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News & Notes
FAC Policy Conference a Success
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. While both
secretaries provided an update of their respective agencies, a significant amount of the
discussion focused on how to connect the state’s land use policies with its transportation
policies. More specifically, while Secretary Pelham spoke to the need of curbing urban
sprawl by encouraging compact development and promoting transit, attendees questioned
how FDOT’s primary role as a road building agency could be modified to further
land use policies. Ms. Hunt discussed a number of programs and initiatives, including the
agency’s New Starts Transit program that can and have been utilized to support high density
urban development. Ms. Hunt indicated that much more is needed in this and stated
the agency will continue to develop new initiatives and invited FAC to be a part of that
process.
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. Ernie Barnett with the South Florida Water Management District
gave an overview and update regarding the proposed purchase and the District’s plans
for Everglades restoration as well as land to be made available for economic development.
Mary Helen Blakeslee with the Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development
gave a presentation regarding the economic impacts of the proposed purchase and
the State’s plans to protect the region’s economy.
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: securing additional funding for the court system to reverse
current delays that are being experienced in processing cases in both criminal and
civil court, determining options on how to fund the latest unfunded mandate of the regional
conflict counsels from county responsibility, and how to effectively reform Florida’s
juvenile justice system while addressing the lack of transparency in the current detention
cost-sharing model. Staff was given several projects to research between now and Legislative
Conference including the revenue that is generated by current court fees and an analysis
of the cost of our system compared to other like size states. The committee also decided
to wait and evaluate the recommendations of several commissions that are due to have
formal opinions out by the beginning of November before taking a stand on other public
safety controversial issue such as “truth and sentencing.” Due to the large volume of work
that is expected to be focused on in the public safety arena this legislative session, Chairman
Eggelletion urged Commissioners who wish to offer their advocacy services to contact
FAC staff , particularly on issues relating to the court system and juvenile justice.
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. Several
new items were introduced including closing the doc stamp loophole, community redevelopment
agency reforms, and legislative interim study regarding accident response fees.
The committee authorized staff to prepare proposed policy statements for November’s Legislative
Conference.
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. Members of the Select Committee met with Department
of Community Affairs (DCA) Secretary Tom Pelham during the FAC Policy Conference
to discuss several growth management issues facing Florida’s counties. President Randy
Hatch provided a report regarding the newly-created Energy Independence Work Group.
The group will be examining ways to increase counties’ energy independence and reduce
the carbon footprint of government. The membership discussed supporting the study of
mobility fees, but opposing any mandates that counties use any particular fee alternatives.
With regard to school concurrency, members expressed concern that portables should not
be considered permanent for concurrency purposes. The current policy statements regarding
energy and water policy will be further refined by Legislative Conference. The Energy
Independence Work Group will make any recommended changes to the membership at
that time regarding energy. Also, the FAC delegates to the Century Commission’s Water
Congress will be meeting to discuss recommended changes to FAC’s water policies, as there
is likely to be substantial water legislation next session.
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, fee increases for the Transportation Disadvantaged Trust
Fund, and the proposed Cigarette User Fee. FAC staff will be researching a number of issues
that will be readdressed at our Legislative Conference in November where we will finalize
our legislative package.
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. Specifically, the group considered policy positions
that would restore transportation funding from the documentary stamps tax which
was originally authorized under SB 360 but was significantly reduced during the 2008 legislative
session. Attendees also discussed ways of generating new local revenues that could
be leveraged on a regional basis, while proposing unique approaches that would allow state
transportation dollars to be used on local road projects. Finally, there was discussion on the
current Private-Public Partnership (P3) initiative from the Florida Department of Transportation
and its impact on counties. FAC staff was asked to research this issue further to determine
whether a position needs to be adopted by the membership at its November meeting.