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

funding levels for beach projects as part of any implementing legislation related to Amendment 1, which passed in the November 2014 general election. SUPPORT the revision of statutory criteria for the annual ranking of beach projects for state cost sharing, specifically, criteria that recognize economic benefits and cost- effectiveness, the reduction in storm damage, and the ability to leverage federal dollars. Beach Access: SUPPORT the preservation of public access to and along beaches and state water bodies and county regulatory authority. Working Waterfronts: SUPPORT funding sources and statutory provisions to assist local governments with: 1) the acquisition of property or development rights, 2) the preservation of commercial working waterfronts; 3) the improvement of recreational opportunities and public access. Vessels and Waterways: SUPPORT continued state funding of derelict vessel removal. SUPPORT continued state and local regulation of vessels, mooring fields, 13  2014-15 Legislative Program bulkheads and seawalls, floating vessel platforms, and seagrasses. SUPPORT greater county authority to regulate vessels in navigation outside of designated mooring fields. LAND USE REGULATION Billboards: OPPOSE legislation that preempts or dilutes local government’s ability to establish and maintain local ordinances which regulate billboards and outdoor advertising. Dangerous Captive Wildlife: SUPPORT enhanced interagency coordination between the counties and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) relating to land use regulations regarding dangerous captive wildlife. SUPPORT the listing of iguanas as a “reptile of concern” or, in the alternative, removing the current Class III permitting exemption. Mining: OPPOSE any reduction in the county government role in siting mines for the production of construction aggregate or other minerals. OPPOSE any reduction in county authority to regulate local concerns relating to the operation of mines including, but not limited to, hours of operation, noise, traffic and dust. ENERGY Incentives: SUPPORT incentives for local governments to assist in state energy policies such as green building and carbon emission reductions, and the technical assistance to implement these programs. Climate Change: SUPPORT a comprehensive state climate change action plan, with energy policies and other initiatives to reduce carbon dioxide and other compounds in the atmosphere and address ecosystem sustainability, long term water supply, flood protection, public health and safety, and economic growth and prosperity. SUPPORT state and federal recognition of adaptation and mitigation as critical to any climate change plan, and the funding necessary to assist local governments in developing and implementing climate change initiatives. Renewable Energy: SUPPORT streamlining the permitting and regulatory processes for solar products and installers. SUPPORT legislative incentives to encourage net metering and feed-in tariff programs, and the regulatory clarification that net metering should apply to each customer, rather than each meter, so that condominiums and other multi-unit buildings with a single solar system can apply the benefit to multiple users. SUPPORT a Clean Portfolio Standard (CPS), or alternatively, a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) for the State of Florida. SUPPORT legislative authorization for 14  2014-15 Legislative Program solar energy product manufacturers to train contractors and supervise installation without being required to obtain a contracting license. SUPPORT incentives to promote the use of solar power purchase agreements and solar leases. Additionally, SUPPORT statutory authorization, if needed, for local governments to create energy financing districts on a voluntary basis. ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING Delegation: SUPPORT increased delegation to local government where resources exist to accept partial or complete delegation of state environmental regulatory programs. OPPOSE mandatory delegation as many local environmental programs seek only to fill in the gaps of state and federal regulatory programs. Permit Streamlining: SUPPORT legislation that is thoroughly vetted with all stakeholders, and that takes a targeted approach to increasing regulatory efficiencies, rather than broadly preempting local government authority. OPPOSE legislation that prevents counties from having local environmental programs that are more stringent than state or federal regulatory programs. Conservation Lands: SUPPORT legislation that provides future state funding for the management and maintenance of conservation lands transferred to county control. SUPPORT improved management of state conservation lands and increased public access to those lands. SUPPORT the authority of county government to purchase and sell conservation lands in accordance with local needs, charter requirements, ordinance requirements or financial capacity. Sovereign Submerged Lands: SUPPORT the current case law definition of the "ordinary high water mark" which delineates state lands from private lands. OPPOSE any changes having the effect of transferring large quantities of wetlands and uplands from state ownership to private ownership. SOLID WASTE Solid Waste Funding: SUPPORT reinstating state funding of Solid Waste Management Grants. SUPPORT maintaining the waste tire fee as a dedicated revenue source for funding mosquito control programs and waste tire recycling. Solid Waste Regulation: OPPOSE any diminution of county authority to franchise and otherwise regulate construction and demolition debris (C&D) haulers, recyclers, or disposal facilities. 