
\ryHEREAS' locally administered PACE progrems are an exercise of thetraditional authority of local govemments to utilize the tax code for public benefit; and
WHEREAST PACE programs help local govemments meet a core obligation totheir citizens to maintain housing stock and improve housing opportunities for all citizens;and
WHEREAST despite PACE's great promise, the Federal Housing Finance AgencyGHFA) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency on July 6, 2010, issuedstatements that immediately forced existing PACE residential programs to halt operationsand froze the development of dozens of other residential PACE programs nationwide; and
\ryHEREAS, despite the FHFA directive, many commercial and a few residentialPACE progæms are operating or are in development in hundreds of municipalities acrossthe country; and
WHEREAS' S. 838 and H.R. 1958, the Protecting Americans from CreditExpansion Act, is legislation that would require PACE to be subject to the Truth in l.endingAct requirements, the same requirements that mortgage bankers must follow for homeloans; and
\ryHEREAS' this legislation would hamstring a local government's ability to uselocal tax assessments in the manner in which they were designed, taking away another toolin the local government tool box to encourage residential energy improvements.
NO\ry' THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OFCITIES, NC, THAT:
Section 1. The Florida Iæague of Cities, Inc.o urges Congress to oppose S. 838 andH.R. 1958 and consider alternative legislation that focuses on expanding consumerprotection and disclosure requirements, without threatening this successful energyfinancing program.
Section 2. The Florida læague of Cities, Inc., urges Congress to adopt legislationthat clearly reaffirms the right of state and local governments to use special assessmentsand similar property obligations to protect and improve housing stock for the public good,including energy effrciency improvements, by directing federal regulators to enforceunderwriting standards that are consistent with guidelines issued by the U.S. Departmentof Energy for PACE financing programs or by implementing any other appropriatemgasure.
Section 3. The Florida læague of Cities, Inc., urges the FHFA to work with localgovernments seeking to establish PACE programs that benefit from the same senior lienstatus of all other projects that are funded through municipal assessments that improveprivate property and meet public policy objectives.
Section 4. That a copy of this resolution be sent to the Florida CongressionalDelegation, the National læague of Cities, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Energyand Florida Governor Rick Scott.
Section 5. That this resolution shall become effective upon adoption and shallremain in effect until repealed and hereby repeals all conflicting resolutions.
PASStrD AND ADOPTED by the Florida læague of Cities, lnc., in conferenceassembled at the League's 9lst Annual Conference, at the Orlando World Center Marriott,Orlando, Florida, this 19th Ðay of August 2017.
Susan Haynie, PresidentFlorida League of Cities,.IncMayor, City of Boca Raton
ATTEST:Michael Sittig, Executive DirectorFlorida læague of Cities, Inc.
Submitted by: FLC Staff
2017-10
A RESOLUTION OF THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, INC., URGINGCONGRESS TO STJPPORT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PRESERVESTATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS' AUTHORITY TO CREATEREASONABLE RULES RELATED TO TINMAFINED AIRCRAFTSYSTEMS.
\ryHEREAS, cities recognize domestic unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, have
many potential benefits and help improve city services, such as infrastructure inspection, search
and rescue, fuefighting, security at large gatherings and accident investigations; and
\ryHEREAS, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has registered more than 750,000
drone operators, far morc than the 200,000 manned aircraft in the United States, and by 202l,theFAA estimates there will be up to 4 million drones; and
WIIEREAS, last year, more than 1,700 drone incident complaints were filed with the
FAA, an increase of 47 percent over the previous year, and these incidents include drones that
have crashed through the windows of sþscrapers and onto bridgeso as well as drones that forcemedevac and wildfire fighting helicopters to take evasive action to avoid collision; and
WHEREAS' these incidents are happening throughout the nation, but more than half have
occurred injust five states, including Florida; and
\ryHEREAS, communities should be able to enact reasonable time, manner and place
restrictions to meet their particuiar needs; and
WHEREAS, the FAA released rules on UAS that recognize city leaders should play a rolein regulating how, when and where drones operate in their cities; and
\ryHEREAS, as UAS or o'drones" become more prevalent, local governments have a
legitimate and important role in developing and enforcing regulations and guidelines for UAS thatprotect life and property and maintain quality of life; and
WIIEREAS' as with any emerging technology, government at all levels will have to worktogether and with industry to develop regulations and guidelines that balance industry interests and
public health, safety and welfare; and
\ryHEREAS, U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein, Richard Blumenthal, Mike Lee and TomCotton are sponsors of S. 1272, the Drone Federalism Act; and
WHEREAS, S. 1272 would establish a framework for federal, state, local and tribalgovernments to work together to manage the use of recreational and commercial drones; and
WHEREAS, 5.1272 recognizes the FAA's general authority over the national airspacewhile preserving the authority of state,local and hibal governments to issue additional restriciionson low-altitude drone operations below 200 feet.
NOW, THEREFORE' BE IT RESOLVED BY THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OFCITIES,INC.:
Section 1. The Florida League of Cities, Inc., supports the Drone Federalism Act and urgesU.S. Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio to support this legislation because it would allow localgovernments to participate in the regulation of drones by enacting reasonable restrictions on thetime, manner and place of operation of civil unmanned aircraft operating below 200 feet aboveground level.
