Item 9A
~GF~IO~DI~ ~TEIl~ ~~
IG~A~' 22, 206
hush signs bill that Ymits local
~. condemnation power
By BILL KACZOR, Associated Press Writer, 5/12
A bill that will immediately limit the ability of local governments to condemn homes and
'~""' other property for private redevelopment projects became law Thursday with Gov. Jeb
Bush's signature.
The legislation, similar to measures introduced or enacted in most other states, is in
response to a U.S. Supreme Court decision approving the use of eminent domain for
economic development.
"The law severely restricts state and local governments' power to take private property
°" and transfer (it) to another private entity," Bush said in a statement. °'The right to own
property is fundamental to freedom. Property ownership is the ultimate reward for hard
work."
Besides the bill, the Legislature has placed a proposed state constitutional amendment
also restricting eminent domain on the Nov. 7 ballot.
While the new law is filled with details and specific restrictions, the amendment is a more
general ban on the taking of property and conveying it to another private owner. The
amendment, which would not go into effect until Jan. 2, lets the Legislature make
exceptions to the ban only by athree-fifths vote in each house.
The new law prohibits the use of condemnation to eliminate slums or blighted areas. It
allows cities and counties to sell, through a bidding procedure, property obtained through
~.
condemnation only after it has been held for at least 10 years.
Riviera Beach Mayor Michael Brown said his city may have preserved its ability to use
eminent domain fora $2.4 billion redevelopment project by signing a contract
Wednesday night. It could displace more than 5,000 residents with condominiums, shops
and a marina.
Brown said he believed the city had a contract with Viking Inlet Harbor Properties before
~,, then but signed additional documents jusYin case. That still may not help because
condemnation proceedings have not yet begun.
"I'm sure we'll end up in court," Brown said.
1~~~NI3A I'F]EM ~A
1~.~' 22, 200
PASS l~I.~ASIE FR®1VI l~A.~'®]R W®~.~+5®l~T
ATI.AleT'I'IC BEACgI FIRE RATIIWG 1[1~R®VED
16~Iay i5, 2006 .
The City of Atlantic Beach fire rating has been improved to a class three by the Insurance
Service Office (ISO). Fire ratings from the ISO range from 1 to 10, with 1 being the best.
According to the ISO, only 3.4 percent of ratings given nationwide are Class 3 or better. Many
insurance companies that offer residential and commercial policies use the ISO rating as one of
their criteria for setting the rates that customers in ¢1~lantic Beach pay and this will certainly be
good news for those policy holders. This rating will take effect on September 1St
The last ISO inspection done in Atlantic Beach was in 1996 which resulted in a Class 4 rating.
The fire rating consists of scores both for the fire service as well as the water system. The scores
for both have improved since 1996. According to David Thompson, Public Safety Director for
Atlantic Beach "The primary purpose of contracting fire services with Jacksonville was to
provide a higher level of fire protection and emergency medical service for the citizens of
Atlantic Beach. The improved ISO rating represents an independent confirmation that we are
achieving that goal." Donna I~aluzniak, Utilities Director for Atlantic Beach, said "The most
dramatic improvement was the inspection frequency and condition of the hydrants followed by
the overall water system, including capacity and hydrant distribution. I believe the replacement
of old, undersized water mains, including installing new hydrants, and the addition of a new
elevated tank contributed greatly to the higher rating of the water system and hydrant condition."
!*"" Mayor Wolfson noted that "Providing good fire protection is one of the main purposes of local
government and this improved rating is just another example of why Atlantic Beach is such a
great place to live. The Water Department staff have been working for years to accomplish
~"' many of the projects in our long term plan and are due our appreciation for a j ob well done.
Also, David Thompson, and members of the Jacksonville Fire Department have made great
strides to provide top notch service:'
,~.
A~~I+1~DA I~Fl~ 9~,
u ~ ~~ 22, 2®®~
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4 8 EVES DRIVE SUITE 200 MARLTON , NJ 08053 (856) 985-5600 FAX (856) 985-6464
May 4, 2006
Mr. Jim Hanson, Manager
City of Atlantic Beach
800 Seminole Road
'" Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 ,--
RE: Public Protection Classification Results
Atlantic Beach, Duval County, FL
Dear Mr. Hanson:
We wish to thank you acid the other community officials for your cooperation during our recent
Public Protection Classification (PPC) survey. ISO is the leading supplier of statistical, underwritug,
and actuarial information for the property/casualty insurance industry. Most insurers use the PPC
classifications for underwriting and calculating premiums for residential, commercial and industrial
properties.
