Fort Walton Beach Resolution — 07-02-Support FLOC Key Priority Issues — reading text

RESOLUTION 07- 02 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON 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, Gov. 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 FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. That the City of Fort Walton Beach urges Gov. Charlie Crist and members of the Florida legislature to support legislation during the 2007 legislative 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. 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 comprehensive and uniform workers' compensation system for all a 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 TRI P, 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 FOOT 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 Gov. Charlie Crist, Senate President Ken Pruitt, House of Representatives Speaker Marco Rubio and members of the Florida Legislature. Section 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon approval by the City Council. Date 13 - 07 iMelkA Mike Anderson, Mayor Attest: Approved as to form and legal sufficiency: c~ 7 Helen A. Spenc City Clerk Toni L. Craig, City Attor~ r, rDlSPOSITION  I L-. ,~.\ City of Fort Walton Beach J .' 1. J.~\ i~ !- America' s Most Beautiful Beaches 107 Miracle Strip Parkway, SW * P. O. Box 4009 * Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549 VI( .:. ,'. . 850) 833- 9500 * Fax ( 850) 833- 9640 TOO ( 850) 833- 9925 Mike Anderson Mayor Tel 850- 833- 9510 E- mail fwbmayor@fwb. org February 15, 2007 The Honorable Charlie Crist Office of the Governor The Capitol 400 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399- 0001 Dear Governor Crist: At its regularly scheduled Council meeting of February 13, 2007, the Fort Walton Beach City Council adopted Res. 07 - 02, which urges members of the Florida Legislature to support the key issues identified by the Florida League of Cities and the City of Fort Walton Beach. Your support of this resolution is appreciated. Regards, b- Mike Anderson Mayor Ive  L-. J \~'.\ V City of Fort Walton Beach A' JA y. America' s Most Beautiful Beaches fV,/.' '. '. I: .' ' Beach, FL 32549 107 Miracle Strip Parkway, SW * P. O. Box 4009 * Fort Walton 850) 833- 9500 * Fax ( 850) 833- 9640 TDD ( 850) 833- 9925 Mike Anderson Mayor Tel 850- 833- 9510 E-mail fwbmayor@fwb. org February 15, 2007 The Honorable Ken Pruitt President of the Senate Suite 409, The Capitol 404 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399- 1100 Dear Senator Pruitt: At its regularly scheduled Council meeting of February 13, 2007, the Fort Walton Beach City Council adopted Res. 07 -02, which urges members of the Florida Legislature to' support the key issues identified by the Florida League of Cities and the City of Fort Walton Beach. Your support of this resolution is appreciated. Regards, k- Mike Anderson Mayor Iva  L-. J \~'.\ t..~... City of Fort Walton Beach I~' 4, A. lll r'~\ i \;~ America' s Most Beautiful Beaches r , V /.: ., . I: ~ ' 107 Miracle Strip Parkway, SW * P. O. Box 4009 * Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549 850) 833- 9500 * Fax ( 850) 833- 9640 TOD ( 850) 833- 9925 Mike Anderson Mayor Tel 850- 833- 9510 E- mail fwbmayor@fwb. org February 15, 2007 Senator Don Gaetz 404 South Monroe Street Senate Office Bldg, Room 320 Tallahassee, FL 32399 Dear se~ etz: