HomeMy WebLinkAbout13-0644.A.2.a
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST. LUCIE
COUNTY, FLORIDA URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO OPPOSE SENATE
BILL (SB) 584 OR ANY OTHER BILLS DESIGNED TO LIMIT A STATE, COUNTY
OR MUNICIPALITY'S ABILITY TO PURCHASE LAND FOR CONSERVATION
PURPOSES; PROVIDING CRITERIA, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, The Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida has
made the following determinations:
1. Senate Bill 584 would ban state and local governments from purchasing any new
conservation lands without selling an equal amount of other publicly owned land
to the private sector.
2. Florida has a rich history of land acquisition for public parks, water resources,
open space, greenways, wildlife habitat and recreation, most recently through
Preservation 2000 and Florida Forever.
3. Such efforts to preserve the state's natural environment and air, water and land
resources have traditionally been bipartisan and had broad public approval.
4. SB 584 would prohibit a large majority of land purchases for the state, counties,
and municipalities, regardless of available funding.
5. Most local governments are not able to hold surplus conservation land because
of limited capabilities, therefore the requirement that an equal amount of public
property not held in conservation must be returned or sold at fair market value
to the private sector would be difficult to comply with for local governments.
6. If local governments have surplus property that is no longer needed, they
should sell the property at the best price to benefit taxpayers, but they should
not be forced to sell property that they may need to buy other property they
might also need.
7. On November 8, 1994, St. Lucie County voters approved a referendum
authorizing $20 million in bonds to finance the acquisition of environmentally
significant land to protect water quality, open spaces and wildlife habitat.
8. If Senate Bill 584 is adopted, it would void the intent of the voters to acquire
and protect environmentally significant lands.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
1. This Board is opposed to SB 584 and any proposed legislation designed to
modify, alter, or otherwise restrict the purchase of land by a governmental
entity; limiting the state, a county, or a municipality's ability to purchase land
for conservation purposes.
2. The Board requests the Florida Legislature to oppose SB 584 or any other
legislation designed to limit a state's, county's or municipality's ability to
purchase land for conservation purposes.
3. The County Administrator is directed to send a copy of this resolution to the
County's legislative delegation.
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4. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 9th day of April 2013.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF ST. LU E COON , RIDA
By
V itfL Chairman
APPROVE~DIp-S TO FORM
AND CORRE DIES9:,~
By:
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4.A.2.a
Florida Senate - 2013 SB 584
By Senator Hays
11-00324A-13 2013584
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the purchase of land by a
3 governmental entity; limiting the state, a county, or
4 a municipality's ability to purchase land for
5 conservation purposes; providing criteria; providing
6 an effective date.
7
8 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
9
10 Section 1. The state may purchase land for conservation
11 purposes only if:
12 (1) An accurate inventory, not more than 1 year old, of
13 government-owned property is made public;
14 (2) Sufficient funds are approved in the state's annual
15 budget for the maintenance of existing properties;
16 (3) An analysis by the state describing the annual cost of
17 maintenance of the proposed land purchase is completed; and
18 (4) An equal amount of public property not being held in
19 conservation is returned or sold at fair market value to the
20 private sector.
21 Section 2. A county may purchase land for conservation
22 purposes only if:
23 (1) An accurate inventory, not more than 1 year old, of
24 government-owned property is made public;
25 (2) Sufficient funds are approved in the county's annual
26 budget for the maintenance of existing properties;
27 (3) An analysis by the county describing the annual cost of
28 maintenance of the proposed land purchase is completed; and
29 (9) An equal amount of public property not being held in
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Florida Senate - 2013
SB 584
11-00329A-13 2013584
conservation is returned or sold at fair market value to the
private sector.
Section 3. A municipality may purchase land for
conservation purposes only if:
(1) An accurate inventory not more than 1 year old, of
government-owned property is made public;
(2) Sufficient funds are approved in the municipality's
annual budget for the maintenance of existing properties;
(3) An analysis by the municipality describing the annual
cost of maintenance of the proposed land purchase is completed;
and
(9) An equal amount of public property not being held in
conservation is returned or sold at fair market value to the
private sector.
Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2013.
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