HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 05.21.2024SUSTAINABILITY DISTRICT
AGENDA
ST. LUCIE COUNTY
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
1:00 PM
St. Lucie County Commission Chambers
2300 Virginia Avenue
3rd Floor of Roger Poitras Building
Fort Pierce, FL 34982
BOARD MEMBERS
District No. 4, Chair
JAMIE FOWLER
District No. 3, Vice-Chair
LINDA BARTZ
District No. 1
CHRIS DZADOVSKY
District No. 2
LARRY LEET
District No. 5
CATHY TOWNSEND
Mission Statement
St. Lucie Works to deliver superior service that enhances our quality of life
*Final on 2/13
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Regular Meeting Tuesday, February 20, 2024 1:00 PM
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WELCOME
All meetings are televised.
All meetings provided with wireless internet access for public convenience.
Please turn off all cell phones and pagers prior to entering the commission chambers.
Please mute the volume on all laptops and PDAs while in use in the commission chambers.
GENERAL RULES AND PROCEDURES – Attached is the agenda, which will determine the order of business conducted at today’s Board
meeting.
INVOCATION-PLEDGE – To bring order and decorum to its meeting, the Board begins its meetings with an invocation followed by the
Pledge of Allegiance. Participation is voluntary.
CONSENT AGENDA – These items are considered routine and are enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of
these items unless a Commissioner so requests.
REGULAR AGENDA – Proclamations, Presentations, Public Hearings, and Department requests are items, which the Commission will
discuss individually, usually in the order listed on the agenda.
PUBLIC HEARINGS – These items are usually heard on the first Tuesdays at 6 p.m. or as soon thereafter as possible. However, if a
public hearing is scheduled for a meeting on the third Tuesday, which begins at 9 a.m., then public hearings will be heard at 9
a.m. or as soon thereafter as possible. These time designations are intended to indicate that an item will not be addressed prior
to the listed time. The Chair will open each public hearing and asks anyone wishing to speak to come forward, one at a time.
Comments will be limited to five minutes, and must be pertinent to the agenda item being considered by the Board.
As a general rule, when issues are scheduled before the Commission under department request or public hearing, the order
of presentation is: (1) County staff presents the details of the Board item (2) Commissioners comment (3) if a public hearing, the
Chair will ask for public comment, (4) further discussion and action by the Board.
ADDRESSING THE COMMISSION – Please state your name and address, speaking clearly into the microphone. If you have backup
material, please have eight copies ready for distribution.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS – These items are presented by an individual Commissioner or staff as necessary at the conclusion of the
printed agenda.
PUBLIC COMMENT – Time is allotted at the beginning of each meeting for general public comment. Please limit comments to three
minutes. Comments may pertain to any matter related to the Board’s duties as the County’s governing body. Comments in support
or opposition to candidates for public office are not pertinent to the Board’s duties. This includes any speaker identifying himself or
herself as a candidate for public office.
DECORUM – Please be respectful of others’ opinions.
MEETINGS – All Board meetings are open to the public and are held on the first Tuesdays of each month at 6 p.m. and on the third
Tuesdays at 9 a.m., unless otherwise advertised. Meetings are held in the County Commission Chambers in the Roger Poitras
Administration Annex at 2300 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce, Fla. 34982. The Board schedules additional workshops throughout the year
necessary to accomplish their goals and commitments. Notice is provided of these workshops. Anyone with a disability requiring
accommodation to attend this meeting should contact the St. Lucie County Human Resources Department at 772-462-1456,
HumanResources@stlucieco.org or TDD 772-462-1428 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
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Regular Meeting Tuesday, February 20, 2024 1:00 PM
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1.CALL TO ORDER
2.GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
3.APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A.Board of County Commissioners minutes for the Sustainability District Meeting of November 14,
2023.
B.Board of County Commissioners minutes for the Sustainability District Reorganization Meeting of
November 14, 2023.
4.CONSENT AGENDA
A.COUNTY ADMINISTRATION
1.2024 State and Federal Program
Staff recommends the Board accept the 2024 State and Federal Program.
5.REGULAR AGENDA
There are no items scheduled.
6.MOTION TO ADJOURN
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
Sustainability District Meeting
November 14, 2023 Convened: 9:02 AM Adjourned: 9:03 AM
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 9:02 AM by Chair Linda Bartz, District No. 3.
