Agenda 03/11/2008 Item #10B
Agenda Item NO.1 08
March 11, 2008
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to approve the Southwest Florida Consortium 2008 Legislative
Priorities which will be presented by participating County Commissioners in the
Consortium to their respective Legislative Delegation members in meetings April 2
in Tallahassee
OBJECTIVE: To approve the Southwest Florida Consortium 2008 Legislative Priorities
which will be presented by participating Commissioners in the six-county Consortium -
including Collier, Lee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties - to their
respective Legislative Delegation representatives in a series of meetings in Tallahassee
on April 2.
CONSIDERATION: To develop the Southwest Florida Consortium 2008 Legislative
Priorities, county and city staff from the six member counties and cities met on January
30,2008 in Lee County to address issues of common concern to our constituencies in
Southwest Florida in the 2008 Legislative Session which commenced March 4. At that
time, the Southwest Florida Consortium 2008 Lcgislative Priorities list was developed,
then refined and is now being brought to each member county's respective County
Commission for endorsement.
Upon approval, the slate of Southwest Florida Consortium 2008 Legislative Priorities
will be presented by participating County Commissioners to their representatives in the
Florida Legislature in meetings in Tallahassee on Wednesday, April 2, which is the
Consortium's 2008 Legislative Day.
The Southwest Florida Legislative Consortium was formed several years ago with the
intent of unifying regional efforts and strengthening representation in Tallahassee on
issues of importance to the region.
For the past several years the Southwest Florida Consortium members have traveled to
the State of Florida Capitol at the beginning of the Legislative Session to meet with state
legislators to present the Consortium's State Legislative Priorities. This year the trip is
scheduled for April 1-2 and Charlotte County is the host. The specific itinerary and
schedule of meetings are yet to be announced, but a breakfast with Consortium members
and legislators on April 2 is tentatively planned as in previous years.
Representing Collier County so far will be Board of County Commissioners Vice
Chairman Donna Fiala, Commissioners Fr.mk Halas and Jim Coletta, Deputy County
Manager Leo E. Ochs, Jr., Chief Assistant County Attorney Jeffrey K1atzkow, and
Assistant to the County Manager Debbie Wight.
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The below list was proposed as a result of a joint meeting of the Consortium's county and
city managers/administrators:
Southwest Florida Consortium's 2008 Le!!isJative Priorities
I. Fair and Equitable Tax Reform
. Gas Tax Indexing
. Internet Sales Tax Reform
. Reevaluate Appraisal & Assessment of Properties
. Support Partial-Year Assessments
. Support Real Estate Transfer Fee
. No limits of Local Sales Tax
. Reduce the Number of Sales Tax Exemptions
. Support Local Economic Stimulus Efforts
2. Support Home Rule & Oppose Unfunded Mandates
. Aggregate Mining
. Retain Home Rule Impact Fee Authority
3. Water Quality
. Fertilizer Rules (Task Force report includes no preemption)
. Support Healthy Beaches Initiative
. Florida Forever Reauthorization
4. Transportation Funding
. Oppose Raid on Transportation Trust Funds
. Reassess St.l'lltegic Intennodal System (SIS) Priority Funding
5. Propose Changes to the Consultants Competitive Negotiations Act
(CC"NA)
(BackgrOlmd attached)
The Board of County Commissioners on November 13,2007 approved the following list
of Collier County 2008 State Legislative Priorities:
Collier CounlV 's
2008 State Lefrislalive Priorities:
. Continue Efforts to Decrease Insurance Costs
. Affordable Housing - Remove Cap on Sadowski Housing Trust Funds
. Protect Impact Fees
. Real Estate Transfer Fee
. Partial-Year Assessment.~
. Protect Home Rule
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March 11, 2003
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. Transportation Funding Tied to Seat Belt Use
. Cameras at Intersections to Catch Red-Light Runners
. Address Issues of Concern in Consultants Competitive Negotiation
Act (CCNA)
. Monitor Growth Management Developments
. Support Any Attempt to Enforce Immigration Laws
* Encourage State to implement statewide the Collier County Sheriff
taskforce and Tax Collector driver license program
* Encourage State to file lawsuit against federal government for
failing to enforce immigration laws
. Support County Commissioners Appointing Members of the Collier
County Housing Authority Board
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this executive summary.
The trip to Tallahassee by Commissioners and county staff is budgeted in Fiscal Year
2008.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: 'There is no growth management impact
associated with this executive summary.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: There are no legal considerations associated with this
executive summary in its present form.
RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of County Commissioners approves the
Southwest Florida Consortium 2008 Legislative Priorities which will be presented by
participating Commissioners in the six-county Consortium to their respective Legislative
Delegations in meetings in Tallahassee on April 2.
Prepared by Debbie Wight, Assistant to the County Manager
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Agenda Item No.1 08
March 11, 2008
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COLLIER COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Meeting Date:
10B
Recommendation to approve the Southwest Florida Consortium 2008 State Legislative
Priorities which will be presented by participating County CommisSioners in the Consortium
to their respective Legislative Delegation members in meetings April 2, 2008 in Tallahassee.
(Debbie Wight, Assistant to the County Manager)
3/11/20089:00:00 AM
Item Number:
Item Summary:
Approved By
James V. Mudd
County Manager
Date
Board of County
Commissioners
County Manager's Office
3/4/20088:53 AM
file://C:\AgendaTest\Export\! 02-March%20 11 ,%202008\1 0.%20COUNTY%20MANAGER... 3/5/2008
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March 11, 2008
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2008 Southwest Florida Consortium
Legislative Priorities
1. Fair and Equitable Tax Reform
. Gas Tax Indexino
The state, over 13 years ago, authorized that the state motor fuel tax be annually
indexed to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to allow the purchasing power of the
tax to be maintained as costs increased over time. However, they did not provide
for the same indexing of the Local Option Gas Taxes imposed by the counties.