Section 2. The Florida Iæague of Cities, Inc., opposes additional federal preemption oflocal govemment authority to regulate UAS.
Section 3. A copy of this resolution be provided to President Donald Trump, the FloridaCongressional Delegation, the National læague of Cities, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, FloridaGovernor Rick scott and the membership of the Florida Læague of cities, Inc.
Section 4. This resolution shall become effective upon adoption and shall remain in effectuntil repealed and hereby repeals all conflicting resolutions.
PASSED A¡lD AIIOPTED bythe Fiorida League of Cities,lnc., in conference assembledat the læague's 91't Annual Conference, at the Orlando World Center Marriott, Orlando, Florida,this 19th Day of August2017.
Susan Haynie, PresidentFlorida League of Cities,Inc.Mayor, City of Boca Raton
ATTESTMichael Sittig, Executive DirectorFlorida League of Cities, lnc.
Submitted by: FLC Sraff
2017-ll
A RESOLUTION OF THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIESO INC.' URGINGTHE FEDERAL GOVERT{MENT TO CLARIFY TIIE DE-OBLIGATIONPROCESS OF PREVIOUSLY APPROVED DISASTER RELIEF FUNDS.
\ryHEREAS, the Robert T. St¿fford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act(Staffiord Act) establishes the statutory authority for most federal disaster response activities,especially as they pertain to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and itsprograms; and
\ilIfEREAS, the purpose of the Stafford Act is to provide continued and orderly assistance
from the federal government to st¿te and local governments to relieve hardship and assist indisaster recovery; and
\ryHEREAS, the Stafford Act authorizes FEMA to obligate funds to states and localgovemments to help recover from natural disasters that cause widespread damage to homeso
businesses and critical infrastructure; and
lryHEREAS, the ability of state and local governments to recover successfully from nafural
disaster events is due in large part to their partnership with FEMA and the financial assistance that
it provides under the Stafford Act; and
WHEREAS, it is through this partnership that local governments seek FEMA's approval
of recovery projects that include authorized costs to be reimbursed by FEMA once the projects are
completed; and
WHEREAS' FEMA has sought to retroactively de-obligate previously approved recovery
funds from local governments, despite the passage of many years since the recovery funding was
originally approved and despite the local governments' expenditure of such funds in accordance
with the grant's requirements; and
\THEREAS' FEMA's retroactive de-obligation of previously approved recovery funds
weakens the intent of the Stafford Act; and
\THEREAS' local governments do not have the resources or expertise to fully respond to
the voluminous FEMA requests for information and documentation relating to their post-disaster
recovery expenses and efforts; and
WHEREAS, Congress enacted Section 705(c) of the Stafford Act, titled "Binding Nature
of Grant Requirements," to protect recipients of disaster assistance from these retroactive de-
obligations; and
WHEREAS, in May of this year, H.R. 1678, the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Acto sponsored by V.S. Representative Lois Frankel (D-21-FL),
unanimouslypassed the U.S. House of Representatives; and
WHEREAS' U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) introduced S. 709, the Disaster Assistance
Improvement Act of 2017, and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced S. 1641, the Post-
Disaster Fairness to States Act; and
WHEREAS, these three bills includes a provision that amends the Stafford Act to changethe three-year statute of limitations by which FEMA can recover payments to begin once theProject Worksheet is transmitted, rather upon completion of the final expenditure report for theentire disaster; and
WHEREAS' this provision would provide more fîscal certainty to local governments thatreceive FEMA disaster assistance filnds; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-25-FL) and other members of Congresshave also been working to improve the FEMA Public Assist¿nce Grant Program.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OFCITIES,INC.:
Section 1. The Florida l-eague of Cities, Inc., urges the federal government to clarify theprocess whereby FEMA can declare previously approved funds distributed to local governmentsfor disaster relief efforts are de-obligated so as to ensure the de-obligation process:
L complies with Section 705(c) of the Stafford Act;
2. includes a reasonable time frame for municipalities to respond to information requests;and
3. requires FEMA to make timely decisions on appeals filed by municipalities that face thepotential rescission of previously appropriated federal funds.
Section 2. The Florida Iæague of Cities, lnc., expresses appreciation to Representative LoisFrankel, Senator Bill Nelson, Senator Marco Rubio, Representative Mario Diaz-Balart and othermembers of Florida's Congressional Delegation for their efforts to improve the FEMA disasterrecovery funding de-obligation process.
Section 3. The Florida League of Cities, Inc., urges the U.S. Senate to pass legislation toimprove the FEMA Public Assistance Grant Program.
Section 4. A copy of this resolution be sent to President Donald Trump, the FloridaCongressional Delegation, the National League of Cities and the membership of the FloridaLeague of Cities, lnc.
Section 5. This resolution shall become effective upon adoption and shall remain in effectuntil repealed and hereby repeals all conflicting resolutions.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Florida League of Cities, Inc., in conference assembledat the League's 91't Annual Conference, at the Orlando World Center Marriott, Orlando, Florida,this 19ú Day of Au gtst 2017.
Susan Haynie, PresidentFlorida League of Cities, Inc.Mayor, City of Boca Raton
ATTEST:Michael Sittig, Executive DirectorFlorida læague of Cities, Inc.