Present
Commissioner Cathy Townsend District 5, Commissioner Linda Bartz District 3, Commissioner Chris
Dzadovsky District 1, Commissioner Larry Leet District 2, Commissioner Jamie Fowler District 4
Also Present
Dan McIntyre, County Attorney
George Landry, County Administrator
Mayte Santamaria, Deputy County Administrator
Jason Davis, Deputy County Administrator
Michelle R. Miller, Clerk and Comptroller
Kori Benton, Planning & Development Services Planning Manager
Irene Szedlmayer, Planning & Development Services Planning Senior Planner
Aimee Copper, Environmental Regulations, Manager
JoAnn Riley, Properties Acquisition Manager
Katrina Slay, Agenda Coordinator
Vera Smith, Deputy Clerk Recording Secretary
2. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT
Chair Bartz opened the meeting for public comment at this time. With no one wishing to address
the Board, Chair Bartz closed the public comment.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made to approve all minute sets, and it passed unanimously.
RESULT: APPROVE
MOVER: Commissioner District 4 Jamie Fowler
SECONDER: Commissioner District 2 Larry Leet
AYES: Cathy Townsend, Linda Bartz, Chris Dzadovsky, Larry Leet, Jamie Fowler
NAYS: None
EXCUSED: None
A. Board of County Commissioners minutes for the Sustainability District Meeting of October 17,
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Sustainability District Meeting Tuesday, November 14, 2023 9:00 AM
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2023.
B. Board of County Commissioners minutes for the Sustainability District Meeting of August 15, 2023.
4. CONSENT AGENDA
There were no items scheduled.
5. REGULAR AGENDA
There were no items scheduled.
6. MOTION TO ADJOURN
With no other information to be brought for consideration before the Board, the meeting was
adjourned at 9:03 AM.
Please note: Final minutes are recorded in the official minute books filed with the Clerk of the
Circuit Court and available for inspection upon request.
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
Sustainability District Meeting
November 14, 2023 Convened: 9:54 AM Adjourned: 9:56 AM
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 9:54 AM by Chair Linda Bartz, District No. 3.
Present
Commissioner Cathy Townsend District 5, Commissioner Linda Bartz District 3, Commissioner Chris
Dzadovsky District 1, Commissioner Larry Leet District 2, Commissioner Jamie Fowler District 4
Also Present
Dan McIntyre, County Attorney
George Landry, County Administrator
Mayte Santamaria, Deputy County Administrator
Jason Davis, Deputy County Administrator
Michelle R. Miller, Clerk and Comptroller
Katrina Slay, Agenda Coordinator
Vera Smith, Deputy Clerk Recording Secretary
2. REGULAR AGENDA
A. Annual Reorganization - Election of Chair for 2023-2024
The Clerk and Comptroller of the Court presided and called for nominations for the Chair of
the Sustainability District.
Michelle Miller, Clerk and Comptroller, called for nominations for the Sustainability District Board
Chair. A motion was made to nominate Commissioner Jamie Fowler. The nomination was
seconded, and the motion carried unanimously upon roll call.
RESULT: APPROVE
MOVER: Commissioner District 5 Cathy Townsend
SECONDER: Commissioner District 2 Larry Leet
AYES: Cathy Townsend, Linda Bartz, Chris Dzadovsky, Larry Leet, Jamie Fowler
NAYS: None
EXCUSED: None
B. Annual Reorganization - Election of Vice-Chair for 2023-2024
The Chair-elect presided and called for nominations for the Vice-Chair of the Sustainability District.
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Sustainability District Meeting Tuesday, November 14, 2023 9:01 AM
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Chair Jamie Fowler called for nominations for the Sustainability District Board Vice-Chair. A motion
was made to nominate Commissioner Linda Bartz. The nomination was seconded, and the motion
was carried unanimously upon roll call.
RESULT: APPROVE
MOVER: Commissioner District 5 Cathy Townsend
SECONDER: Commissioner District 2 Larry Leet
AYES: Cathy Townsend, Linda Bartz, Chris Dzadovsky, Larry Leet, Jamie Fowler
NAYS: None
EXCUSED: None
3. MOTION TO ADJOURN
With no other information to be brought for consideration before the Board, the meeting was
adjourned at 9:56 AM.
