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Res. No. 025-07-12410RESOLUTION NO.: 25-07-12410 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA, URGING THE MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO SUPPORT THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES' LEGISLATIVE ISSUES DURING THE 2007 LEGISLATIVE SESSION; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE WHEREAS, municipal self - determination and local self - government are constantly under attack from a variety of public and private interests; and WHEREAS, numerous counties have recently proposed revisions to their charters that would adversely impact the Home -Rule powers of municipalities within those counties; and WHEREAS, a majority of Florida's municipalities have experienced negative impacts to infrastructure, housing stock and employment base from a series of natural disasters; higher than expected increases in the cost of building products; double -digit increase in the cost of property insurance; and inequities in the existing property-tax system; and WHEREAS, Florida's continuing population increase has presented a challenge to cities struggling to meet the infrastructure needs required to accommodate new growth and development without an infrastructure revenue source dedicated to municipalities; and WHEREAS, various proposed revisions to the property -tax system would have substantial adverse impacts for all municipalities in Florida should they be adopted; and WHEREAS, Florida's municipalities are dependent on other governmental entities for financial stability and under the current system the state, counties, and school districts, control all funding sources authorized for implementing capital improvements and complying with concurrency requirements; and WHEREAS, Gov. Charlie Crist and Florida's House and Senate leaders have an opportunity to address the unique concerns of municipalities during the upcoming 2007 legislative session. NOW, THEREFORE, be it RESOLVED by the MAYOR AND CITY COMMISION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section l: That the City of South Miami urges Gov. Charlie Crist and member of the Florida Legislature to support legislation during the 2007 legislative session that: Restores and maintains municipal Home -Rule authority for municipalities located within charter counties; Supports a tax structure that is fair and equitable, and is competitively neutral and allows municipalities the flexibility to provide adequate services in their communities; Preserves the dedicated documentary stamp fees as a funding source for the State and Local Government Housing Trust Funs (Sadowski Trust Fund), eliminates the cap placed Res. No. 25 -07 -12410 on fund distribution, and prohibits any of these trust fund dollars from being diverted to the General Revenue Fund. ■ Provides a comprehensive and uniform workers' compensation system for all municipal employees, regardless of employee classification, at a reasonable cost to the employers. Provides a dedicated and recurring source of revenue, including municipal local- option fuel taxes, rental-car surcharges, or other taxes or fees, for municipalities to fund transportation projects such as TRIP, urban arterial and other projects. Furthermore, the existing distribution formula for local- option transportation taxes imposed by a county should be revised to allow for a more equitable distribution to municipalities and provides for indexing of local - option fuel taxes. Requires legislative authorization prior to the Florida Department of Transportation removing or delaying any project that is contained in the FDOT Five -Year Work Plan. Preserves municipal authority to franchise cable and video services. Section 2: That a copy of this resolution will be provided to Gov. Charlie Crist, Senate President Ken Pruitt, House of Representative Speaker Marco Rubio. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 20th UNIN11 I CITY CLERK READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM: ATTORNEY day of February 2007. APPROVED: Commission Vote: 5-0 Mayor Feliu: Yea Vice Mayor Wiscombe: Yea Commissioner Palmer: Yea Commissioner Birts: Yea Commissioner Beckman: Yea 2 MEMORANDUM FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, INCO To: Members of Florida League of Cities, Inc. f From: John Charles Thomas, Director _ %t Legislative & Public AffairsY Date: December 21, 2006 Re: Request for Resolution The FLC Board of Directors has adopted an initiative to enhance the Legislature's awareness of the League's priority issues. This plan calls on each of Florida's 413 cities to adopt a resolution that supports the League's key priority issues. These key issues were adopted by the League membership at the recent Legislative Conference and address Charter County Relations, Affordable Housing and Property Tax Reform. Enclosed is a draft resolution that we are asking your city to adopt at the next available council /commission meeting. We would then like you to send copies of that resolution to Governor -Elect Charlie Crist, Senate President Ken Pruitt, Speaker of the House Marco Rubio, your House and Senate members and a copy to the Florida League of Cities no later than Friday, February 23, 2007. Also enclosed, is a list of addresses for the Governor, Senate President, Speaker of the House and a House and Senate directory with addresses for your legislators. A Microsoft Word version of this resolution can be on the League's website under Legislative /Advocacy at: www.flcities.com. Should you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Jenny Anderson at the Florida League of Cities at (800) 342 -8112. Thank you for your assistance. Enclosures 301 South Bronough Street, Suite 300 + P.O. Box 1757 ♦ Tallahassee, FL 32302 -1757 (850) 222 -9584 e Suncom 278 -5331 ♦ Fax (850) 222 -3806 ♦ Web site: www.flcities.com Please send a copy of your City's resolution to the following no later than Friday, February 23, 2007 The Honorable Charlie Crist Governor - Elect, State of Florida Plaza Level 05, The Capitol 400 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399 -0001 Phone: (850) 488 -4441 Fax: (850) 487 -0801 The Honorable Ken Pruitt President of the Senate Suite 409, The Capitol 404 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399 -1100 Phone: (850) 487 -5229 Fax: (850) 487 -5844 The Honorable Marco Rubio Speaker of the House of Representatives Suite 420, The Capitol 402 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399 -1300 Phone: (850) 488 -1450 Fax: (850) 487 -1456 Your House and Senate Members See attached directories for mailing information Rikkia Rellford, Assistant to the Legislative Director Florida League of Cities, Inc. Post Office Box 1757 Tallahassee, Florida 32302 -1757 Phone: (800) 342 -8112, extension 253 Fax: (850) 222 -3806