Submitted by: FLC Staff
Proposed Florida League of Citieslegislative Action Agenda
Super Priority: Local Self-Government
Finance, Taxation & Personnelr Communications Services Tax
Land Use & Economic Development. Community Redevelopment Agencies
Mu nici pal Administration. Sober Homes
Transportation & lntergovernmental Relationso Transportation Funding
Utilities, Natural Resources & Public Works. Water Funding
a
a
PROCEDURES FOR ADOPTING THEFLC LEGISI-^ATIVE ACTION AGENDA
LEGISIATIVE COHMITTEE PROCEDURE:
The Legislative Committee is charged with reviewing the work of the five legislative policy
committees. The League's lst Vice President will preside over the meeting and the followingprocedure will be used to review and adopt the Legislative Action Agenda:
Each poliry committee chair will be asked to present their committee's priorities to theLegislative Committee.
After each legislative policy committee report, the chair will accept questions of the Legislative
Committee and/or the audience.
Following a question and answer period, the chair will accept, if needed, a motion to limitdebate.
The chair will then accept a motion to adopt (with a second and discussion) the policy
committee's report (as amended). This procedure will be repeated for each policy committeepresentation.
The Legislative Committee Chair shall report the actions of the committee during the business
session. Copies of the proposed Legislative Action Agenda, as adopted by the Legislative
Committee, will be available for review. As was the procedure during the Legislative Committee,the audience will be provided an opportunity to ask questions.
BUSINESS SESSION PROCEDURES¡
. The President will preside over the Business Session and shall call on the Chair of the
Legislative Committee to present the proposed Legislative Action Agenda as recommended by
the Legislative Committee,
. The Legislative Committee Chair will present each priority statement and move for its adoption.
r The President will call for a second and an opportunity for discussion by the membership ofthe proposed priority statement. Following this, a consensus voice vote will be taken. Thisprocedure will be used for each priority statement.
o
I If the consensus vote is challenged, the President will call for a short recess and the Leaguestaff will prepare for a recorded voting procedure. (see attached)
o After all amended sections have been considered and adopted, th€ President will call foradoption of Legislative Action Agenda by the membership present.
APPENDTX . PROCEDURE FOR DTVIDED HOUSE
EXPI.ANATION:
During the Business Session of the Legislative C¡nference (following the meeting of the Legislative
Committee), the League President will ask the membership present to adopt the Legislative ActionAgenda. This action does not require the appointment of voting delegates (as does the annual
convention's business session), but it does create the possibility of a divided house, meaning thata voice vote did not determine a clear "will" of the membership present. This has not happened
in recent League history, bilt it does need to be planned for in advance.
PROCEDURE:
Upon the President's determination of a divided house (being that a voice vote did not indicatesufficient support for adoption of the Legislative Action Agenda), the President will call fur abrief (15 min.) recess so city officials may confer with others from their own councils. Some
cities will have only one person present; some may not be represented at all.
The cities will þe directed to select a representative from their council and take a position
amongst them on the adoption of the Legislative Action Agenda. If a city wishes to record itsdivided vote, it may do so. If a city cannot come to agreement on selecting a representativeor taking a position, the League will not record their position,
The President would then call the Business Session back into session and ask that, by voicevote, the city representatives indicate their votes. If the vote is still divided, the cityrepresentatives would then come to a table staffed by League staff and record their vote. Onlyif it were necessary fin the case of a tie) would a weighted vote be taken.
a
a If the President determines there is dissension among the city officials in regards to a pafticular
section of the Legislative Action Agenda, he shall call upon the Chair of the appropriate policy
committee to take questions and help guide the discussion.
Again, this process is provided for explanation but it is not expecÞd to occur.
LeqislativeActionAgenda
çtBÜt or
%
Local Self-Govefitment
Priority Statement:'I'he l"lorida League of Cities seeks to sttengthen and protect the funciamental concept of local self-
government, and will OPPOSE legislative efforts to impede the constitutional right I'tlorida's citizens'
have enjoyed for neady 50 years to goverû themselves under municipal Home Rule powers'
Additionatly, the F'loridal,eague of Cities OPPOSES the Legislature's persistent inüusion into local
finances, which âre necessâry to provide fin¿ncial stability and essential services uniquely required by
municipal residents and local businesses.'
Bacþround:In Iìlorida,local self-government is not a gift of the state legislature...it is the expressed u'ill of the
people. It was added to the l.'lorida Constitution neady 50 years ago by a stâtevide vote of the
electorate. Floridians voted to empower themselves with thc right of local self-govcrnment, or Home
Rule. ¿\s the only form of voluntary governrneng F'lorida's municipalities are the embocliment of this
right.
A city is created by its citizens for a variety of reasons, including increased sewices, a dcsirable business
or residential environment, ând rnore voice in how their gnvernment is run. Florida law specifies the
standards for the formation of a municipality. The multi-step process is not an eâsy ône, and it should
not be. Tire process takes commitment, tenacity and hard work of residents who volunteer their time
for the cause. Local citizcns take the first step by having a feasibil-ity study to determine if the
community should inco¡porate, and they develop a chuter that specifies the form, functions and
po$¡er of their proposed city government, 'I'hese steps cân take a yeãr or more to complete.