Please note: Final minutes are recorded in the official minute books filed with the Clerk of the
Circuit Court and available for inspection upon request.
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4.A.1.
2024-64379
CONSENT AGENDA -
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
AGENDA REQUEST DATE: 2/20/2024
*ACTION ITEM - BOARD
ACCEPTANCE
QUASI-JUDICIAL ITEM? No
TO: Board of County Commissioners
PRESENTED BY: Courtney Calderone, Government Relations Division Director
SUBMITTED BY: Government Relations
SUBJECT: 2024 State and Federal Program
BACKGROUND:
Annually, the Board of County Commissioners approves the State and Federal legislative priorities to guide
the County's lobbying efforts at the state and federal level. Staff is seeking acceptance by this District to
further support the County's 2024 Legislative Programs.
PREVIOUS ACTION:
December 5, 2023 - BOCC approval of the 2024 Federal Program.
September 19, 2023 - BOCC approval of the 2024 State Program.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the Board accept the 2024 State and Federal Program.
COMMISSION ACTION:
RESULT:
MOVER: None
SECONDER: None
AYES: None
NAYS: None
EXCUSED: None
Coordination/Signatures
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Date: February 07, 2024
Courtney Calderone, Government Relations Division Director
Date: February 08, 2024
Daniel McIntyre, County Attorney
Date: February 08, 2024
George Landry, County Administrator
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State Legislative Program2024
ST. LUCIE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Inmate Medical Cap Local Bill
As a measure to contain the high cost of inmate medical care, this
proposed bill will reduce expenses by setting a reimbursement
amount paid by St. Lucie County to medical providers for health care
services for inmates and arrestees. Compensation is limited to 110% of
the Medicare allowable rate, or 125% of the Medicare allowable rate if
the health care provider reported a negative operating margin for the
previous year. The proposed local bill would place the same limits on
providers of emergency medical transportation services and provide
St. Lucie County with similar protections to those currently in place for
the Florida Department of Corrections (F.S. 945.6041).
Home Rule Authority Over Florida PACE Loan Providers
St. Lucie County proposes an amendment to FS 163.08 to clarify that
“Any local government, including a separate legal entity created
pursuant to s. 163.01(7), must have the written consent of each other
county or municipality within which it intends to operate through
an interlocal agreement before providing and financing qualifying
improvements within that county or municipality.” Since 2010, the
Florida Statutes have allowed for Property Assessed Clean Energy
(PACE) loans in Florida. Specifically, the Florida legislature allows
property owners to voluntarily finance improvements with local
government assistance, and FS 163.08 (2)(a) defines local government
as follows: “Local government” means a county, a municipality, a
dependent special district as defined in s. 189.012, or a separate legal
entity created pursuant to s. 163.01(7).
There are several PACE providers originating PACE loans across
Florida operating as “a separate legal entity created pursuant to FS
163.01(7).” It is St. Lucie County’s position that PACE loan providers
do not have the legal authority to provide loans without an executed
interlocal agreement with the local government in whose jurisdiction
they intend to provide loans, and that State law should be clarified so
that the PACE loan provider needs specific authorization from a local
government to operate within that local government’s jurisdiction.
Ten Mile Creek – Indian River Lagoon South
A critical component of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration
Program (CERP) is the Indian River Lagoon-South (IRL-S) suite
of projects. This includes the C23/C24 STA and Reservoir system,
located in the western part of St. Lucie County. This new system will
include a northern diversion canal which will provide a resource for
excess stormwater to be discharged when the system calls for it. The
outfall for the excess water is a natural tidally influenced waterway
known as Ten Mile Creek. Ten Mile Creek is one of St. Lucie County’s
main drainage conveyances and runs straight down the middle of
the county, impacting many larger residential communities, and
eventually draining to the St. Lucie River and Estuary.
St. Lucie County supports coordination with the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection, South Florida Water Management District,
US Army Corp of Engineers, the 298s, and the public to address
the critical system impact of Ten Mile Creek and its influence on
drainage and water quality for County residents. The ongoing studies,
assessments, modeling, and data collection efforts are vital to the
outcome of the project. The County acknowledges that funding must
be identified and secured to implement solutions to Ten Milke Creek-
Indian River Lagoon South.