~" ISO has completed its analysis of the structure fire suppression delivery system provided in your
community. We would like to report that the resulting classification is a Class 3. This classification
number applies to all properties in the classified area with a needed fire flow of 3,500 gpm or less.
!~ The private and public protection at properties in the jurisdiction with larger fire flows is individually
evaluated and may vary from the jurisdiction classification. Congratulations on your commitment to
serve the needs of your community's property owners and residents.
ISO will advise its subscribing insurers of this classification change within the next 30-days acid
assign an effective date of September 1, 2006. This date allows insurers the necessary lead time to
incorporate the Public Protection Classification change into their policy rating systems.
Enclosed is a summary of the ISO analysis of your fire suppression services. If you would like to
know how your community's classification could unprove, or if you would like to leans about the
"~ potential effect of proposed changes to your fire suppression delivery system, please call us at the
phone number listed below.
'"" The PPC program is not intended to analyze all aspects of a comprehensive structure fire suppression
delivery system program. It is not for purposes of determining compliance with any state or local
law, nor is it for making reconunendations about loss prevention or life safety.
~G~I~A ~'I'EI+/~ 4~
1~~Y 2B, 2®~6
s.
If you have any questions about your classification, please let us know.
Sincerely,
~u6Cic <'~otection 1~epartment
(856) 985-5600 Ext. 403
of
Encl.
~•
cc: Chief Richard A. Barrett/Director, Jacksonville Fire & Rescue Deparrinent
Ms. Donna Kaluzniak, Utility Director, City of Atlantic Beach
~* Mr. David E. Thompson, Director of Public Safety
Ms. Denise R. Coney, Communications Manager, Jacksonville Fire Dispatch
AG~I~d>i-~ I'r~l~ 9A
1~Y 22, 2006
THE ISO PUBLIC PROTECTION CLASSIFICATIOI+I (PPC) PI~OGRAIl~I
ISO's PPC program evaluates communities according to a uniform set of criteria defined in the
Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS). This criteria incorporates nationally recognized
"'" standards developed by the National Fire Protection Association and the American Water Works
Association.
Using the FSRS, ISO objectively reviews the fire suppression capabilities of a community and
assigns a Public Protection Classification - a number from 1 to 10. Class 1 represents exemplary
fire protection, and Class 10 indicates that the area's fire suppression program does not meet
'"~ minimum recognition criteria.
The FSRS allocates credit by evaluating the following three major features:
•.
• Fire alarm and communication system. This review accounts for 10% of the total
classification which centers upon a commmunity's facilities and support for handling and
dispatching fire alarms.
• Fire department. This review accounts for 50% of the total classification which focuses
,~„ upon items such as engine companies, ladder or service companies, distribution of fire
stations and fire companies, equipment carried on apparatus, pumping capacity, reserve
apparatus, department manning, and training.
""' Water supply system. This review accounts for 40% of the total classification
highlighting the water supply a cormmunity uses for fire suppression, including hydrant
size, type, and installation, as well as the inspection frequency and condition of fire
"~ hydrants.
When ISO develops a single classification for a community, all of the community's properties
receive that classification. h1 many communities, ISO develops a split classification (for
example, 5/9). Generally, the first class, (Class 5 in the example) applies to properties within a
defined distance (5-road miles in most states) of a fire station and within 1000 feet of a fire
hydrant. The second class (Class 9 in the example) applies to properties beyond 1000 feet of a
hydrant but within the defined distance of a fire station. ISO generally assigns Class 10 to
~ properties beyond the defined distance of a fire station.
Countrywic9e Public Protection Classification Summary
35.0
30.0
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0
Classifications
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
w.
A~~~~A ITEM 9t~
I~A~' 22, 2f!®~
,,,, Cn-ading Sheet For: Atlantic Beach, FL
Duval County
Public Protection Class: 3 Surveyed: FeUruaiy, 2006
Credit Maximum
Feature Assigned Credit
~•
Receiving and Handling Fire Alarms 8.31 % 10.00%
Fire Department 36.28% 50.00%
Water Supply 38.10% 40.00%
*Divergence -4.54%
Total Credit _ 78.15% 100.00%
~.
The Public Protection Class is Uased on the total percentage credit as follows:
~..
Class
1 90.00 or more
~,
2 80.00 to 89.99
3 70.00 to 79.99
~. 4 60.00 to 69.99
5 50.00 to 59.99
6 40.00 to 49.99
~'"' 7 30.00 to 39.99
g 20.00 to 29.99
9 10.00 to 19.99
10 0 to 9.99
*Divergence is a reduction in credit to reflect a difference in the relative credits for Fire
Department and Water Supply.
"" The aUove classification has Ueen developed for use in property insurance premium
calculations.
~.
RXHTRTT 30