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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSLC Legislative Delegation Meeting Agenda 12-8-14ST. LUCIE COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION MEETING d Monday, December 8, 2014 — 1:30 P.M. Indian River State College, Kight Center AGENDA Representative Gayle Harrell Senator Denise Grimsley. Representative Larry Lee Jr. Senator Joe Negron Representative Debbie. Mayfield Representative Cary Pigman - Call to Order �n Invocation 7 Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Recognition of Delegation Members and Staff Election of Chair and Vice Chair- Welcome Remarks, Dr. Edwin Massey — President,, Indian River State College Goverental Platforms (5 Minutes) `V1. Glenn Penderson, Business & Strategic Manager, St. Lucie.County Board of County Commissioners jal Don West, Public. Works_ Director Er"' Mark Godwin;. St. Lucie Criminal Justice Coordinator . e! Mark Satterlee, Planning & Development Services. Director i/ d Mike Adams & Ben DeVries, Treasure Coast Education, Research & Development enelle Yost, Superintendent, St. Lucie County School Board K;✓Robert Bradshaw, City Manager, City of Fort Pierce Mayor Greg Oravec, Mayor, City of Port St. Lucie i4. Sean Boyle,. Executive Director, Children's Services Council of St. Lucie County .Community Presentations (3 minutes) ! 6 Vice Mayor Linda Bartz, Treasure Coast Regional -League of Cities daRyan Britton, Florida Atlantic University . --.- Dr. Richard Houghten, Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies 8. Christina Kaiser, Devereux Community Based Care (� U/ 9. Diane Goldberg, Conservation Alliance of St. Lucie County 10. Henrylower Conservation Alliance of St. Lucie Count 1� , y y f I. Craig Mundt, National Navy UDT SEAL Museum �� 12. Linda Balogh, Alzheimer's Association Southeast Florida Chapter 13. Bob DeCara, Resident of the City of Port St. Lucie , IT �f Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAaFI) December 6, 2015 Mr. Ben Devries Executive Director Treasure Coast Research Park 2199 S. Rock Rd, Fort Pierce, FL 34945 Dear Mr. Devries As both a member of the leadership team of the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative and its focal point for developing state level programs under the "Farm to Fly 2.0" Public/Private coalition I am pleased to offer my full support for the Treasure Coast Research Park's application to the Legislature of the State of Florida for its application for 1 Million Dollars to create a the Biofuel Laboratory and Processing Facility at your Fort Pierce Site. The private sector sponsors of the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative (CAAFI), a coalition represent the U.S. Airlines (via Airlines for America), U.S Airports (via the Airports Council International — North America) and Aircraft/Engine Manufacturers (via the Aerospace Industries Association) were chief among the private sector signatories to the "Farm to Fly 2.0 Cooperative Agreement" unique Industry / Government cooperative agreement signed on April 15, 2013. In signing the cooperative agreement we were joined by the United States Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of Transportation and, of August 2014 the Secretary of Energy. Under the "Farm to Fly 2.0" agreement we work together to ensure that Sustainable Biofuels are developed and deployed throughout the U.S. In this manner we seek to ensure that collectively we are able to help the aviation industry meet its sustainability imperatives for Carbon Neutral growth by 2020 and at the same time help rural communities to address its most compelling economic issues including most importantly the retention of jobs in rural America. As CAAFI's Executive Director Emeritus and a member of its leadership team I am responsible to assist in the implementation of the programs at the state level that can best serve to both the Aviation industry and Rural America to achieve its goals. My responsibility is to select those projects that have maximum value to all stakeholders and to bringing those projects to the fore that allow our private/public coalition the best opportunities for success. In working with TCERDA, you, Mike Adams, your entire team and Fallow Fields Working group which you have implemented, over the course of 2014 we have As our state legislators, it is important for you to protect our state by ensuring that local comprehensive plans do not promote urban sprawl. I am asking you to stop permitting & funding of Port St Lucie's Crosstown Pkwy and bridge route 1C. There is a no build alternative & 3 other build routes that are less environmentally damaging. You have worked hard to help the Indian River Lagoon & the St Lucie Aquatic Preserve. WE ARE ASKING THAT YOU SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS TO PROTECT A VITAL PART OF THAT WATERSHED. THIS AREA IS EVEN PART OF CERP, THE CENTRAL EVERGLADES RESTORATION PLAN. Per 163.3177 local comprehensive plans should not fail to adequately protect and conserve natural resources, such as wetlands, floodplains, native vegetation, environmentally sensitive areas, natural groundwater aquifer recharge areas and other significant natural systems. The future land use element or plan amendment should direct or locate economic growth and associated land development to geographic areas of the community in a manner that does not have an adverse impact