Okaloosa County BOCC — February 16, 2016 — Request to scheduling a public hearing for the Adoption of an Ordinance — agenda request

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: February 16, 2016 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: Roland Sims Jr. SUBJECT: Request to scheduling a public hearing for the Adoption of an Ordinance Amending the Blue DEPARTMENT: County Administrator BCC DISTRICT: 5 STATEMENT OF ISSUE: In 2002, the Board adopted an Ordinance pursuant to the provisions of section 125.01(1) q, Florida Statutes which created the Bluewater Bay Municipal Service Unit. The purpose of the Unit was to provide for the funding of improvements and services that specially benefit properties within the unit. The original ordinance contains numerous provisions that need to be amended to bring them in line with current law and practice. Further, there are several provisions that require clarification to make them consistent with other policies of the Board. BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS: As part of the Boards established goals, staff was directed to begin reviewing existing ordinance provisions to determine whether any revisions or clarifications were required. One of those ordinances was the Ordinance creating the Bluewater Bay Municipal Services Benefit Unit which was adopted by the then Board in 2002. The Ordinance requires various modifications to bring its provisions in line with current law and practice. Further, there are several provisions that require clarification to make them consistent with other policies of the Board. Among these changes are establishing the duties and functions of the Board of the Unit, providing for the applicability of county policies to their functions and clarifying the uses for which the assessment revenue may be used. It also was intended to establish clear guidelines for the establishing of the assessment rate and the submission and approval of the budget for the Unit. Staff and representatives of the County Attorney’s office have met with members of the Bluewater Bay Municipal Services Benefit Unit Board and they have voted to support the proposed amendments. At this point, staff requests authorization to schedule and advertise a Public Hearing for the adoption of the amendments to the Ordinance. Staff would request that the public hearing be scheduled for the Boards March 15th meeting at the County Administration Building in Shalimar. OPTIONS: Approve/Disapprove. RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the scheduling and advertising of a public hearing to be held at the Board’s March 15th, 2016 meeting for the consideration of an ordinance amending the Bluewater Bay Municipal Services Benefit Unit Ordinance. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: John Hofstad, County Administrator