Next, the proposal is presented to the Legislature for a review of whether it meets statutory
requirements for incorporation. Following a successful review, the proposed charter is adopted by a
special act oî the l_egislature. T'he final step must be taken b¡' local cittzensr appfo\¡al of the
incorporation and charter b)'toters in a local referendum'
Flome Rule authorizes the govemmentzT, corponte and Proprietafy powers necessarJ¡ to conduct
municipal go\¡ernment, perform municipal functions, and render municipal services. Atits core, IIomeRule is demonstrated by the level of services provided within a municipalitl'and, to a much lesser
extent, by exercises of regulatory power.
Citizens in cities expect v¿rious municþal services: water, se\Ã7er, garbage collection, storrn water
s)rstems, roads, sidewalks, fire protection,law enforcement, parks and recteation. Citizens also expect
municipal ofFrcials to exercise regulatory powers when necessar¡r ¡e protect public health, safety, and
community standards specific to the municipality in which thelz çþo.*e to live. These expectations
cannot be met if municipal offici¿ls do not have the authority to respond to iocal neecls and
preferences, or to address them in a timely manner.
1¡
-.aì
Contact: David Cruz, Assistant General Counsel - 850-701-3 676 - dcruzldflcitrcs.corn
Municipalities are authorized by the lìlorida Constitution to levy ad valorem taxes, and are furtherauthorized by statute to levy other forms of local taxation. In addition, municipalities are authorizedunder their constitutional Flome Rule powers to impose special assessments and fees for municipalservices. Municipal citizens pay local tâxes, assessrnents and fees for the specific purpose of obtainingand enhancing municipal services and amenities. Citizens expect their elected city leãders to use thesãlocal revenue proceeds for iocal municipal purposes, and not for state purposes (that shoutd. be paidfor with state taxes).
Home Rule is why no two cities are ¿like. City residents take pride in this diversity. Strong Home RuIepov/ers ensure that government stays close to the people it serves. Intrusion on Home Rule from thestate or federal government undermines the constitutjonal right of citizens to govem themselves.Intrusion from the state or federal govemment into local finances prohibits elected city leaders frommeeting the expectations of their citizens that local revenues will be used as intended by the citizens.
Status:CS/HB 17 (tìine) and SB 1158 (Passidomo), introduced in the 2017 legislative session, would haveeffectivel¡' preempted to the state the authority of municipal govemments to impose localrequirements on businesses, professions, commerce and trade. \X/hüe the bilts differed in approach,their ultimate effect was the same. In short, the right of local citizens to goverfl themselves throughthe exercise of municipal home rule powers would have been severely restricted. The bills evisceratedprincþles of local self-government by transferring local decision-making to the state Legislature.CS/HB 17 passed the House Careers & Competition Subcommittee but ultimately died in the HouseComrnerce Committee. SB 1158 died in the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee.
In addition to CS/HII 17 md SB 1158, nllrnerous proposals to restrictlocal selÊgovernmentv/ereintroduced in the 2017 legislative session. Examples of 2017 proposals include, Irut are not limitedto, the following issues: Building and Land Use; Small-Cell Wireless; Cornmunity RedevelopmenrAgencies; V¿cation Rentals; Municipal Elections, Medical Marijuana; Concealed Weapons andFÌrearms; Firefrghter Cancer Disability Presumption; Local Business Taxes; Fiscal Transparency; AdValorem Taxes; Storrnwater and SØastewatetMamgement; TrafFrc Infraction Detecrors; and Drones.These pr<iposals involved either preemptions of municipal powers or intrusion into municipalfinances, and sometimes both.
The League anúcipates that legislative efforts to divest citizens of their powers of local self-government and transfer control over local decisions to the state legislature will continue in the 2018legislative session.
Revised: 08/18i/2017
Contact: David Cruz, z\,ssist¿nt General Counsel - 850-701-3 676 - dcruz@ficìries.com
LeqislativeActionAgenda
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Communications Services Tax Protection
Priority Statement:'l'l-re t.'lorida League of Cities SUPPOII'I'S reforming the Communications Services 'l'ax in a, manfletthat is revenue neutral; provides for a broad and equitable tax base; provides for enhanced stabilityand rcliabfily âs an important rc\¡clfue source fol local goverrìment; and providcs a uniform mcthodfor taxing communication serviccs in Florida. Reform shoultl promote a competiúvcly neutral øxpolicy that rvill free cc¡nsumers to choose a provicler b¿sed on tax-neutr¿l consiclerations.
Bacþround:In 2000, the Fkrrida Legislature restructured taxes ancl fees on tclecommunicarions, cable, clirect-to-home sateilite and rel¿ted sen'ices under the Communication Serwices Simplificatrons Act. 'l'his act
teplaced and consolidated seven differentstate and local taxes and fees into a single tax thathas fwoccntrally administcrcd parts, thc statc and thc local communications sctviccs tax (CST).'fhe localCST is one of the main sources of locall1, levied general revcnue for municipalities, pror.'itling them
witlr more than !,i421, miilion annuall,v. Countìes coilect neady $234 million â year. 'l'he State ofIrlorida collects approximatell' $66i¡¡million, including direct-to-home satellite, and shares a portionof thosc rc\rcnucs with citics through thc Municipal Rcvcnuc Sharing Program and Local Flalf-CentSales Tax Plrgram. These revenues may be used frrr an1'public purpose, inclurcling pledging the
revenues to secure bonds.
