Okaloosa County BOCC — December 16, 2014 — 2014-15-legcon-legislative-program-final-1 — reading text

government to be eligible for consideration. Public Record and Open Meeting Exemptions for Economic Development: SUPPORT changes to s.286.0113 and s.288.075, F.S., that would allow the Board of County Commissioners to deliberate in private regarding an economic development proposal and preserve the confidentiality of confidential information in the possession of an economic development agency. 8  2014-15 Legislative Program Eric Poole, Assistant Legislative Director Growth Management, Agriculture, Email: epoole@fl-counties.com Phone: 850-922-4300 Fax: 850-488-7501 & Environment Stephen James, Legislative Staff Attorney Email: sjames@fl-counties.com Phone: 850-922-4300 Fax: 850-488-7501 GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPLEMENTATION Developments of Regional Impact: SUPPORT legislation that strengthens intergovernmental coordination processes to ensure that land development projects resulting in adverse impacts on a neighboring jurisdiction are properly mitigated by the approving jurisdiction. Local Regulations / Private Property Rights: SUPPORT an amendment to the Bert Harris Act (s.70.001, Florida Statutes) to specifically provide that a county’s adoption of federal Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) and implementing regulations do not give rise to a cause of action under the Bert Harris Act. Growth Management Reform: The growth reforms of 2011 represented the most significant changes to the state’s planning laws in more than 25 years. While FAC does not oppose the revised planning process, it believes that no further revisions should occur without first evaluating the impact the 2011 changes have had on the economy, the environment, local and regional infrastructure, and community development. Accordingly, until such an evaluation takes place, OPPOSE any further reductions in state planning oversight or other efforts preempting local planning decisions. Expedited State Review: SUPPORT changes to the Community Planning Act that would allow small counties to request the “State Coordinated Review Process” be used for the review of complex plan amendments. Concurrency: In the absence of state-mandated transportation concurrency, and to ensure that the roads needed to support new development are concurrent with the impacts of development, SUPPORT county home rule authority, and current statutory provisions, which allow counties to retain their current transportation concurrency systems, as adopted by local ordinance. Rural Growth: FAC recognizes that rural areas play an important role in our state’s economy, environment, agriculture, and cultural history. However, from a planning 9  2014-15 Legislative Program perspective, these areas have received much less attention than their urban and suburban counterparts. In view of this, SUPPORT the following: • Restoring the full amount of local technical assistance monies ($3.2 million) to the Department of Economic Opportunity, as originally provided under SB 360 (2005); • Targeted technical assistance to small counties for specific comprehensive planning functions, including Rural Land Stewardship Area (RLSA) issues; and Proportionate Fair-Share Mitigation: SUPPORT major revisions to the proportionate share statute to ensure that: (1) the funding formula and its application are clear and unambiguous; (2) local governments can determine if the payment is adequate to satisfy the concurrency management system; (3) each development can be charged its proportionate share of road improvements when the road is deficient or when development causes the road to become deficient; and, (4) development is not charged for existing deficiencies or backlog. REGIONAL PLANNING Regional Planning Councils (RPCs): SUPPORT full funding of regional planning councils to, at a minimum, cover the costs of statutory responsibilities, and to support enhanced economic development activities. OPPOSE legislation prohibiting or restricting the ability of a regional planning council to provide planning and technical service to its local governments. AFFORDABLE HOUSING Affordable Housing: SUPPORT retaining the full amount of dedicated documentary tax revenues to fund state and local affordable housing programs. TRANSPORTATION FUNDING Discretionary Sales Surtaxes (Charter County and Regional Transportation System Surtax): SUPPORT current law allowing counties, who are eligible to levy the Charter County and Regional Transportation System Surtax, the discretion to enter into an inter-local agreement with cities, and expressway authorities for the purpose of sharing a portion of tax revenues. FAC OPPOSES any legislative efforts that reduce this authority, including those that would allow cities to levy all or a portion of the surtax through local referenda. State Transportation Trust Fund: OPPOSE any effort to divert revenues from the state transportation trust fund for non-transportation purposes. 10  2014-15 Legislative Program Regional Transportation Finance Entities: SUPPORT legislation that authorizes the creation of regional transportation finance authorities, who may be authorized to use tolls, or pledge a portion of the capacity improvement funds from the State Transportation Trust Fund to finance eligible transit or transportation improvement projects. Rural Transportation Funding: SUPPORT state funding for the Small County Road Assistance Program (SCRAP). SUPPORT continuing enhanced state funding for the Small County Outreach Program (SCOP). Urban Transportation Funding: To help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote energy conservation, and lower the number of vehicle miles traveled, FAC SUPPORTS a change to the state’s transportation funding investment policy by creating a more flexible and balanced allocation of funds between transit and traditional highway capacity improvements. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING & ADMINISTRATION Managed Lanes: SUPPORT changes to FDOT’s “Managed Lanes” designation process to ensure counties have proper notice and are given an adequate comment period relating to any state road corridor that is proposed to include managed lanes. Additionally, revenues derived from managed lane operations that are in excess of the amounts needed to pay debt service, operations, or maintenance directly related to the managed lanes in any given year, shall be returned to the county where such revenues were generated for transit or transportation program expansion, improvement, or enhancement. Metropolitan Planning Organizations: OPPOSE FDOT efforts to require urbanized areas (UZAs) with multiple MPOs to submit one combined project priority list. Leasing of State Roads: OPPOSE the State of Florida leasing any existing state- owned toll road to a private concessionaire without creating a more transparent and inclusive process for FDOT to follow when considering leasing state-owned toll roads. SUPPORT statutory changes that would: • Include an early local government notification process; • Ensure local governments provide comments to the agency prior to it soliciting proposals relating to the leasing of a toll road; • Authorize the use of any remaining toll revenues from a lease agreement to be returned to the affected counties to provide funding for transportation related 11  2014-15 Legislative Program activities, including but not limited to, reimbursing counties for fire and emergency rescue services associated with the leased facility; and • Authorize the use of any upfront revenues (a.k.a., lease payment) and any excess revenues from a lease agreement to include non-SIS facilities and other non-capacity projects, including transit, as identified by the Metropolitan Planning Organization within the county or counties where the lease road is located. County Transportation Projects: SUPPORT increasing the cost cap (from $400,00 to $750,000) for counties to self-perform road improvement projects using the Constitutional Gas Tax proceeds. Strategic Intermodal System (SIS): SUPPORT legislation allowing SIS funds to used on roads and other transportation facilities not designated on the SIS network if the improvement relieves congestion on the SIS. AGRICULTURE Agricultural Protections: SUPPORT policies and legislation that curb abuse of statutory agricultural protections by real estate speculators and developers, while protecting principles of investment backed expectation. Rural and Family Lands Protection Act: SUPPORT funding the Rural and Family Lands Protection Act to allow for the purchase of rural lands protection easements to prevent the subdivision and conversion of such land into other uses. Rural Land Stewardship Areas (RLSAs): SUPPORT Rural Land Stewardship Areas (RLSAs) to maintain the economic value of rural land in Florida, protect the character of rural areas, ensure the viability of our agricultural economy, and control urban sprawl. SUPPORT local match funding for technical assistance and planning needed by local government to implement RLSAs. Sustainable Agriculture Incentives: SUPPORT legislation that encourages and incentivizes sustainable agriculture, and the maximization of local food production. Citrus Greening: SUPPORT state, federal and local efforts to include research and assist the citrus industry in addressing and controlling the damage and threat caused by citrus greening/Huanglongbing (HLB). 12  2014-15 Legislative Program LAND CONSERVATION Amendment 1–The Florida Water and Land Conservation Amendment: SUPPORT a balanced distribution of funds for land acquisition and for water quality and quantity projects throughout the state, with equitable allocation irrespective of a project’s urban or rural nature, or its coastal or inland location. SUPPORT land acquisitions of less than fee simple interest, thus reducing the cost to taxpayers while generating revenue, and allowing property owners to continue certain uses with negotiable terms. SUPPORT an allocation policy that involves local government participation in priority assessment and community impact. OPPOSE the use of Amendment 1 to supplant current funding for beach renourishment, springs protection and other uses allowed in Amendment 1. SUPPORT the continued funding of the Water Management Lands Trust Fund and the annual reserve for payments in lieu of taxes for ad valorem losses incurred as a result of water management district acquisition or charitable donation. SUPPORT the provision of PILT payments at a level that reflects current ad valorem revenues with adjustments to reflect any increase in property value in the future. BEACHES AND SHORES Beach Renourishment: SUPPORT the continuation of a statutory funding source for beach renourishment. SUPPORT a cost-benefit and needs analysis of beach funding and an increase in state funding levels over the current amount of $30 million, which is no longer sufficient to sustain the program. SUPPORT a significant increase in statutory