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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Packet March 14, 2013AGENDA Thursday, March 14, 2013 2:00 P.M. INFORMAL MEETING CALL TO ORDER - COMMISSIONER MOWERY, CHAIRMAN BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 1. EDC: 1ST QUARTER UPDATE - TOM WILKINSON, TREASURER/SECRETARY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2. DISCUSSION PHIL CHALMERS SCHOOL VIOLENCE/ANTI-BULLYING PRESENTATION AT FENN CENTER, MAY 2, 2013 3. PRESENTATION OF FEDERAL AGENDA TO BOARD -GREG BURNS, VAN SCOYOC ASSOCIATES ADJOURNMENT CONFERENCE ROOM #3 ROGER POITRAS ADMINISTRATION ANNEX 2300 VIRGINIA AVENUE, FORT PIERCE FLORIDA 34982 NOTICE: All Proceedings before this Board are electronically recorded. Any person who decides to appeal any action taken by the Board at these meetings will need a record of the proceedings and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made. Upon the request of any party to the proceedings, individuals testifying during a hearing will be swom in. Any party to the proceedings will be granted the opportunity to cross-examine any individual testifying during a hearing upon request. Anyone with a disability requiring accommodation to attend this meeting should contact the St. Lucie County Safety & Risk Manager at (772) 462-1783 or TDD (772) 462-1428 at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the meeting. - p .Why Teens Kill juvenile Hom ideTraining True Lies Bullying Sehool Assemhlies � ............{ t i i r t.. t a 65 lr AUTHOR * TV PERSONALITY * POLICE TRAINER * ASSEMBLY SPEAKER OM OF7 *WHO IS PHIL CHALMERSP *WHY TEENS KILL . HOMICIDE TRAINING *TRUE LIES SCHOOL ASSEMBLY *POST CERTIFICATION FORMS � PAST CLIENTS ENDORSEMENTS j�CONTRACT *.RIDER &FEES ;Phil Chalmers, PO'.�Box 4'48; Berlm,'O;hio 44610 (33, PhilGh'almers;aom .FaaebookcomlPhilChalmer er WHO IS PHIL CHALMERS? Phil Chalmers, America's leading authority on juvenile homicide and juvenile mass murder, has interviewed over 200 teen killers and school shooters, and has been studying youth culture and teen murder for 25 years. Phil is the author of numerous books and documentaries including his latest two book releases, "Inside the Mind of a Teen Killer" and "True Lies" Phil With Wife Barb Instead of learning about these crimes Phil Chalmers from textbooks or libraries, Chalmers speaks to the killers themselves, and has interacted with teen killers, serial killers, school shooters, mass murderers, and sexual predators, including Charles Manson, David Berkowitz, Pearl shooter Luke Woodham, Paducah shooter Michael Carneal, Jonesboro shooter Mitchell Johnson, and Moses Lake shooter Barry Loukaitis. Phil has just finished filming the new show on Biography Channel called "KILLER TEENS" Phil also performs school assemblies nationwide, and addresses tough topics like bullying, crime prevention, suicide, substance abuse, Internet safety, and more. Phil's work has been featured on Montel Williams and Howard Stern. Phil can be seen on the El Network shows "Billionaire Crime Scenes' and "Too Young To Kill "and SPIKE TV's "Don't be a Victim." He has appeared on numerous media outlets, and has interacted with numerous media personalities, including the Insane Clown Posse, Dog the Bounty Hunter, Jessica Simpson, Metallica, Two Live Crew, and many more. Phil is a youth advocate, and is a positive voice for today's young people. Phil feels we are exploiting this generation for profit, and he has decided to do something about it. His school assemblies and teen violence training is captivating his audiences, many saying it's the best training they have ever received in their long careers. Phil is married to his wife of 25 years, Barb, and has two adopted sons. Phil lives in Northeast Ohio, and assists the New Carrollton, Maryland Police Department and Chief David Rice with Juvenile Diversion. His hobbies include auto racing, With students in Waseca, Minnesota customized cars, Hummers, Vipers, weightlifting, and the UFC. -N, Phil Chalmers, PO Box 4a,': PhIlChalmers:com Fae III R This seminar is classroom based and jammed with media, including crime scene photos, original videos, interrogation videos, and information known only to the killers themselves. This seminar isfast-moving and will cover over 50 'reacher and victim of the Moses Lake, Washington School Shooting juvenile homicide cases, including school shootings, family murders, mall shootings, cult killings, media -inspired killings, gang killings, and thrill killings. FRK DYLAN Iflegni� ARE:AY gtwr. '-`Yh.CY .:qc{va0r Cax�td 1'hc Cook f MAiOf `VoDIrA.