Thc CST appücs to tclccommunications, vidco, direct-to-home satcllitc and rclatcd scrvices. Thcclefiniti<in of communications scrvices encompâsses voice, data, aucliti, vicleo, clr anl: ¡¡¡þs¡information or signals transmitted b,v any medium. Iìxamples of sen'ices subject to the tax includeiocal, long distance and toll telephones; r'oice over Internet protocol telephones;r'ideo services;
vidco strcaming; dircct-to-home satcllitc; mobile communications; privatc linc scrviccs; pagcrs and
beepcrs; telephone charges made at a hotel or motel; facsirniles; and telex, telegram and teletl'pe. 1'he
tax is imposed on ret¿il sales of communications sen'ices that originate ancl terminate in lÌlorida orare billed to an address within the state.
Tire F'lorida CS'l' inclucles both a state tax and a gross receipts tax. (lommunications services, except
clirect-to-home satellite sen'ice, are subject to the stâte tax of 4.92 percent and the gross receipts tax
of 2.52 percent. Direct-to-home satellite serviceis subjectto the state tax of 9.07 percentand thegross rcceipts tax of 2.37 pcrccnt.
A counlv or municipaliry ma1'authorize the ler.1' c¡f ztlocal CS'I'. 'I'he local tax rates vâry depending
on the tvpe of local government. I,'or municipalities that have not choscn to lerry permit fees, the tax
mâ)¡ be lcvied ^t ^
r^te of up to 5.1 pcrccnt. For municipalities that have chosen to ler,1' permit fccs,
tlre tax may be levied Lt ^
r^te of up to 4.98 percent. In aclclition to the local CS'l', an1' local optionsales tax th¿t a coufltt'or school boatd has levied is imposed as a local CST'.
Contact: Àmber Hughes, Scnior Legislative ;\dvocate * 850-701-3621' -,¡itii::ltr:r(4.J.aiii,j',,çtl¡.l
Over the past few years, the economy,legislation and changes in technology have eroded the taxbase for the CST. Additionalln there has been a movernent by the Florida Legislature to reduce thetoAl tax rate, bourù on the state and local CST.
InJune 2015, the First Distsict Court of Appeal overturned a lower court's favor¿ble rulingregarding the constitutionality of the direct-to-home satellite rate. The original lawsuig from May2005, alleged that the direct-to-home satellite ràte was r¡nconstitutional because by imposing theCST at a rate of approximately 60 percent higher on out-of-state satellite TV companies versus in-state cable companies, the tax unfaidy discriminated against out-of-state companies and, therefore,violated both the Commerce Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. TheDepartment of Revenue appealed this decision and the Florida Supreme Court heard oral argumentsin,A'pril2016. On Aptil, 13,2017, the Florida Supreme Court for¡nd that the statLrte involved didnot violate the dormant Commerce Clause, ¿nd reversed the decision of the þ'irst District Court ofAppeal.
Status:No bills have been filed for the 2018 legislative session.
Revised: 08/07 /2017
Contact: Amber Hughes, Senior Legislative Advocate - 850-701-3621, * [email protected]
LeqislativeActionAgenda
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Community Redevelopment Agencies
Priority Statement:The Florida League of Cities SUPPORTS legislation to improve municipalities'use of communityredevelopment agencies to effectively catty out redevelopment and community revitalizattoninaccorclance with home rule.
Bacþround:There arc 222 active community redevelopment agencies (CR A,s) in Florida. They were establishedto encourage new investment and job creation in urb¿n areas that were blighted as a result c¡f
substantial growth moving away from the urban core.
For many )rears, residential development and commerciaJ, and goverrimental faciÏties were beingbuilt outside central urban areas. As these urban areas became vâcant or unclerutilizecf high crimerates followed, creating a decline in the economic and soci¿l vitality of many municipalities. fiaced
with these challenges, municipalities, working with their respective counties, have exercised theirdiscretion to est¿blish a CRA as a means for economic recovery in thcse areas.
Under Florida law (Chapter 1,63, Part III), local governments are able to designate âreas âs CRAswhen certain conditions exist. Such as: the presence of substandard or inadequatc structures, a
shortage of affordable housing, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient roadways and inadequate
parking.'fo document that the requirecl conditions exist, the local governmçnt must survey ¡þsproposed redevelopm efit ate^ and prepare a "F'inding of Necessiq/'.
If the Finding of Necessity determines that the required conditions exist, the local government mây
create a CRA to provi<le the tax increment financing tools áeeded to f.oster and supportredevelopment of the targeted area, and to spur job growth. 'Ihis redevelopment tool is used byboth Florida counties and cities of all sizes, from Miami-Dade County, Tampa, Orlando and
Jacksonville, to Flernando County, Madison and Apalachicola, to improve their targeted areas.
The tax increment used for financìng projects is the difference between the amount of propertl' tax
revenue generated before the CRA designation and the amourit of ptoperty tax re\renue generated afterthe CR {. designation. Monies used in financing CRA activities are, therefore, locally generated. CRAredcvelopment plans must be consistent with local govemment comprehensive plans. This makesCRr\s a specifically focused financing tool for redevelopment.
This financing sys¡sm is successfi.rl because it provides specific public services without increasing orlev¡'irrg any new taxes. Both residents and business owners favor this s)'stem because the taxes theyp^y on their investmerit are rewarded with direct benefits from the CRA. Âlso, unlike a ci.ty orcounty government, a Clì.A mzy ut)lize tax increment financing as a w^y to leverage these localpublic funds with private dollars to make redevelopment happen in public/privâte pârtnershþs.This has been extremeþ succcssfrri throughout the statc.