15  2014-15 Legislative Program Recycling: SUPPORT legislation that provides appropriate resources and incentives to local governments to achieve statewide recycling goals. SUPPORT a recycling credit for all recycled materials including municipal biomass and other waste-to-energy processes. OPPOSE legislation that imposes fees or taxes on local governments for collecting waste, which is an essential governmental service. Any recycling plan promulgated by the state must consider market and state-wide economic conditions. SUPPORT removing the exemption in s.403.7046(3), F.S., so that local government may require commercial establishments to convey source-separated recovered materials to the local government or to a facility designated by the local government for recycling. DOMESTIC WASTE Land Application of Septage: SUPPORT legislative policies that recognize the challenges of septage disposal in rural counties without adequate treatment facilities and Class I landfills, and the prioritization of funding for the construction of such facilities and associated infrastructure. Central Sewer Systems: SUPPORT the authority of county government to require mandatory connection to central sewer systems as they become available. WATER RESOURCES Water Funding: SUPPORT legislation that enhances regional and local financial capacity to address water supply development and the flexibility of all available funding sources. SUPPORT the funding of the Water Protection and Sustainability Program within the Department of Environmental Protection for the development of alternative water supplies, water quality improvement projects, and comprehensive water infrastructure needs. SUPPORT sustained commitment of state resources for regional systems of statewide importance, such as rivers, springs and the Everglades. SUPPORT renewed funding for alternative water supply projects, conservation, and the TMDL program. Water Supply: OPPOSE any shift of the water supply allocation process from publicly regulated to a market driven process. SUPPORT the fundamental principles of Florida water law which: • Requires demonstration that a proposed use of water is a reasonable- beneficial use, will not interfere with an existing legal use of water, and is consistent with the public interest to protect water and related natural resources. • Establishes a right of use, not a right of ownership. 16  2014-15 Legislative Program • Provides for “local sources first” – that is, a county in which water is withdrawn shall not be deprived directly or indirectly of the prior right to reasonable and beneficial use of water to supply the needs of its natural systems, property owners, or inhabitants. OPPOSE any state-wide water commission or “water czar” which would redefine the water supply relationship among the state, water management districts, and local governments. SUPPORT the enhancement of local government participation in the water management district planning, permitting and regulatory processes, including proposed reservations, minimum flows and levels, and recovery and prevention strategies. SUPPORT removal of the current sales tax exemption on bottled water. Water Quality: SUPPORT measures to preserve county authority to address water quality problems and the flexibility to craft solutions at the local level. Indian River Lagoon & Lake Okeechobee Basin: SUPPORT state funding for the construction of additional water storage and water quality treatment facilities within the Lake Okeechobee, Caloosahatchee, St. Lucie and Indian River Lagoon watersheds. SUPPORT state funding for domestic wastewater infrastructure that would reduce nutrient loading from septic tanks within the Lake Okeechobee Basin. Springs Protection: SUPPORT state funding for nutrient load reduction programs within Florida’s springsheds. SUPPORT state funding for projects that will improve water quantity and water quality within Florida’s springsheds. Fertilizer: SUPPORT the authority of county government to regulate the use and application of fertilizer to protect water quality. SUPPORT the “Florida Green Industries Best Management Practices” as a basic level of water quality protection, with more stringent protection authorized to address water bodies in need. SUPPORT legislation that would allow counties to develop regional approaches to nutrients, fertilizer, and other water quality issues that take into account particular local concerns relating to geology and hydrology. UTILITIES SUPPORT legislation that encourages and supports “goal-based water conservation initiatives through permit incentives and the use of conservation best management practices developed by the utility industry. 17  2014-15 Legislative Program SUPPORT legislation that recognizes the responsibility and authority of local government utilities to establish rates and rate structures to allow for flexibility in the provision of services and the sustainable funding of operations. Utility Certification : SUPPORT legislation that requires the PSC to consider local county comprehensive plans in determining whether to grant a certificate to a private utility. OPPOSE legislation that would amend the PSC statute to disregard a demonstration of need in determining whether to grant a certificate to a private utility. Utility Liens: SUPPORT legislation to amend Section 159.17, Florida Statutes, to authorize counties – as well as municipalities – that issue revenue bonds to place liens on