Streamlined Permitting for Railroad Crossings
The County supports increased cooperation between Florida
Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Florida East Coast Railroad
(FEC) and local governments to facilitate streamlined permitting to
ensure secure railway crossings.
STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
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St. Lucie County Appropriation Request: Secondary Data Center for
Continuity of Operations and Continuity of Government
Total Project Cost: $10,000,000
Requested Amount: $5,000,000 | County Match: $5,000,000
The St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners has one Information Technology data center
that supports the County, Constitutionals, and law enforcement. This single point of failure puts these organizations at risk. The proposed secondary data center is designed to support large-
scale applications to ensure the essential functions continue during a critical event or situation.
The proposed data center will have built-in security and scalability features as well as onsite and
internet-based accessibility. Housed in a controlled environment, the secondary data center will
have computing resources including applications servers, file and printer servers, communication servers, application software and operating systems to run them. The project will also include storage
subsystems and the network infrastructure.
St. Lucie County Local Government Funding Request (LGFR): Fort Pierce Shore Protection
Total Project Cost: $3,481,474
Requested Amount: $1,740,737 | County Match: $1,740,737
The Fort Pierce Shore Protection project is a federally authorized project and consists of the
restoration and maintenance of 2.3 miles of Atlantic shoreline in Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County. Initial
restoration of the project area began in 1971 with the construction of a 1.3-mile segment of beach
immediately south of the Fort Pierce Inlet. The present long-term management plan for restoration of the entire 2.3-mile shoreline consists of sand placement in the original northern 1.3-mile segment,
creating a natural feeder beach for the southern portion of the project. The next scheduled
nourishment event is proposed in Spring 2025.
St. Lucie County Local Government Funding Request (LGFR):
Fort Pierce Inlet Sand Trap Phase 1 Excavation
Total Project Cost: $5,410,000
Requested Amount: $2,705,000 | County Match: $2,705,000
The Fort Pierce Shore Protection Project is a federally authorized project and consists of the
restoration and maintenance of 2.3 miles of Atlantic shoreline immediately south of the Fort Pierce
Inlet. A sand trap was constructed and sited just inside the Fort Pierce Inlet, near the north jetty, to
capture sand migration from adjacent beaches. This sand is available for placement onto the down-
drift beach. As of February 2023, the Fort Pierce Sand Trap (Phase I) had surpassed design capacity
and was ready for excavation. The state may cost share at 50% for future maintenance dredging.
St. Lucie County Florida Seaports Priority Project List: Property Acquisition
Requested Amount: $10,000,000
The Port of Fort Pierce has identified property acquisition as its unfunded priority. St. Lucie County is
developing a regional stormwater solution for the undeveloped portions of the port. The preliminary
identified land is located within the Port Planning Area, but the County is not the primary landowner.
Additionally, there are strategic parcels that are adjacent to the port’s terminal that, if acquired, could
assist in the expansion of the current Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operations. Property
acquisition will be critical in the future development of the Port of Fort Pierce.
APPROPRIATIONS
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St. Lucie County supports Home Rule, opposes Unfunded Mandates, and
opposes efforts to reduce local government revenue sources or limit
flexibility in how they are spent.
This guiding principle includes the County’s opposition to legislation that would
create cost shifts from traditionally state responsibilities, circumvent local oversight of development or tax issues, limit local control of critical services,
or impact our ability to provide a responsive and reflective local government
to our constituents. We also support legislation that creates additional
financial flexibility for local budgets, enhances local control of policies and
procedures impacting our residents and allows our County to – with the utmost responsiveness – meet the needs of the community.
St. Lucie County supports efforts and investment in Economic
Development initiatives that both contribute to the further diversification of our state and local economies and supports tourism
and cultural foundations upon which so much of our regional impact
depends on.
This guiding principle includes the County’s support for things such as full
funding for Visit Florida, the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, and the Department
of State’s Arts and Cultural Grants.
St. Lucie County supports key investments into Environmental
and Natural Resources that protect Florida’s fragile environment,
strengthens our resilience against the impacts of climate change,
addresses the stresses and impacts of continued growth on our
Lagoon, lakes, rivers, streams, beaches, and ocean.
This guiding principle includes water and environmental projects critical to
the county and region, comprehensive Everglades restoration, beach and
inlet management and restoration, hurricane supplemental funding, and investments into the health and sustainability of the Indian River Lagoon.