Contact: David Cruz, Àssistant Generai Counsel - 850-701-3 676 [email protected]
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,{.dditional Points:1. The sþte should be war¡' of attempts to restrict the use of tax increment financing, particularty ifthe debate is over money and control and not about the me¡its of rcvjtalizing btightãd âreas. CRAshave demonstrated that the use of the funding dramatically improved the economic and socialoutcomes within the targeted areas. These outcomes benefit cities, counties and, more importantly,the taxpayers.
2. CRAs and tax incrementing financing have been integral tools for municipalities to provideimprovements to run-down urban cores for more than 30 years. It is not in the state's best interestto restrict municipalities' ability to revitalize and redevelop areas r}rat arc struggling the most. This isespecially true, given the sunset of the state funded Enterprise Zones prograrn ancl the lack ofalternative programs that address slum and blighted areas in F'lorida.
3. Redevelopment of an øtea can take different twists and turns to accommodate shiftingcircumstances, requiring the need for flexibility.Ary anempt to increase bureaucratic oipoliticalinterference would hinder the ability of the CRA to respond nimbly and comprehensiveþ inimplementing redevelopment initiatives.
4. On February 3,20L6, the Miami-Dade County GrandJury filed a report titled "CRÂs: The Good,the Bad and the Questionable" that asserts the highest priority of Florida's CRAs shouid beaffordable housing. This view of CRAs incorrectly reduces and mislabels their value and coremission as versatile revitalization engines. The GrandJury report asserts CRAs are not heldaccountable for their spending and, therefore, public tax dollars are being abused by city officials.This is incorrect. 'l'he use of TIIì funds must be consistent with the redevelopment-plans agreed toby the citizens in a community.
5. Overall, the comprehensive community redevelopment plans that are createcl and implemented byCIIAs are uniquely àesigned to address that area's specific needs for rcviølization. Creatngaffordable housing is iust one of the many roles that CRAs may play, and it shouid be parr of abalanced economic development strategy. There are a varièty of communiq/, state andlederalprograms with the primary mission of providing affordable housing and CRAs consistently partnerwith and invest in these programs. The Fllorida lìedevelopment Act, which gôverfls CnAs, iidesþed to be adaptable to F'lorida's widely diverse communities.
6. Loc¿l goveroments create CRAs to respond to local needs and concerns to acldress slum andblight. CRA boards act officially as a body distinct and separate from the governing body 6f a ciry orcounty, even when it is the same group of people. By allowing elected offrcials to serve as CR A.
board members, CRAs provide knowledgeable representation to taxpayers from individuais who arefamiliar with community needs. Ultimately, elected ciq officials are helcl accountable by theirdecisions
7' Ât times, some county governmefits have been critical or uocooperative in the creation andexpansion of CRÂs by municipalities. These intergovemmental disputes have led to unnecessâryconflicts between local governments. In some instances, questions regarding the inteqpretation ofcertain provisions of the Communit¡' Redevelopment Act are being disputed.
Contacü David Cruz, Assistant Generai Counsel * 850-701-3 676 [email protected]
Status: CS/SB 1770 (Lee) and CS/CS /CS/HB 13 (R.aburn), introduced during the2017 session,would have increased audit, ethics, reporting and accountability measures for communityredevelopment agencies (CRAs). The bills would have required CRAs to annually submit additionalreporting information to the state, including the number of CRA ptoiects (the term "projects" is notdefined), and the amount of money spent on affordable housing within the ClìA. The bills wouldhave required CRA procurernent to comport u¡ith city and county procurement procedures. Ofspecific concern to cities, the bills outlined a process by which CRAs could be phased out andrestrict the use of tax increment financing (IIF) funds to only those purposes specified in statutc.T'his restriction would have eliminated the ability of the CRA to fund what could be consideredtaditional CRÂ profects such as infrastructure, streetscapes, sidewalks, building improvements,parks, security and the like. The House and Senate bills differed on some key provisions. CS/SB1770 required a supermajoÀty vote of the governing body that created the CRA to maintain an¡,
existing CRAs p^st 2037 . CS/SB 1770 allowed for the creation of a new CRA, but only with a
supermajority vote of the city or counfy that is creating it. As amended, CS/CS /CS/HB 13
prohibited the creation of ¿ new CR A. unless authorized by a special act of rhe lægislature. CS/SB1770 fùed to pass the Senate Âppropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and
Economic l)evelopment. CS/CS/CS/HII 13 passed the l-Iouse on a78-37 vote. 'I'he læague
anticipates that legislative efforts to phase out or eliminate CR A.s will continue in the 2018 iegislativesession.
