Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 12-12-06 ‎(workshop)‎ — reading text

aTY OF FORT WALTON BEACH CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP AGENDA - DECEMBER 12, 2006 - 5: 30 P.M City Council Chambers 107 Miracle Strip Parkway, SE Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 CALL TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Anderson I WORKSHOP AGENDA 1. General Public on items of City business. ( No Backup) 2. Discussion on Florida League of Cities 2007 Legislative Action Agenda. ( Mayor Anderson) ( See Backup) 3. Discussion on plan review. ( Council Member Pullen) ( See Backup)). ADJOURN need a Any person who decides to appeal any decision made with respect to any matter at this meeting will record of the proceedings, and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the is to be proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal based. (FS286. 0105). The City of Fort Walton Beach adheres to the American with Disabilities Act and will make reasonable modifications for access to this meeting upon request. Please call City Clerk Helen Spencer at 850-833- 9509 to make a request. For Hearing Impaired dial the City Hall TDD #850- 833- 9925 or 1- 800- 955- 8771 ( TDD) or 1- 800-955- 8770 (Voice). Requests must be received at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting in order to allow the City time to provide requested service.  CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP December 12, 2006 Workshop Agenda Discussion on Florida League of Cities 2007 Legislative Action Agenda Mayor Anderson) WA- 2 Agenda Item Number:  II 2007 LEGISLATIVE ACTION AGENDA BgJort of the FLC Leeislative Committee Florida Lea2ue of Cities' Priorities Charter County Relations The Florida League of Cities wi11 support legislation that restores and maintains municipal home rule authority for municipalities located within charter counties. Affordable Housing The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that preserves the dedicated documentary stamp fees as funding source for the State and Local Government Housing Trust Fund a Sadowski Trust Fund) and eliminates the cap placed on fund distribution, and will oppose any funds being diverted to the General Appropriations Fund. Property Tax Reform The Florida League of Cities supports a tax structure that is fair and equitable, is competitively neutral and allows municipalities the flexibility to provide adequate services in their communities. In addition, the League supports simplifying and stabilizing Florida' s state and local revenue structure in a manner that provides tax fairness for both businesses and citizens of our state. As such, the Florida League of Cities will support legislation that: Establishes a more simplified and informative truth- in- miHage ( TRIM) process for property owners specifically as it relates to a taxing authority' s proposed budget and the implications for the property owner' s tax bill, including the elimination of information like the " roUback" rate; Enhances a local budgeting process to encourage public participation; Establishes an equitable assessment system with standards and criteria that apply equally to all types of property and is based on the market value of the property' s current use; Establishes a statutory ceiling determined by the average assessment change in the previous five- years to protect all property owners trom unanticipated spikes in property tax bills. However, the League generally opposes artificial caps on property assessments, municipal expenditures or revenues; Authorizes local general purpose governments, including municipalities, to provide exemptions or changes to property tax assessment criteria ( such as Save Our Homes, Save Our UA IJ L  Seniors, portability of exemptions orspecial assessments for affordable housing) under specific circumstances within their jurisdiction.; Provides state financial assistance, in a revenue neutral manner, to impacted local governments to allow forproperty tax adjustments without reductions in municipal levels of service, if exemptions or changes to property tax assessment criteria are implemented statewide; Establishes specific assessment criteria and standards for the taxation of very low and moderate income housing; Establishes property tax equity by authorizing property appraisers to assess new construction, subject to appropriate exemptions, on a partial- year basis; Provides constitutional amendment to clarify the intent of Section I, Article VIII of the a Florida Constitution that prevents the dual taxation of municipal property for the primary benefit of the property or residents in the unincorporated areas; and Authorizes municipalities to levy any tax authorized by the state for any public purpose. Other Kev Issues Growth Management The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that: Ensures growth management decisions are driven foremost by land use planning rather than concurrency; Supports multi- modal transportation initiatives and alternative means of mobility based on urban form and design; Provides municipalities with state and local option revenue sources to meet financial feasibility requirements and infrastructure demands; Clarifies the statutory authority of the state land planning agency and prohibits the agency' s use of non- rule policy in implementing growth management laws; and Revises proportionate fair share mitigation requirements to address the unintended i~ pact on sprawl, urban infill and redevelopment, and affordable housing. Water & Sewer The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that authorizes additional funding for alternative water supply development by local governments, and will oppose legislation that prohibits a local government from requiring mandatory connections to central sewer when it becomes available.  unicipal Benefits and Retirement L' he Florida League of Cities will support legislation that: Authorizes municipalities to establish investment standards for any pension plan consistent with Chapter 212; Eliminates statutory provisions that require municipalities to provide or make available health and other related benefits to retired employees; and Eliminates existing statutory restrictions on the use of Chapters 175 and 185 revenues insurance premium tax) and allows the increase in revenue caused by the insurance crisis to help offset growing actuarial liabilities and to benefit the municipal taxpayers. Transportation The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that 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 TRIP, urban arterial and other projects. Furthermore, the existing distribution formula for local option transportation taxes imposed by county a should be revised to allow for a more equitable distribution to municipalities and provides for indexing of local option fuel tax. The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that requires the Florida Department of Transportation ( FDOT) to obtain legislative approval to remove or delay projects contained in the FDOT 5- Year Work Plan unless approved by the appropriate MPO, TPO and the affected local governments and such removal or delay will not adversely impact the comprehensive plans of the local government entities. Furthermore, no new projects shall be added to the FDOT 5- Year Work Plan until all delayed projects are reincorporated in the subsequent 5- Year Work Plan. The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that enhances the protection of life and property by authorizing the use of electronic traffic infraction detectors at traffic intersections, and the authority to assess fines to the owner of any vehicle determined by such devices to have violated traffic laws. Cable Franchising The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that preserves municipal authority to franchise cable and video services. Workers' Compensation for the First Responders The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that provides a comprehensive and uniform workers' compensation system for all municipal employees, regardless of employee classification, at a reasonable cost to employers. Emergency Management The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that mandates the Public Service Commission be accountable to the needs of Florida' s residents and ensures that the recovery of losses due to natural disasters be apportioned fairly and equitably among all stakeholders of the utilities. The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that appropriates monies for grants to fund hazard mitigation programs in local communities, loss prevention efforts, and the costs of un- reimbursed hazard- related damages. The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that modifies current law to require the provision of alternate generated power sources by each corporation or other entity that owns five 5) or more motor fuel retail outlets within a single county. Furthermore, the League supports legislation to remove the preemption of local government authority to require alternate generated power sources. The Florida League of Cities will support legislation that develops and funds a statewide information system permitting direct access