St. Lucie County supports robust investment in public infrastructure that
supports both planned and potential growth, strengthens transportation
and communication networks, and provides greater mobility and accessibility for our residents.
This guiding principle includes full funding of Florida’s Transportation Five-Year Work Plan through State Transportation Trust Fund including appropriate
funding for road construction, public transit, deep water seaports such as the
Port of Fort Pierce, airports such as the Treasure Coast International Airport, and
the Strategic Intermodal System. It also includes expansion of state-supported
broadband, public access trail networks, funding for septic to sewer conversion and waste to energy projects, and other investments that enhance the quality
of life for all of St. Lucie County’s residents.
2024 Guiding Principles
ST. LUCIE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
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St. Lucie County supports funding equity in critical public
safety investments.
This guiding principle includes appropriate state funding for required
school safety and resource officers, fair cost share of inmate medical
costs and juvenile justice per diem rates, increased investment into the
county Emergency Operations Center, and proper recurring funding of
Mental Health Court.
St. Lucie County supports better partnership and cost share of
critical public health and human services.
This guiding principle includes advocating for a cap on county
Medicaid cost growth, more robust funding for mental health and
substance abuse treatment and opposing efforts to modify or underfund the public health system and the role of county health
departments. It also includes appropriate statewide funding for
homelessness, county-specific appropriations projects, and funding for
Healthy Families and Community Healthcare Clinics.
St. Lucie County supports affordable housing initiatives.
This guiding principle includes full funding of the state’s affordable housing trust fund, addressing the home insurance crisis, expanding
local discretion for the local option property tax exemption, designating
a state entity responsible for enforcing and monitoring certain aspects
of the Live Local Act, providing clear criteria for local governments to
utilize when identifying parcels in compliance with affordable housing per ss. 125.379 and 166.0451 and consider including an enforcement
mechanism, expand infrastructure surtax statute to clearly include
construction costs for affordable housing development, modernize the
Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) reporting requirement, and create a grant program to support local land use reform for
affordable housing.
St. Lucie County supports increased funding for public education and wrap around services that promote lifelong learning and personal advancement.
This guiding principle includes not only adequate state funding for K12 and early learning, but higher education investments at Indian River
State College with capital (PECO) and operating dollars that enhance
the quality of education and skill development opportunities available
to our residents. It also includes funding for education wrap around
services such as career and college counseling.
St. Lucie County supports financial investment and public policy
optimization that leads to the continued transformation of Florida’s
critically important agriculture industry and prepares it for a
sustainable future.
This guiding principle includes investments into UF/IFAS St. Lucie
County-based research and development projects, aquaculture
research, and Florida’s 4-H programs including others.
911 Public Safety Telecommunicators.
St. Lucie County supports legislation that would help the recruitment
and retention of 911 Public Safety Telecommunicators.
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St. Lucie County opposes unfunded mandates and efforts to reduce local government revenue sources or limit flexibility in how they are spent.
The County opposes legislation that shifts costs from traditionally federal responsibilities, circumvents local oversight, limits local control, or impacts our ability to provide effective local services to our constituents. We also support legislation that creates additional financial flexibility, enhances local control of policies and procedures, and allows our County to – with the utmost responsiveness – meet the needs of the community.
St. Lucie County supports robust investment in public infrastructure that supports both planned and potential growth, strengthens transportation and communication networks, and provides greater mobility and accessibility for our residents.
The County supports maintaining funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to enhance investment in our roads, railroad safety, bridges, transit, the Port of Fort Pierce, beaches and coastal amenities, environment, and the Strategic Intermodal System. We also support funding from those and other bills to support the expansion of broadband, increasing broadband affordability, and other investments that enhance the quality of life for St. Lucie County residents.
St. Lucie County supports key federal investments into projects and programs that protect Florida’s environment, strengthens resilience against the impacts of storm and climate change, and addresses the health of our waterways, including but not limited to the Indian River Lagoon, lakes, rivers, streams, beaches, and oceans.