As such, the buying power of the local tax has decreased as costs have
increased.
· Intemet Sales Tax Reform
The Taxation and Budget Reform Commission (TBRC) wants state lawmakers to
approve a plan that would revise the Florida tax code to make it more uniform
with those of 22 other states so the Sunshine State can capture up to $2 billion in
currently uncollected revenues from Internet and mail order sales. Florida's
participation in the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement would allow it to
obtain revenue from 1,100 companies that voluntarily collect taxes for the
participating states.
. Reevaluate Appraisal & Assessment of Prooerties
There are several proposals for consideration by the TBRC and the Legislature
this year to amend property tax appraisals. The proposals would make the
"highest and best" method one among many. instead of the only method
currently utilized.
· Supoort Partial-Year Assessments
Currently real estate in Collier County is assessed annually on January 1, This
means if you purchase your property after January 1 and make improvements
during that year, those improvements are not recognized by the Property
Appraiser until the following year. A more effective way to generate the revenues
necessary to pay for the services provided would be to appraise property as
additions or newly constructed homes are completed. Revenues generated from
a partial-year assessment plan if implemented are estimated between $2 and $3
million,
. Supoort Real Estate Transfer Fee
This issue proposes a fee to be collected by local government when real estate
transactions take place. Unfortunately, in years past the proposal was tied to the
reduction or elimination of impact fees.
· No Limits of Local Sales Tax
Current law places total levy caps for various local option taxes which may be
adopted by counties. This provision of unlimited local sales tax offers local
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March 11, 2008
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governments more flexibility in generating revenue along the lines provided by
local option fuel taxes or taxes on rental cars.
. Reduce the Number of Sales Tax Exemptions
The State of Florida currently exempts billions of dollars annually for various
taxes on goods sold in the state. The TBRC is currently debating removal of at
least a portion of these goods and services which currently enjoy exemptions
from collection of sales or service taxes.
. SuopOrt Local Economic Stimulus Efforts
2. Support Home Rule/Oppose Unfunded Mandates
. Aaareaate Minina
Senator Bennett has filed a bill, SB 2406, which is similar to language filed last
year that prompted the creation of the Strategic Aggregates Review Task Force
to study the issue of aggregate mine siting, regulation, and local government
moratoriums. The language preempts local governments related to zoning,
environmental permitting, and moratorium authority. The task force has
generated a report which includes many non-consensus items the task force
could not agree to in principle. There is expected to be other committee bills filed
on the subject this session, which may contain localgovemment preemptions.
. Retain Home Rule Imoact Fee Authority
There are companion impact fee bills filed in the House (HB 1093 by Rep.
Sands) and Senate (S8 2050 by Sen. Bennett)...
3. Water Quality
. Fertilizer Rules (Task Force reoort includes no oreemotion)
The Fertilizer Task Force met this past winter and made recommendations to the
Legislature in their final report. In that report the Task Force made the adoption
of a model fertilizer ordinance optional, allowing the county or municipality not to
adopt any fertilizer ordinance. If the county or municipality chose to adopt an
ordinance, then the model ordinance would be utilized, with exceptions to make it
more stringent. The legislation filed on this issue has mandated that all counties
and municipalities must adopt the model ordinance drafted by the Task Force.
There are other regulatory issues in the draft language as well.
. Support Healthy Beaches initiative
The bill filed by Sen. Bennett (SB 1634) provides that when a health advisory that
prohibits swimming in beach waters is issued on the basis of the results of the
bacteriological sampling of waters or when departmental rules or another law
requires issuance of a health advisory that prohibits swimming in beach waters
on the basis of such results, the Wastewater Compliance Evaluation Section of
the DEP shall identify the source of the sewage contaminants.
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March 11, 2003
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· Florida Forever Reauthorization
The Florida Forever program sunsets in 2009. Currently, $300 million a year has
been allocated to the program for the acquisition of environmentally sensitive
lands from the Documentary Stamp collections. There will be legislation filed this
year, most likely in the form of committee bills, to develop the successor to the
program. There is concern regarding the continued funding for the program, as
the state continues to experience revenue shortfalls and deep budget cuts this
year.
4. Transportation Funding
. Oppose Raid on Transportation Trust Funds
The Legislature will be looking for funds to supplement General Revenue this
session.. .
· Reassess Strateoic Intermodal SYStem (SIS) Priority Fundina
This issue has been around the last few years after then Gov. Bush implemented
the Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) program to coordinate funding for
intermodal transportation systems (rail, seaport, state interstatelhighway
systems) in Florida. The SIS program has diverted a percentage funding from
the FOOT work program which funds local road repairs, expansions, and other
improvements. The work program has a lengthy backup in projects, with some
being dropped off the 5-year plan in recent years.
5. Propose Changes to the Consultants Competitive
Negotiations Act (CCNA)
(5) COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATlON.-
(d) In accordance with article (2) DEFINITIONS, subsection (f) 2., an agency
may contract with several firms under one contract for a defined term in order to
provide timely project related services. The method of solicitation and selection of
the firms shall be in accordance with section (3) PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
AND QUALIFICATION PROCEDURES. - and (4) COMPETITIVE SELECTION.-
As the need for specific project related services arises during the contract term,
the agency may simultaneously solicit cost proposals from one or more of the
previously qualified firms under contract.
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