Okaloosa County BOCC — December 16, 2014 — reading text

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 Packet Pg. 436  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 Packet Pg. 437  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 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 Packet Pg. 438  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 Packet Pg. 439  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