The County supports funding and authorization necessary for St. Lucie County’s two federal Army Corps of Engineers beach nourishment projects: Fort Pierce and St. Lucie County, comprehensive Everglades restoration – including completion of the entire Indian River Lagoon-South project – completion of a Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual that benefits our local waters, protection of offshore sand sources for the County’s future use, opposition to the expansion of offshore fossil fuel energy development near Florida, and continued investments into the health and sustainability of the Indian River Lagoon.
St. Lucie County supports federal engagement to address the nation’s mental health and opioid crises and invest in services to help with aging services and research.
The County supports expanded treatment options for the mentally ill, the preservation of Medicare and Medicaid, supports funding for programs that address the opioid epidemic, federal funding for Alzheimer’s and dementia research at the National Institute on Aging, and annual funding for Older Americans Act programs that support critical social service programs serving elder persons in St. Lucie County.
St. Lucie County supports ongoing investments in community development and homelessness assistance programs to support our most vulnerable populations as well as efforts to increase access to affordable housing.
The County supports programs such as the HOME Investment Partnerships, Community Development Block Grant, Community Services Block Grant, and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, among others. This also includes Homeless Assistance Grants, particularly for the Continuum of Care Program from which the County benefits. Further, the County supports adjusting area median income (AMI) calculations developed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to include more location-specific data rather than larger Metropolitan Statistical Areas determined by the Census Bureau. This precise data would allow for more accurate AMI calculations to be used for lower income individuals to whom HUD assistance should be targeted and increase affordable housing access for those most in need.
St. Lucie County supports federal legislation that ensures detained individuals and inmates have adequate medical care and maintain access to federal benefits.
The County supports addressing federal policies that contribute to the national behavioral and mental health crisis and seeks to reduce rates of recidivism in our local jails. The County takes a holistic approach to protect public wellbeing and make our community a healthier and safer place for our residents and visitors.
FederalPROGRAM
Guiding Principles
2024
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1. Explore all opportunities during the Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations
process to secure federal funding for key St. Lucie County priorities.
These include:
Necessary funding to initiate the Preconstruction Engineering and
Design phase of the next iteration of the Fort Pierce Beach project via
the Army Corps of Engineers.
Support funding to implement the Army Corps of Engineers
Section 219 environmental infrastructure authorization included in the
Water Resources Development Act of 2022 for St. Lucie, Martin, and
Palm Beach counties.
2. Support St. Lucie County’s efforts to extend the runway at the Treasure
Coast International Airport with appropriate federal agencies now
that the county has secured appropriated funds in the FY23 Federal
Omnibus bill for the project to extend the primary runway at the airport
by 1,008 feet, for a total length of 7,500 feet. This extension will assist
the airport in accommodating commercial aircraft most heavily utilized
by carriers likely to provide service to the Airport.
3. Support the County in its efforts to secure the Part 139 Certification at
the Treasure Coast International Airport. Part 139 will create jobs and
encourage economic development.
4. St. Lucie County supports appropriate federal funding to help respond
to the impacts of hurricanes and other disasters, including from
Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, particularly relating to Army Corps of
Engineers funding to restore the County’s two federal shore protection
projects to their pre-storm conditions.
5. St. Lucie County supports the prudent implementation of the Army
Corps of Engineers’ policy regarding perpetual construction easements.
Reasonable engineering discretion is required to determine how “integral”
specific real estate is to the performance of a federal beach project. The
Corps should allow for Jacksonville District discretion in determining how
unacquired easements impact project performance. The County supports
legislative action that ensures that shore protection projects with minimal
real estate challenges can proceed without delay, as originally authorized
by Congress.
6. St. Lucie County supports the ongoing federal Fort Pierce Beach Section
203/403 Conditional Authorization effort, which includes a new 50-year
beach project life/agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) and the addition of T-groin structures to better manage regional
sands. St. Lucie County and the Port of Fort Pierce support maritime
requests which will assist in the economic development of the port, most
importantly in policy and funding initiatives.
7. St. Lucie County supports the expansion of an existing Opportunity Zone
to include the Port of Fort Pierce and Harbour Point to enhance economic
development opportunities.
8. Support St. Lucie County applications for competitive federal grant
programs, including but not limited to, opportunities created by the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
9. St. Lucie County supports a statute of limitations be approved regarding
future claw backs of state and local funding from the American Rescue
Plan Act.
www.StLucieCo.gov
FederalPROGRAM
Priorities: Appropriations and Policies
2024
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