Item 6A
MEMORANDIIM
FLORIDA LEA~GLIE OF CITIES IN~c.
To: Members of Florida League of Cities, Inc.
From: John Charles Thomas, Director
Legislative & Public Affairs
Date: December 21, 2006
Re: Request for Resolution
.The FLC Board of Directors has adopted an initiative to enhance the
Legislature's awareness of the League's priority issues. This plan calls on each
of Florida's 413 cities to adopt a resolution that supports the League's key priority
issues.
These key .issues were adopted by the League membership at the recent
Legislative Conference and address Charter County Relations, Affordable
Housing and Property Tax Reform.
Enclosed is a draft resolution that we are asking your city to adopt at the next
available council/commission meeting. We would then like you to send copies of
that resolution to Governor-Elect Charlie Crist, Senate President Ken Pruitt,
Speaker of the House Marco Rubio, your House and Senate members and a
copy to the Florida League of Cities no later than Friday, February 23, 2007.
Also enclosed, is a list of addresses for the Governor, Senate President; Speaker
of the House and a House and Senate directory with addresses for your
legislators.
A Microsoft Word version of this resolution can be on the League's website under
Legislative/Advocacy at: www.flcities.com. Should you have any questions or
require additional information, please contact Jenny Anderson at the Florida
~* League of Cities at (800) 342-8112. Thank you for your assistance.
Enclosures
~• 301 South Bronough Street, Suite 300. P.O. Box 1757 . Tallahassee, FL 32302-1757
(850) 222-9684 . Suncom 278-5331 . Fax (850) 222-3806 . Web site: www.flcities.com
AGENDA ITEM # 6A
® JANUARY 22, 2007
AGENDA ITEM # 6A
JANUARY 22, 2007
RESOLUTION NO: 07-01
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA,
URGING MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO
~" SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING ISSUES DURING THE 2007
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
WHEREAS, municipal self-determination and local self-government, are constantly
under attack from a variety of public and private interests; and
WHEREAS, numerous counties have recently proposed revisions to their charters that
would adversely impact the Home-Rule powers of municipalities within those counties; and
WHEREAS, a majority of Florida's municipalities have experienced negative impacts to
infrastructure, housing stock and employment base from a series of natural disasters; higher than
expected increases in the cost of building products; double-digit increases in the cost of property
insurance; and inequities in the existing property-tax system; and
WHEREAS, Florida's continuing population increase has presented a challenge to cities
struggling to meet the infrastructure needs required to accommodate new growth and
development without an infrastructure revenue source dedicated to municipalities; and
WHEREAS, various proposed revisions to the property-tax system would have
substantial adverse impacts for all municipalities in Florida should they be adopted; and
WHEREAS, Florida's municipalities are dependent on other governmental entities for
„~, financial stability and under the current system the state, counties, and school districts, control all
funding sources authorized for implementing capital improvements and complying with
concurrency requirements; and ,
WHEREAS, Governor Charlie Crist and Florida's House and Senate leaders have an
opportunity to address the unique concerns of municipalities during the upcoming 2007
legislative session.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the City of Atlantic Beach:
SECTION 1. That the City of Atlantic Beach urges Governor Charlie Crist and members
of the Florida Legislature to support legislation during the 20071egislative session that:
• Restores and maintains municipal Home-Rule authority for municipalities located
within charter counties.
• Supports a tax structure that is fair and equitable, and is competitively neutral and
allows municipalities the flexibility to provide adequate services in their communities.
~.
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a~w
AGENDA ITEM # 6A
JANUARY 22, 2007
~„ • Preserves the dedicated documentary stamp fees as a funding source for the State and
Local Government Housing Trust Fund (Sadowski Trust Fund), eliminates the cap placed
on fund distribution, and prohibits any of these trust fund dollars from being diverted to
~„ the General Revenue Fund.
• Provides a comprehensive and uniform workers' compensation system for all municipal
employees, regardless of employee classification, at a reasonable cost to employers.
• Provides a dedicated and recurring source of revenue, including municipal local-option
fuel taxes, rental-car surcharges, or other taxes or fees, for municipalities to fund
transportation projects such as TRIP, urban arterial and other projects. Furthermore, the
existing distribution formula for local-option transportation taxes imposed by a county
should be revised to allow for a more equitable distribution to municipalities and
provides for indexing of local-option fuel taxes.
• Requires legislative authorization prior to the Florida Department of Transportation
removing or delaying any project that is contained in the FDOT Five-Year Work Plan.
• Preserves municipal authority to franchise cable and video services.
SECTION 2. That a copy of this resolution shall be provided to Governor Charlie Crist,
~. Senate President Ken Pruitt, House of Representatives Speaker Marco Rubio and members of the
Florida Legislature.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City of Atlantic Beach, this Day of
2007.
ATTEST:
DONNA BUSSEY, CMC
City Clerk
DONALD M. WOLFSON
Mayor
Approved as to form and correctness:
ALAN C. JENSEN, ESQUIRE
City Attorney