Fort Walton Beach Resolution — 2008-09-Supporting Florida Forever — reading text

Resolution 08-09 A Resolution of the City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, supporting Florida Forever and a Successor Program; and setting an effective date. WHEREAS, the Florida Forever program and its predecessor Preservation 2000 program have immeasurably contributed to environmental health, quality of life, recreation, and sustainability in Florida for this and future generations, and WHEREAS, Florida Forever has acquired over one million acres throughout Florida since 2000 and allocates $ 300 million annually to purchase environmentally sensitive and other lands, and has done so through numerous successful partnerships with cities, counties, state agencies, water management districts, nonprofit organizations, private landowners, and others In achieving its conservation purposes, and WHEREAS, Florida Forever, through partnerships with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Water Management Districts, and others, produces benefits that include clean air and water; healthy fisheries and wildlife habitat; improved water supply protection; and protected open spaces including water bodies, and greenway corridors, park lands, forests, and WHEREAS, Florida Forever, through the Florida Communities Trust, has assisted Florida' s cities and counties in protecting their cultural and historical resources, meeting the challenges of growth management, directing development away from coastal high hazard areas and floodplains; fostering a in healthier lifestyle for Floridians; and providing recreational outdoor experiences both urban and rural settings, and WHEREAS, Florida Forever has helped to save many of Florida' s beaches, for our rivers, bays, forests, coral reefs and estuaries that provide the foundation and 3 billion tourism industry that attract more than 70 million visitors each year, WHEREAS, 50 Florida local governments have enacted land acquisition finance financing programs in the past decades, and these conservation programs serve to leverage Florida Forever funding and increase the impact of State land conservation funding, and WHEREAS, Florida is experiencing rapid population growth, with approximately of life that 1 , 100 new residents every day; and Floridians demand a high quality includes green space, access to water, pastoral settings and recreational opportunities, and WHEREAS, Florida Forever and other land conservation programs must and compete in Florida' s market of surging land and housing prices, WHEREAS, the effectiveness of Florida Forever has diminished because of escalating land prices and the impacts of inflation; and WHEREAS, the funding for the Florida Forever program will sunset in 2010; and WHEREAS, research by the Florida Forever coalition has found that over $ 20 wildlife billion is currently needed to purchase parks and recreational facilities, and and wilderness areas, and open space for our state' s increasing population, WHEREAS, a 2005 public opinion survey conducted by members of the Florida Forever Coalition found that 78% of Florida' s voters approve of the Florida Forever program, and WHEREAS, the benefits of Florida Forever have included the purchase of acre, waterfront park property to develop Sound Park, a passive recreation, 2. 5 in Fort Walton Beach. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Fort Walton Beach City Council declares its support to the State of Florida Legislature for the creation and funding of a successor program to the Florida Forever program and requests delegation to advocate for the creation and funding of a successor itlegislative program to Florida Forever. This resolution is effective upon passage by the Council. U:o f Date: fJ(;. tA./ tJ/( ~ (~ Mike Anderson, Mayor Attest: Approved as to legal sufficiency: r'. ~ rtifJvn 6.~ Helen Spencer, Clerk G..~ LA Toni L. Craig, Attorney  l L- '~\ I City of Fort Walton Beach 1A- F W'?"': ~,. .. ~. · America' s Most Beautiful Beaches v v If .: _"...... 107 Miracle Strip Parkway, SW * P. O. Box 4009 * Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549 850) 833- 9500 * Fax ( 850) 833- 9640 TDD ( 850) 833- 9925 Mike Anderson Mayor Tel 850- 833- 9510 E- mail fwbmayor@fwb. org March 17, 2008 Senator Don Gaetz 404 South Monroe Street Senate Office Bldg, Room 320 Tallahassee, FL 32399 Dear ~ etz: At its regularly scheduled Council meeting of March 11, 2008, the Fort Walton Beach City Council adopted Res. 08- 09 which supports the Florida Forever and a Successor Program. Your support of this resolution is appreciated. Regards, Mike Anderson Mayor Ive  l L- '~'" l City of Fort Walton Beach 1A' America' s Most Beautiful Beaches 107 Miracle Strip Parkway, SW * P. O. Box 4009 * Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549 850) 833- 9500 * Fax ( 850) 833- 9640 TDD ( 850) 833- 9925 Mike Anderson Mayor Tel 850- 833- 9510 E- mail fwbmayor@fwb. org March 17, 2008 Representative Ray Sansom 348 Miracle Strip Parkway Suite 8 Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 DearRepr~ som: At its regularly scheduled Council meeting of March 11, 2008, the Fort Walton Beach City Council adopted Res. 08- 09 which supports the Florida Forever and a Successor Program. Your support of this resolution is appreciated. Regards, W., Mike Anderson Mayor Ive