2008-02 Requests to Leg. DelegationRESOLUTION NO. 08 -02
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA,
URGING MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO
SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING ISSUES DURING THE 2008
LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
WHEREAS, as Florida's population continues to increase, cities are challenged to meet the
service demands and infrastructure needs to account for new growth; and
WHEREAS, a majority of Florida's municipalities are challenged to meet the increasing
infrastructure, affordable housing, transportation and water quality needs of their
citizens; and
WHEREAS, the state has imposed greater accountability in comprehensive planning and
fiscal feasibility standards on municipalities; and
WHEREAS, Florida's municipalities are dependent on other governmental entities for
financial stability and presently the state counties, and school districts, control every
funding source that has been authorized for implementing growth management
capital improvements and complying with concurrency requirements; and
WHEREAS, municipal self- determination and local self government are constantly under
attack from a variety of public and private interests; and
WHEREAS, the role and function of municipal government is constantly evolving from new
demands from its citizens and businesses.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved before the City Council for the City of Okeechobee,
Florida; presented at a duly advertised public meeting; and passed by majority vote of the
City Council; and properly executed by the Mayor or designee, as Chief Presiding Officer
for the City:
Section 1. That the City of Okeechobee urges Governor Charlie Crist and
members of the Florida Legislature to support legislation during the
2008 legislative session that:
Re- authorizes the affordable housing trust funds, preserves the
documentary stamp fee as the trust funds' funding source and
removes the legislative cap on fund distribution;
Enhances public notice of and participation in state environmental
permitting processes;
Fully funds state growth management mandates and provides
municipalities with state and local option revenue sources to meet
financial feasibility requirements and infrastructure demands;
Allows municipalities and counties to reclassify businesses,
professions, and occupations and establish new rate structures for
local business taxes on a periodic basis;
Enhances municipal control over municipal employee pension plan
management and funding;
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ATTEST:
Section 2.
Preserves and protects property rights of mobile home owners, when
mobile home parks are rezoned, but not in a manner that requires
removal costs to be the responsibility of local governments;
Broadens municipal home rule and other authority to issue tax
increment financed bonds and other forms of indebtedness without
approval by referendum;
Provides an equitable, dedicated and recurring revenue source for
municipal transportation projects and opposes legislation that transfers
or diverts state transportation trust fund revenues to balance the state
budget;
Prohibits the Florida Department of Transportation from eliminating,
deferring, or delaying capacity improvement projects contained in the
5 -year Work Plan when it negatively impacts the comprehensive plan
of the local government;
Authorizes the use of electronic traffic infraction detectors at traffic
intersections; and
Maintains or increases funding of the state Water Protection and
Sustainability Trust Fund.
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED in regular session this 15 day of January, 2008.
Lane Gamiotea, CMC, City Clerk
REVIEWED FOR LEGAL SUFFICIENCY:
That a copy of this Resolution shall be provided to Governor Charles
Crist, Senator President Ken Pruitt, House Speaker Marco Rubio and
members of the Florida Legislature.
John R. Cook, City' ney
Resolution No. 08 -02 Page 2 of 2
James E. Kirk, Mayor