Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 02-23-2010 Regular — reading text

/ 82- - 2/ 15/ 2010 Florida Hometown Democracy Page 1 of 2 FLORIDA HOMETOWN DEMOCRACY Vote Yes *,4* * C1ve Yourself a Vote on rowt. HOME I ABOUT US I DONATE I FAQ I JOIN US I CONTACT I ENDORSEMENTS I CAMPAIGN MATERIALS About Florida Hometown Democracy Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people."' -Abraham Lincoln All political power is inherent in the people." -- Article I, Section I, Florida Constitution Who Are We? A grass- roots, non -partisan citizens' initiative organized to put Amendment 4 on the November 2010 ballot. We are Floridians who dearly love our state and know that putting the people back in charge of the places where they live is key to a sustainable future. Organizers Lesley Blackner Ross Burnaman Why This Campaign? People care about the place where they live. Each of us has a huge stake in the growth decisions that can drastically alter our community' s future. The Florida Hometown Democracy Amendment, now on the November 2010 ballot as Amendment 4 seeks to make Florida' s land -use planning system more accountable to Floridians by giving voters veto power over changes to their local master plans ( comprehensive plans). A comprehensive plan is a community' s long -term master plan for sensible growth. Millions of dollars are spent and great care is taken creating these plans in order to ensure that unplanned growth does not overwhelm a community, wreck its economy or harm its citizens' quality of life. Currently our elected officials have the exclusive authority to approve or deny changes to a comprehensive plan. These plan changes, which typically allow for more density or intensity of development on a particular site, are political decisions. Our elected city and county commissioners take an oath to protect the public interest. Florida law presumes that commissioners are acting in the pubic interest when they vote to accept or reject a proposed plan change. Florida law is clear that a proposed plan change should be rejected if it does not serve the public interest. Unfortunately, Florida history shows that too many county and city commissioners have a bad habit of rubberstamping plan changes that are harmful to their community. This habit of rubberstamping speculative plan changes has turned Florida into the " Ponzi State." Our commissioners' failure to protect the public interest helps. to explain Florida' s destructive boom -bust cycle that wrecked the economy with over -building and led to job losses, declining property values, rising local taxes, foreclosures and business failures. Florida law is clear that property owners have the right to use their property in accord with its current designation on the existing comprehensive plan. For example, if a property is designated agricultural, the property owner has the right to use it for any and all agricultural purposes. But agricultural landowners do not have the automatic right to change the use of their land in order to sell it to a developer for condos or strip malls, for example. A comprehensive plan change is required. The property owner must request this master plan change from his or her local city or county commission. Citizens in a community have rights, too. We have the right to protect our property, quality of life, local infrastructure, 2/ 15/ 2010 http:// www. floridahometowndemocracy .com/about8frorida- hometown- democracy.htm Florida Hometown Democracy Page 2 of 2 and natural resources. We also have the right to demand that our communities shall not be harmed by irresponsible, speculative changes to our master plan. After all, we are the ones who must live with and pay for the consequences. Hometown Democracy Amendment 4 will require that changes to your local master plan for future land development comprehensive plan) approved by your city or county commission must then go to the voters for final approval or rejection in a referendum. If the change being proposed is sensible and necessary, proponents of the change should easily be able to convince the majority of local voters that the plan change serves the public interest. Under Amendment 4, voter approval will take place at the next regularly scheduled election, by mail -in ballot, or in conjunction with other elections. No special ellections are required. If the city or county commissioners reject a proposed plan change,' voters will not vote on the change. In short, the Florida Hometown Democracy Amendment 4 process creates an opportunity for citizens to veto or approve changes to their local master plans. As Florida' s recent history demonstrates, changes to your community's master plan are among the most important decisions that local governments make, and we in the community must live with the consequences for decades to come. Accordingly, voters have a right to be involved in this most important decision -making process. Florida Hometown Democracy View a List of Our Organization Endorsements! Pd. pal. adv. byFloridaHometown Democracy, Inc, PAC http:// www.floridahoineto `vndemocracy.com/ aboutWrida- hometown -democracy.htm 2/ 15/ 2010 Florida Hometown Democracy Page 1 of 3 FLORIDA