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RESOLUTION NO. 06-324
A RESOLUTION DECLARING SUPPORT TO
THE STATE OF FLORIDA LEGISLATURE FOR
THE CREATION AND FUNDING OF A
SUCCESSOR PROGRAM TO THE FLORIDA
FOREVER PROGRAM AND REQUESTING THE
FLORIDA LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION
ADVOCATE FOR THE CREATION AND
FUNDING OF A SUCCESSOR PROGRAM TO
FLORIDA FOREVER, AND ITS SUPPORT FOR
ST. LUCIE COUNTY'S ENVIRONMENTALLY
SENSITIVE LANDS, OPEN SPACE AND
PARKS PROGRAMS
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County
has made the following determinations:
1. The Florida Forever program and its predecessor,
Preservation 2000 program, have immeasurably contributed to
environmental health, quality of life, recreation, and sustaining
ability in Florida for this and future generations.
2. Florida Forever has acquired over one million acres
throughout Florida since 2000 and allocates $300 million annually
to purchase environmentally sensitive and other lands, and has done
so through numerous successful partnerships with cities, counties,
state
agencies,
water
management
districts,
nonprofit
organizations, private landowners, and others in achieving its
conservation purposes.
3. Florida Forever, through its partnerships with the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Water Management
Districts, and others, produces benefits that include clean air and
water; healthy fisheries and wildlife habitat; improved water
supply protection; and protected open spaces including greenway
corridors, park lands, forests, and water bodies.
4. Florida Forever, through the Florida Communities Trust,
has assisted Florida's cities and counties in protecting their
cultural and historical resources, meeting the challenges of growth
management, directing development away from coastal high hazard
areas and flood plains; fostering a healthier lifestyle for
Floridians; and providing recreational outdoor experiences in both
urban and rural settings.
5. Florida Forever has helped to save many of Florida's
beaches, rlvers, bays, forests, coral reefs and estuaries that
provide the foundation for our $3 billion tourism industry that
attracts more than 70 million visitors each year.
6. Fifty Florida local governments have enacted land
acquisition financing programs in the past decades, and these
conservation finance programs serve to leverage Florida Forever
funding and increase the impact of State land conservation funding.
7. Florida is experiencing rapid population growth, wi th
approximately 1,100 new residents every day; and Floridians demand
a high quality of life that includes green space, access to water,
pastoral settings and recreational opportunities.
8. Florida Forever and other land conservation programs must
compete in Florida's market of surging land and housing prices.
9. The effectiveness of Florida Forever has diminished
because of escalating land prices and the impacts of inflation.
10.
in 2010.
11.
over $20
The funding for the Florida Forever program will sunset
Research by the Florida Forever Coalition has found that
billion is currently needed to purchase parks and
recreational facilities, wildlife and wilderness areas, and open
space for our state's increasing population.
12. A 2005 public opinion survey conducted by members of the
Florida Forever Coali tion found that 78% of Florida's voters
approve of the Florida Forever program.
13. The benefits to St. Lucie County of the Florida Forever
Program and its predecessor, the Preservation 2000 Program, have
included the acquisition of more than 4,600 acres of the St. Lucie
Savannas State Preserve, the acquisition of more than 1,000 acres
of vital wetlands adjacent to the Indian River Lagoon, the
acquisition of more than 1,700 acres bordering the North Fork of
the St. Lucie River and its tributaries, and the acquisition of an
additional 5,000 upland acres through the County's Environmentally
Sensitive Lands Program. Florida Forever has also been
instrumental ln the acquisition of highly needed park lands
utilized for the creation of Weldon B. Lewis Park and Lakewood
Regional Park. Florida Forever has provided more than a 4 to 1
funding match to St. Lucie County's environmentally sensitive lands
and park lands acquisition programs.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County
Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida:
1. This Board does hereby declare its support to the State
of Florida Legislature for the creation and funding of a successor
program to the Florida Forever program.
2. This Board does hereby request its Florida Legislative
Delegation advocate for the creation and funding of a successor
program to Florida Forever, and its support for St. Lucie County's
environmentally sensitive lands, open space and park programs.
3. The County Administrator or his designee is hereby
directed to forward copies of this resolution to members of the
Florida Legislative Delegation.
After motion and second the vote on this resolution was as
follows:
Chairman Doug Coward AYE
Vice-Chairman Chris Craft AYE
Commissioner Frannie Hutchinson AYE
Commissioner Paula A. Lewis AYE
Commissioner Joseph E. Smith AYE
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 17th day of October, 2006.
ATTEST:
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ST. LUCIE COU TY, ~IDA
BY: LL-J?
IRMAN
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM AND