on and protects natural resources and ecosystems. It should also protect natural resources in the area, including air, water, water recharge areas, wetlands, flood plains, fisheries efficient and cost-effective provision or extension of public infrastructure and services. Route 1C is the 2nd most costly of the proposed routes, which do NOT promote efficient & cost effective public infrastructure. And allowing the City of Port St Lucie to use state park land for their 6 lane highway & bridge harms the Savannas Preserve State Park's Halpatiokee Trails, and the North Fork of the St Lucie River Aquatic Preserve. These areas are considered a Biodiversity Hotspot, contains Priority Wetlands, an essential fish habitat, & Outstanding Florida Waters. This area is a locally significant natural area as determined by the Florida Natural Areas Index (FNAI). Fish expert, Dr. Grant Gilmore, says there are several very fragile and rare species that make use of the area. One of them is the opossum pipefish which is found in only a very few areas locally. We could unknowingly disturb their habitat to an extent that will cause their demise. This small area is very important to the entire fishing industry. And Audubon's Charles Lee said the Halpatiokee/ Savannas State Preserve Area is the worst possible choice for a bridge. This park contains seven habitats containing designated species listed by the Florida Natural Areas Inventory, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission & Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services as endangered, threatened or species of special concern. Chapter 18-20, F.A.C., is applicable to all aquatic preserves. For certain activities to be authorized, "it must be demonstrated that no other reasonable alternative exists which would allow the proposed activity to be constructed or undertaken outside the preserve" (Paragraph 18-20.004(1) (g), F.A.C.). Nicole arty e Chief Legislative Aide® Representative Gayle Harrell House District 83 (772) 221-4011 Fax: (772) 221-4013 e 900 SF Federal Highway, Suite 325 ® Stuart, FL 34994 Nicole.fogarty@myfloridahouse.gov (350) 717-5033 e 214 House Office Building @ 402 S. Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32309 COUNTY ADMINISTRATION MEMORANDUM TO: Board of County Commissioners FROM: Glenn Henderson, Senior Grants Writer -=G� DATE: Dec. 3, 2014 SU13JECT: 2015 County Legislative Priorities Packet. Please find attached the final version of the 2015 St. Lucie County Legislative Priorities packet, which includes_six_issues_appr_oved_b_y_the_B.oar_d of_CountyCommissioner_s_at the Nov. 1.8_and-D-ec.2-regular meetings. This packet is being distributed to our Legislative Delegation and other governments, and the issues will be presented to our Delegation for their consideration at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Indian River State College. Please let me know if you have any questions. Copy to: Howard Tipton, County Administrator Daniel McIntyre, County Attorney Robert Bentkofsky, Deputy County Administrator Don West, Public Works Director Mark Satterlee, Planning & Development Services Director Ben DeVries, TCERDA Executive Director Mark Godwin, Criminal Justice Coordinator 2015 St. Lucie County Legislative Priorities - Recommended Funding Requests Continued State Funding for the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon Issues Team Background: -T-he-St—Lucie-River-and-Indian-River-L-agoon-Issues-Team-is-an-established,—successful-collaborative focused on the restoration of the St. Lucie River Estuary and Indian River Lagoon in St. Lucie and Martin Counties. The team is made up of federal, state and local governments in addition to agricultural and environmental interests who work together in an unprecedented fashion to research and resolve water -quality issues facing our two -county region. Since 1998, the team has received $67.9 million from the Florida Legislature, funding more than 140 projects in the two counties and their municipalities through the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). Funding for these projects has declined in recent years, yet the number and cost of the critically needed projects continue to increase. Additionally, the Legislature in 2014 changed the appropriation process so that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) now administers the Team's funding rather than the SFWMD, which has local knowledge and a proven track record for project administration. Action Requested: St. Lucie County urges continued support and sufficient funding for the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon Issues Team, and additionally seeks approved funding to be transferred through the state Department of Environmental Protection to the South Florida Water Management District for project administration. Financial Support for Projects at the Treasure Coast Research Park Background: t The Treasure Coast Research Park's mission is to attract research organizations that will make an 1 investment in commercial innovation and scientific research that will benefit the State of Florida. The Research Park fosters new businesses and employment, boosting the region's economic diversity and security. The success of the Park is key to St. Lucie County's effort to build a strong foundation in agriculture -based science and research. In order to accomplish this mission, the Park needs capital investment by the State of Florida to support already - committed match of $1 million from St. Lucie County and funding requested from the federal government. The proposed projects and the requested one-time allocations are ranked by priority as follows: 1) Sunshine Kitchen Food Business Incubator -- $2 million. 