05-22
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RESOLUTION NO. 05-22
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER,
FLORIDA, URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO
VOTE AGAINST HOUSE BILL 1521 AND SENATE BILL
2060, WHICH WOULD AMEND PART III OF CHAPTER
163, FLORIDA STATUTES, IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE
ABILITY OF COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES
TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR STATUTORY
REDEVELOPMENT TASKS; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
WHEREAS, the 2005 Florida Legislature is considering House Bill 1521 and
Senate Bill 2060, which if enacted would significantly revise the funding mechanisms
under which municipal Community Redevelopment Agencies fund capital projects, such
as by automatically reducing current contributions by county governments; and
WHEREAS, the bills seek to assist counties in such city-county disputes; but
leave little for municipal interests in such disputes; and
WHEREAS, the bills would alter the course of redevelopment in midstream after
approval, after joint planning, and after funding commitments by the charter county,
prior to the establishment of the CRA, for the full term of the CRA; and
WHEREAS, the bills' provision requiring the preparation of interlocal agreements
not only affect community redevelopment agencies that may be created subsequent to
the effective date of the proposed legislation but would also apply to community
redevelopment agencies now existing and operating; and
WHEREAS, Section 163.410, Florida Statutes, grants all powers of community
redevelopment to charter counties which may then delegate those powers to
municipalities within such charter counties; and
WHEREAS, the bill will lead to existing community redevelopment agencies
being re-created, making new and specific findings for slum and/or blight that will be
subject to challenge, and if challenged successfully, void all prior action of a community
redevelopment agency; and
WHEREAS, charter counties have delegated powers to municipalities in the
past, but now want, through the bills, to take said powers back; and
WHEREAS, the bills will undermine the ability of community redevelopment
agencies to upgrade their areas and be attractive to developers; and
Resolution No. 05-22
WHEREAS, the bills would require community redevelopment agencies to obtain
approval from the county for any redevelopment activity that would require amendments
to approved redevelopment plans; and
WHEREAS, the bills would result in a limited number of projects with finite time
limitations, and would give the county the ability to negotiate its share of tax increment
revenue payments; and
WHEREAS, the bills effectively turn a community redevelopment program
designed to eliminate slum and blight conditions, and to enhance lifestyle and business
conditions for residents and business owners in a community redevelopment area, into
an economic development program designed to impact a limited number of fixed
projects with discernable cash returns, benefiting only those projects prepared to be
immediately undertaken; and
WHEREAS, the bills would significantly increase the amount of time to complete
amendments to community redevelopment plans, thus reducing the ability of
community redevelopment agencies to assist private developers in a timely and
opportunistic manner; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA:
Section 1. That the City Council urges each member of the Florida Legislature
to vote against House Bill 1521 and Senate Bill 2060, and any other companion or
similar bill having the same adverse impacts upon Community Redevelopment
Agencies in Florida.
Section 2. That the Mayor and City Clerk are hereby authorized to cause a
copy of this resolution to be delivered to each member of the Pinellas County
Delegation and to the presiding officers of the Florida Senate and House of
Representatives.
Section 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 21st
day of April , 2005.
-I~/#/~
'Fr6nk V. Hibbard
Mayor
Attest:
Pa ela K. Akin
City Attorney
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Resolution No. 05-22