Revised: 07 /21 / 2017
Contact: David Cruz, Assistant General Counsel - 850-701-3676 - [email protected]
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Sober Flomes
Priority Statement:The Florida League of Cities SUPPORTS legislaúon requiring certification for all recoveryresidences and recoveq'residence administrators to ensure that this vulnerable population isprotected and that recovery residence administrators have the competencies necessary toappropriately respond to rhe needs of residents,
Bacþround:In 2008, Congress passed the Mental Ilealth Parit5' ancl Addiction Equity Âct, which made availableadditional insurance benefits to people with substance abuse disorders. The passage of theAffordablc Care Act in 2010 authorized adults under rhe age of 26 to usc their parcnts' insurance,required insurance providers to cover pre-existing conditions, and guaranteed coverage despitemultiple <lrug relapses. 'Ihese changes in insurance benefits opened the floodgates c¡f money goingto substance abuse treatment. As a result, recoveÐ'residences became big business. Florida has longbeen a dcstination for thosc trj'ing to overcome an addiction. In 2076, a study by Minnesota-bascdhealth care company Optum found that more than 75 percent of y<lung adults treatecl for substance¿buse in I'lorida came from out of state.'fhe increasecl reguiation of pill-mills during this decadeümited access to prescription narcotics ¿nd has led to an increase in the use of heroin and othermorc accessible s1'n¡þstic opioids.
T'here is little oversight of the recovery residence inclustry, whereas other are¿s of the irealthcaresystem are highly regulated b), the state. Recovery residences, which house vulnerable patientscngaged in intensive ouþatient trcatment, are essentially self-policcd. Legitimate recovcry residcncesavail themselves of a voluntary certification program and a¿yee to operate under higher standards.I-lowever, because this certification is r¡oluntal', clther sober homes can opetrte without minimumstandards, resulting in the warehousing of patients in substandard housing that encourages anythingbut sobriety.
Cities have also been negatively impacted. Ilesidential neighborhoorls are lined with poorll' run soberhomes, but the number is unknown because there is no m¿ndatory registration at any level ofgo\¡errìment. A reccnt Nøv York Tines article highlights the problems ciúcs arc factng,, '1X/ith six to12 people living in a home, noise is unavoidable. Property crime rose 19 percent fuom2015 tn aDelray Reach neighborhood." Police have coine<lthe term "new homeless," referring to patientswho ate removed from sober homes once insurance money runs out. These homes not only createnuisances for rcsidents, but arc also a burdcn on local governments. Palm Beach County firstresponclers clealt with 5,000 overdose calls in 201,6.
On May 3,2077, Governor Rick Scott declared a public health emergenc\¡ in response to the opioidepidcmic, allowing the statc to tap into federal funding for privcnt-ion, treatmcnt and recovcÐ/services. The state passed I-IR 807 b), Repr.s.ntative I Iager during the 201.7 legisiative session. The
Contact: Casey Cook, Senior Legislative Aclvocate - 850-701-3609 - ccoolr@i'lcitics.cor"n
bill e:rpands prohibitions on referrals betrveen licensed treatment providers and certain recoveryresidencesn while ¿lso prohibiting service providers from engaging in deceptive rnarketing practices.HB 807 was a good start, but minimum operating standards are needed to protect this vulnerablepopulation.
Status:No bills have been filed for the 20lS legislative session.
Revieed: 08/fi /n17
Contact: Casey Cook, Senior Legisiative Advocaæ - 850-701-3ó09 - [email protected]
LeqislativeActionAgenda
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Transportation Funding
Priority Statement:'Ihe Florida l-eague of Cities SUPI']ORTS legislation that preserves local control of transportation planning,provides for a more equitable transportaúon funding formula between municipalities and counties, andprovides for additional dedicated revenue options for municipal transportation infrastructure and transitprojects.
Bacl¡ground:The 2t17-2018 budget for the State of Florida allocates $5.6 bilüon for the Florida Department ofTransportation S-Year Work Plan. This amount includes $22.3 billion for construction, $2.ó billion for right-of-way purchase ancl maintenance, and $5.4 billion for freight logistics and passenger operations.
føith 112.8 million visitors eachyear and more than 1,000 peoplc moving to Flotida cach day, the state's
transportation infrastructure is taking a beating. Con¡çestion is a growing problem ancl the adde<l wea¡ and
tear on our roads makes for recurring repair or replacement. At the same time, lTighwây construction costscontinue to escalate. Some of this inc¡ease is directly attributable to technological advancements that are
necessafy to implement a "smart transportation grid."
 maior portion of transportation funding flows to municipalities through countf, state and federal taxes
on gasoline. Recent data show that gas tax revenues at both the state and federal levels have continued todecline, primarily due to an increase in the number of fuel-effrcient vehiclcs. More fuel-efficient vehiclesmean less gas is being purchased, resulting in lower gas tax revenues. As vehicles become even more fuelefficient, gas tâx revenue will continue to decrease. To compound the problem, the federal gas tax was lastincreased in 7997, the state gas tax in 7943, the county gas tax in 1,941, and the municipal gas tâx in 1,971,.
None of thesc taxes are indexed for inflation and do not necessarily generate more revenuc as the economygfows.
Wlrile the federal, state and county governments have a variety of tools available to them to addresstransportation funding, municipalities have limited revenue options for funding transportation proiects.
I.'or example, the state can charge tolls on certain roadways or c n increase vehicle registration or tag andtitle fees to generate additional rerrenue. Charter counties may hold a referendum on whethet to impose upto a 1 percent sales tax to fund transportation infrastructure projects. Florida stâtutes also allow each countyto levy Llp to 12 additional cents per gallon of fuel.