2) Biofuel Laboratory and Processing Facility -- $1 million. See attached descriptions of both i projects. Action Requested: St. Lucie County requests sufficient funding to construct the Sunshine Kitchen Food Business Incubator and Biofuel Laboratory and Processing Facility at the Treasure Coast Research Park. Financial Support for Florida's Biotechnology Sector Backeround• The State of Florida along with local counties, cities, and other investors have invested more than $1 billion to create a biotechnology and life sciences industry that includes research institutions such as Scripps Florida, Sanford -Burnham Medical Research Institute, Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Inc., and VGTI. These institutions, while initially low in the number of jobs created, were seen as long-term investments with a substantial rate of return that would strategically position Florida as a world leader in 21st century research and development. The National Institute of Health funding model in place at the time was a critical component of the financial viability of these companies, a funding model that has now changed due to federal budget reductions. The financial needs of these research institutions, at least in the short run, are well beyond what local governments and communities can ! support. 2 St. Lucie County agreed to provide $1.25 million annually over an eight -year period to Torrey Pines pursuant to a February 21, 2007, funding agreement. The City of Port St. Lucie has made substantially higher financial commitments to both Torrey Pines and VGTI which are located within its municipal boundaries. Action Requested: St. Lucie County recommends state financial support for Florida's biotechnology and/or life science businesses that will allow them to continue to develop and implement new business plans that will likely include collaboration/merger with Florida's higher educational institutions. Additionally, the County recommends state support for increased funding for Florida universities interested in biotechnology and/or life sciences collaboration/mergers. Legislative Action Requests Increase Oversight of Drug and Alcohol Recovery Residences Background• St. Lucie County supports those drug and alcohol recovery residences that follow State and Federal laws and do not disrupt single-family neighborhoods. However, the lack of State or Federal oversight has allowed residences, also known as "sober homes," to proliferate in ways that have degraded neighborhoods in counties throughout South Florida. When people in recovery live together in a "sober living" home, cities and counties cannot discriminate on the basis of the disability, which means an ordinance cannot treat sober living homes differently than other similar uses in single-family residential zones. St. Lucie County is supportive of efforts among cities and counties in Palm Beach and Broward counties to draft uniform statewide legislation creating a voluntary certification process for "sober home" residences through accredited credentialing entities approved by the state Department of Children and Families. This legislation should include a definition of what constitutes a "sober home" and should institute the strongest possible regulations permissible by law, including background checks on home administrators. Action Requested: St. Lucie County urges support for the strongest possible legislation that preserves the rights of "sober homes" to operate and provide needed rehabilitative treatment while protecting single-family neighborhoods from negative impacts caused by unregulated recovery residences. Inmate Medical Services - Extend State Medicare Cap to Local Governments Background• 1 In 2009, the Legislature codified the cap that the Florida Department of Corrections pays to medical 3 service providers for State inmate medical services at 110% of the allowable Medicare rate. St. Lucie County, and counties throughout Florida, pay much more. In 2010, the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners adopted Resolution 10-063 asking the Legislature to support a similar 110% cap for local governments. Without this cap, the County has paid up to 200% of the allowable Medicare rate per year resulting in approximately $2 million of inmate medical costs for FY13. This legislation is supported by the Florida Association of Counties. Action Requested: St. Lucie County requests legislation that reduces jail expenses by setting a reimbursement -amount -paid by -counties -to -medical -providers -for -health- - care services for inmates and arrestees at no higher than the established Medicare rate plus 10%, the same rate as currently charged to the Department of Corrections. Letter of Support Support Marion County as Site of 8` State Veterans' Nursing Home Background: Florida has the third -highest number of veterans in the nation, after Texas and California, with 1.5 million veterans. These veterans deserve the best -quality end -of -life care. The State's six Veterans' Nursing Homes, operated by the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs (FDVA), are each experiencing 