HOMETOWN DEMOCMCY Vote Yes 4 Give Yourself a Vote on Growth HOME I ABOUT US I DONATE I FAQ I JOIN US I CONTACT I ENDORSEMENTS I CAMPAIGN MATERIALS Endorsements Endorse The Campaign - have your local group or organization become an official sponsor of Florida Hometown Democracy! Click here for the Endorsement Form... then complete and mail in! Albert J. Abbatiello, 2008 Candidate St John's County Commission Scott M. Ales, former Mayor, City of Eustis Faye Armitage, 2008 Candidate US Congressional District 7 Michael E. Arth, Candidate for Governor 2010 Beth Dillaha, Winter Park City Commissioner (watch short video from Beth) Eric Fricker - former Vice Mayor, City of Cocoa Beach Richard J. Grosso, Esq. Mary E. ( Mel) Kelly, former mayor City of Carrabelle Kenneth E. LaRoe, CEO First Green Bank Joe McClash, Manatee County Commissioner Kay McGinn, former mayor and commissioner, City of Pompano Beach David E. Merrill, former mayor of Sarasota Harry Metz, former St. Pete Beach City Commissioner Gathana Parmenas, Carrabelle City Commissioner' 05 -'07 Ian & Teri Pollack, Amazing Race 3 & Amazing Race All Stars Ben Rich, former St. Johns County Commissioner Earl M. Starnes, PhD Richard Valuntas, Esq Lovett E. Williams, Jr., PhD ORGANIZATIONS: Alliance To Protect Water Resources, Inc. Ancient Island Sierra Group Audubon of Martin County Big Bend Biofuels Broadway to Silver Beach Neighborhood Association, Inc. Broward Barrier Island Coalition Citizens Come First Citizens Council For Creeks and Wetlands Citizens For Sanity.Com, Inc. Citizens For Sensible Growth In Sarasota County, Inc. Clean Water Action Clean Water Network of Florida Coalition of Concerned Citizens Concerned Citizens of Coconut Creek, LLC Concerned Citizens of Flagler Beach Concerned Citizens of Wakulla Concerned Friends of Fernandina Conservation Alliance of St. Lucie County Control Growth Now Corridor 44 Civic Association Council of Neighborhood Associations of Sarasota County, CONA Duval Audubon Society Eagle Crest Civic Association East Polk Government Watch Committee, Inc.< Eastern Surfing Association - Palm Beach County District Eco- Action, Inc. Edgewater Citizens Alliance for Responsible Development, Inc - ECARD Environment Florida Environmental & Land Use Law Center, Inc. http:// www.floridahometowndemocracy .comlfloridW5hometown- democracy- endorsements.... 2/ 15/ 2010 Florida Hometown Democracy Page 2 of 3 Environmental Confederation of Southwest Florida, Inc ( ECOSWF) Environmental Council of Volusia - Flagler Counties EverGreen, the Tree Treasurers of Charlotte County F. E. A. R., Inc. ( Floridians for Environmental Accountability and Reform) Flagler Beach Environmental Preservation Council, Inc Florida Bi- Partisan Civic: Affairs Group Florida Consumer Action Network Florida Native Plant Society', Pinellas Chapter Florida Open Beaches Foundation, lnc. Florida Panther Society FL PIRG - Florida Public Interest Research Group Florida Wildlife Federation Floridians for a Sustainable Population Four Lakes Homeowners Association Friends Of The Everglades, Inc. Geneva Citizens Association, Inc. Glen Springs Preservation Association, Inc. The Golden Gate Estates Area Civic Association, Inc. Green Party of Florida Halifax River Audubon Hammock Estates HOA of Sebring, Inc. Howell Estates Homeowners Association Indian River Neighborhood Association Lake Region Audubon Legal Environmental Assistance Foundation Lehigh Acres Watchdog, Inc. Martin County Conservation Alliance Mayport Village Civic Association National Humane Society Native Plant Society - PawPaw Chapter Oklawaha Valley Audubon Society Osteen Preservation Society Palm City Civic Organization, Inc. Panhandle Citizens Coalition Pegasus Foundation People For Good Government Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society Pinellas) Park Royale Home Owners Association Public Trust Environmental Legal Institute of Florida Putnam Citizens Alliance, Inc. St. Lucie Audubon Society Samsula And Volusians for our Environment, Inc. Sarasota Audubon Society, Inc. Save Brevard Seminole Audubon Society,,Inc. Sierra Club of Florida St. Lucie Audubon Society Student Environmental Association Sumter Citizens Against Irresponsible Development Sumter Citizens Against Polluting the Aquifer Surfrider Foundation - Palm Beach County Chapter Surfside Town Commission Swiss Village Park Taxpayer Action Group (TAG) Volusia Flagler Environmental Council Wetlands Alert, Inc. Wilcox Nursery Wildwood Preservation Society Witham Airport Action Majority, Inc. Help Florida Hometown Democracy by having your local group or organization become a sponsor! http: / www.floridahoinetoi / vndemocracy.comlflorid&6hometown- democracy- endorsements.... 2/ 15/ 2010  CITY COUNCIL MEETING February 23, 2010 Resolution Resolution 2010 - 6 Amendment to the City Comprehensive Fee Schedule Synopsis: As directed, staff has adjusted recreation and culture fees to address families with several children Agenda Item Number: 5. 2  CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH Memorandum DATE: February 16, 2010 TO: Bob Mearns, City Manager FROM: Jeff Peters, Recreation and Cultural Services Director SUBJECT: Comprehensive Fee Schedule Changes 1.