Municipalities lack the authority to impose these fuel taxes. This can be problematic when there are
disparities between rhe ftansportation needs of municipalities versus those of the more rural areas of thecounty. F'or example, a referendum was held in l-Iillsborough County to enact such a tax. The tâx was
defeated countywide. However, if the election results are broken down, a majority of the residents of theCity of Tampa voted to âpprove the tax to pây for much-needed transportation proiects. Extending suchoptions to municipalities would allow greater flexibility to fund their specifrc transportâtion needs.
t
Contact: Scott f)uclley, Legislative ,{,ffairs Director - 850.222.9684 - sudu<1ie},@flcities.com
F'or those local option taxes adopted by counties, the proceeds are distributed by iatedocal agreement or bya statutory formula that is not favorable to municipalities. Tbe current transportation ftrnding formulas donot take into account lane miles, trafftc counts or other rneasures related to use anð/or maintenance need.By including these elements into the calculations that determine the distdbution of transportation fundinglocal governments - municipalities, in particular -will be able to more effectively address their transportationneeds.
Another way to assist local governmerits would be for the state to provide a mechanism for low-interestloans or grants for transportation projects.
Status:Cutrently there are no transportation related bills filed for consideration for the 2018 Session.
Revised: 08/17 /2017
Contact: Scott Dudley, Legislative Affairs Director - 850,222.9684 - [email protected]
LeqislativeActionAgenda
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Water Funding
Priority Statement:The FloridaLeague of Cities will SUPPORT legislation to provide long term, recurring and adequate
state funding, that is equitably distributed throughout the state, for local goverrìment v/ater resource
and water qoolity improvement projects and infrastructure, including, but not limited to, projects that:reduce nutrient and pollutant loading from waste\¡/ater sources; mitigate storm water and floodingimpacts; ancl increase available water resources and supplies.
Bacþround:Florida's water qoulity and water supply challenges arc myiøð. Currcnt conditions result from decadcs
of pollution anrl overuse from multiple sources - utban, rural, apgicultural, residential and industrial.All of these sources, their stakeholders, and their state and local governments, have a shared
responsibility for addressing v¡ater supply, wâter qualitv and associated infrastructure problems.Resolution of these issues will require both long- and short-term strategics that are coordinated, are
based on sound science, and make effective use of limited public funds and resources.
Iìlorida's ability to meet the water needs of its growing population, industries and natural environmentcxcceds available suppi)'and infrastructure. $48.71 billion is estimated to be needcd over the ncxt 20
years to meet needs for drinking water and waste\¡/ater, flood contrr>l,,nutrient pollution, Everglacles
restoration, and beach and inlet erosion. Some states have taken proactive steps to address similarchallenge b)'creating financing and funding mechanisms, includingTexas, NewJersey, Massachusetts,Illinois and California. Florida docs not have a dedicated, long-term, recurring source of funding foru/ater supply, water quality and ¿ssociated infrastructure.
In 2005, the Florida lægislature took initial steps to establish a dedicated source of funding for waterquality and water supply projects by creating and funding thc Watcr Protcction and Sustainabiliq'Program. Local funding matches and transparent grant criteria were hallmarks of the program. Theprogrâm wzs funded with $1(Ð million in recurring revenues - an âmount that represented less than1.o/o of the state's total budget. During rhe program's first three years, the state and water managementdistricts contributcd $423 million for altcrnative rvater supply cleveiopment, that funded 344localprojects. These projects were anticipated to €ìenerate 842 million galkins of nerv water per c1ay.
Unfortr:n¿tely, the program was drasticalll' çu¡ in 2008, and funding to the trust fund was eliminatedin 2009.
Other than the brief success of 2005's SR 444, F'loricla's historl' of water project and infrastructurefunding has been one of band-aids and crisis managemeflt. f))'ing springs and algae-ch<¡ked estuaries
prompted the passage of SII 552 and HB 989 in 2076. ,å.mong other things, these bills required septictank rcmediation plans for certain spring sheds and provided dedicated percentagcs of r\mcndment 1
morìe)¡ for the benefit of tl-re Everglades ancl surrounding estuaries, Lake Apopka and springs.Continueci algae blooms in South Florida estuaries prompted passâge of SB 10 in 2077, u'hich
Contact: Rebecca O'Hara,¡\ssistant General Counsel - 850-701-3692 * tohara@)flcitic-*.cpm
provided a $1.5 billion plan for water stor4ge needed to combat nutrient pollution in these areas.These bilis were critically needed, but problems persist throughout the state and continue to grow.
The extent and nature of the st¿te's water and infrastructure problems vary among regions andcornmunities. Fot some local governments, their most acute need is frnding resources to mitigatenutrient pollution from septic tanks. Others are desperateþ seeking ways to increase available wâtersupply through the creation of alternative water supplies, including reuse of recl¿imed water. Stüiothers grapple with the enormity of retrofitting their community against increasing tidal and stormflooding.
These challenges are growing exponentialllt all¿ cannot be shouldered'by one or even a fewgovernments or stakeholders. It is pointless to assign "blâme" for these growing challenges becauseit is shared by everyone who uses Floridâ's water and infrastructure resources - businesses, residents,visitors and industries. It is time for Florida's state and local governments, residents, industry andwater stakeholders to collaborate on shared solutions that meet Florida's water and infrastructurechallenges comprehensively, equitably and for the long term.
Status:No bills have been filed for the 20lS legislative session.
Revised: 08/17 / 2017
Contact: Rebecca O'Hara,,tssistant General Counsel - 850-701-3692 - [email protected]