99 percent occupancy rates, with waiting lists for those desperately needing supportive care specifically designed for the veterans' population. The Cabinet in September approved St. Lucie County as the site of the State's 7" Veterans' Nursing Home. It is abundantly clear that more homes are needed now, and the FDVA has already renewed the search process for the next home. In this year's Site Selection Process, Marion County finished a close second to St. Lucie County, demonstrating substantial local support and need for a Veterans' Nursing Home in the Ocala region. It is unwarranted to require Marion County to start over and undergo the same intensive, expensive Site Selection Process for the next home when it has demonstrated that it is ready to proceed now with a "turn dirt" site that will serve veterans in a densely populated region. Action Requested: St. Lucie County supports Marion County as the site of the 8t" State Veterans' Nursing Home and urges the Florida Legislature to set aside the Site Selection Process in order to save time and costs associated with a new statewide search. 4 -,�s nshine Kitchen Food Business Incubator Treasure Coast Research Park.com State of Florida Funding Request SUNSHINE KITCHEN FOOD BUSINESS INCUBATOR Do you have an idea for a fantastic new food? Would you like some assistance in perfecting an existing product? This exciting new facility will assist food producers, processors, marketers, and entrepreneurs as they develop, improve, and promote their food and natural products. Whether a beginning food entrepreneur, or an established company, the staff at the Food Innovation Center will assist you in all phases of product development —from the concept phase through product development, processing, packaging, and marketing. Only $2,000,000 of the total $680 million of agricultural production in the four county Treasure Coast Region goes directly into meeting the region's $1.4 billion of consumption. This facility will serve the residents across the Treasure Coast region consisting of Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee Counties. The Sunshine Kitchen is a collaboration of Indian River State College and the Treasure Coast Education, Research and Development Authority and is located in Ft. Pierce, FL. By sharing facilities and equipment that create value added products for local and regional consumption, the Sunshine Kitchen will reduce the barriers to entry and increase the market opportunities for new startups and local agribusiness innovations. The proposed facility will include: Wet kitche 1 II Dry kitchen E ralproducts ufacturing One Time Capital Request - 9,781 square feet Shared Kitchen Building shell, interior design and construction $2,500,000 Non -recurring Entrepreneurial training allocation $ 600,000 TOTAL COST $3,100,000 Matching contributions St. Lucie County $1,000,000 Cash, Committed, one time TCERDA $ 100,000 Land and In Kind, Committed, 5 years TOTAL MATCH $1,100,000 Page 1 of 3 ,Sunshin�Kitchen Food Business Incubator Building = Treasure Coast 1a Research Park.com FT- >77 > 4 A ii�.�l •.� �� 7 F' M Site Page 2 of 3 Treasure Coast .Sunshine Kitchen Food Business Incubator ` Research.Park.com Floor and Equipment Plan HC "1I' HC CONFERENCE OFFICE OFFICE OFFICE 11WNING OPEN BULLPEN OFFICE ELM WOMEN 13 ®. MEN OFFICE I.T. �00-0 REC Try.► TG` 93 CCCJJJ p �) Iwo MECH COUNTER DISPLAY JAN ❑o❑a Wf KITCHEN �8 WET. KITCHEN - -(. KI LPA�S SHIP Page 3 of'3 Center for AgriLife Research & Entrepreneurship i State of Florida Funding Request Sugar, sweet sorghum, sweet potatoes and other crops are well suited for Florida's sandy soils, sub -tropic climate and have the potential to exceed corn, soy and other seed crop biofuel yields. This exciting new facility will assist bioenergy producers, processors, marketers, and entrepreneurs as they develop, improve, and promote their crop and fuel products. Whether a beginning entrepreneur or an established company, the staff at the Center for AgriLife Research and Entrepreneurship will assist in all phases of product development —from the concept phase through breeding, propagation, cultivation, harvesting, product development, —processing; packaging, and -marketing.. The-AgriLife- center -to - be located in Ft. Pierce, FL is a joint venture between USDA ARS, OF IFAS and the Treasure Coast Education, Research and Development Authority. This facility will serve residents across the Treasure Coast region consisting of Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee Counties. Sharing facilities, test fields and, equipment that create value added products for local and regional growers, consumers and businesses the AgriLife BioEnergy Partnership will reduce the barriers to entry and increase the market opportunities for new startups and local agribusiness innovations. Biofuel laboratory, small batch processing facility and 200 ac. test fields Goo'sleearth One Time Capital Request — 5,000 square feet building Building construction $ 600,000 Interior construction $ 150,000 Equipment $ 125,000 Design and permits $ 126,000 TOTAL $1,000,000 Matching cash or in kind contributions by St. Lucie County, the Treasure Coast Education, Research and Development Authority, Indian River State College, the University of Florida and the City of Fort Pierce will equal or exceed the funds contributed. Treasure Coast r Research Park.com Move to a Climate of Innovation