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News & Notes
FAC Policy Conference a Success
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Development Review Division Director
St. Johns County
Environment Division Director
St. Johns County
Growth Management Director
St. Johns County
Attorney RFP
Manatee County Port Authority
Chief Assistant County Attorney
Marion County
CALENDAR
November 13-15, 2008
Grant Writing Workshop
Duval County
November 19-21, 2008
FAC Legislative Conference
Volusia County
December 3-5, 2008
Public Land Acquisition and Management Partnership Conference
Duval County
Join us in November at our Legislative Conference to vote on our 2009 Legislative Agenda
The 2008 FAC Policy Conference met in Pinellas County, FL, September 25-26. During the conference the more than 100 attendees met in all of FAC’s major policy areas. Policy updates are below. If you attended the policy conference, please give us your feedback! By completing the online survey you can help us with future program planning.
Urban Caucus
Secretary Tom Pelham of the Florida Department of Community Affairs and Ms. Debbie
Hunt, Assistant Secretary for Intermodal Systems at the Florida Department of Transportation
(FDOT) were guest speakers at the FAC Urban Caucus. On the agenda were two issues
of particular importance to urban counties: transportation and land use.
Rural Caucus
The Rural Caucus met during the FAC Policy Conference to discuss issues of concern to
small and rural counties. John Smith gave an update on the status of funding for the
Small County Technical Assistance Program. There was also a detailed discussion of the
proposed U.S. Sugar Buyout.
Public Safety Policy Meeting
The Public Safety Policy Meeting was smooth sailing last week in Clearwater. Since the
FPSCC organizational meeting had just taken place the day prior, emerging issues like the
trust funding for the judicial branch were fresh on Commissioners’ minds. Overall the focus
was primarily on three major areas.
Finance, Transportation and Administration Committee
FAC’s FTA Policy Committee met on Thursday afternoon, September 25. Discussions were
led by Co-Chairs Gordon Goodin (Santa Rosa) and Jeff Koons (Palm Beach). The committee
reviewed a variety of policy issues focusing on local mandates, identification of major tax
issues, transportation priorities and county budget processes like truth-in-millage.
Growth, Environmental Planning, and Agriculture Committee
The Growth, Environmental Planning, and Agriculture Committee discussed several policies,
ranging from mobility fees and school concurrency to energy and water supply. Palm Beach
County Commissioner Karen Marcus, Chair of the Growth Management Select Committee,
provided a report to the membership.
Health & Human Services (HHS) Committee
The HHS Committee discussed emerging issues and began to outline FAC's legislative platform
for the 2009 session. Chairman, Comm. Brian Desloge (Leon County), led a productive
meeting and facilitated debate on issues related to Medicaid Reform expansion, funding
for County Health Departments.
Transportation
During the transportation portion of the Finance, Transportation and Administration Policy
Committee meeting, attendees directed most of their discussion on identifying measures
that would, not only improve the state and local transportation network but also stimulate
the economy in both the short- and long-term.
Market Continues to Affect Loan Pool
Wachovia bank provides credit enhancement and liquidity support to the Florida Local Government Finance Program, a 17 year old loan pool administered by the Florida Association of Counties. The future of Wachovia is still undetermined as Wells Fargo and Citigroup compete for its acquisition.
FAC Hosts 1st Meeting of the Florida Public Safety Commission Meeting
Meeting a success with more than 30 attendees from across the state
On September 24, 2008, FAC launched an organizational meeting of the Florida Public Safety Coordinating Commission Meeting in Clearwater, FL. The meeting was attended by more than thirty individuals from across the state and all walks of life, from government to not-for-profit and private entities to academia.
Positive Case for County Beach Renourishment Activities Decided
The Supreme Court has released its long awaited decision in Walton County v. Stop the Beach Renourishment, Inc., quashing the First DCA’s opinion and declaring that “we find that, on its face, the Beach and Shore Preservation Act [provisions of Chapter 161, Fla. Stat.] does NOT unconstitutionally deprive upland owners of littoral rights without just compensation.
FAC 2009 Legislative Conference
Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort (Volusia County)
November 19-21, 2008
REGISTER NOW!
The 2009 FAC Legislative Conference in Volusia County is a critical element in FAC’s policymaking.
This event is your opportunity to join county officials from across the state and
help define the Association’s legislative agenda for the 2009 Legislative Session.