08-02
RESOLUTION NO. 08-02
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER,
FLORIDA, URGING MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA
LEGISLATURE TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING ISSUES
DURING THE 2008 LEGISLATIVE SESSION; PROVIDING
THAT A COpy BE PROVIDED TO CERTAIN STATE
OFFICIALS; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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 BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA:
Section 1. That the City of Clearwater urges Governor Charlie Crist and
members of the Florida Legislature to support legislation that:
. Reauthorizes 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;
Resolution No. 08- 02
. Enhances municipal control over municipal employee pension plan management
and funding;
. 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.
Section 2. That a copy of this resolution shall be provided to Governor Charlie
Crist, Senate President Ken Pruitt, House Speaker Marco Rubio and members of the
Florida Legislature.
Section 3. That this Resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 17th day of January
,2008.
-:f~~/#~~
~raflk V. Hibbard
Mayor
Approved as to form:
Attest:
~'J!
Leslie K. Dougall-:-
Assistant City Att
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Resolution No. 08- 02