— This course will teach attendees the top ten reasons juveniles kill, the six types of teen killers, the warning signs that were missed, and ways we can keep our schools and communities safe. Phil will take attendees back in time, exploring the history of juvenile homicide, which dates back to 1786, and will discuss the first acts of school violence, which began as early as 1944 and 1956. Phil will also give attendees a dose of youth culture, familiarizing attendees with today's teen entertainment, including video games, music, and movies. Phil provides a side of teen murder that Warning Signs nobody else can really provide, and that is a description of the crimes from the killers themselves, whom Phil has spent over 25 years interacting and building a relationship with. He provides answers to questions everyone is asking, like "Why did they kill?" "Were there any warnings signs?' and "Could the victim's have done something different and survived?" Phil also warns that he will take attendees "Inside the Mind of a Teen Killer," which is a very dark and disturbing place, and some may find the content of this seminar troubling, offensive, and disturbing. Phil Ohalmers; PO BOx448,$ei PhI C ailmers:com - Facebd Youth Culture Update � 4461 Q (330) 998 4340 PhilCl%almersAuthor ' N H T TEENS KILL .l Phil's mission is to save innocent lives, and make our schools and our world a safer place for children to grow up in. Some of the cases featured in this years r seminar include: A mall shooting carried a3 r out by a teenager; a school shooting ], carried out by two children, who were Moses Lake School Shooter not even teenagers yet; A double - homicide committed by an 8-year-old; juvenile murder/suicides; ajuvenile who killed his step -mother and placed her body into a freezer; and a juvenile who raped and killed his own sister in their family home. Phil will cover the triggers that propel teens towards murder, and he will discuss the steps schools can take to make their schools a safer place for students and staff. Attendees will witness hundreds of crime scene photos, killers' journals and weapons, and first hand PI information from investigators, detectives, and first responders. Every 4 attendee will take home a valuable seminar booklet 5 4 that they can refer back to School safety Technology throughout the year and use in their own personal training sessions. The most common feedback from numerous attendees is "I wish Phil had more time to speak" and "the best training I have seen in my entire career." Juggalo Group ABK Evil Dead Movie The TRUE LIES school assembly is unlike any other school assembly in the world, and by far the most effective in dealing with teen destructive decisions, like recreational sex, substance abuse, teen violence, and bullying. This information about the consequences of making poor choices is delivered by the number one expert on teen murder and school violence, Phil Chalmers. Phil has a way to keep the students engaged, make them laugh, and actually begin change in their lives and their thinking in just one short hour. Chalmers says "I take very seriously the 60 minutes that the schools give me, and I fully expect to see life change in the students from the short time I get to spend with them." This assembly is fast-moving, and geared toward this MTV and Video Game generation, and Phil will take them on a very fast ride through the decisions they will be faced with f+ in Middle and High School, making them laugh and cry during the presentation. One thing is for sure, he will =r ? definitely get their attention and their respect. Phil combines a mix of biting humor, edgy sarcasm, and an in -your -face bluntness that the students love, and the With Maryland SeminarAttendees students quickly realize that this is not another predictable drinking and driving prom talk. The student's reactions to this assembly are predictable, and the most common responses are "he kept it on our level," "he didn't talk down to me," "I wish he had more time," and "this assembly changed my life and my thinking about how I am living." Most of the students will laugh throughout the assembly, and some will break down in tears. A common response is what we heard from a Kansas male student, "You saved a life today -MINE!" Another female high school student from Ohio said "This was the best thing to ever happen to our school and our community." The topics covered in this assembly include: tobacco use, substance abuse, before and after crack and meth photos, dangers of drunk driving, self-image, body image, how to treat men and women in their school, abstinence, suicide, self-abuse, bullying, teen violence, destructive entertainment, school safety, crime prevention, prison life, and will hit many of the lies of their culture and their media, ripping off the mask of deception, dispelling the lies, and showing the students what bad decisions really look like. Complete with compelling photos, shocking videos, arrest photos, prison photos, and some crime scene photos. With students from Bourbon, Kentucky +^ t Phil Chalmers, PO Box 448,-:Berlin, ohio 44610 (330) 998 4340. PhilChalmers.00m - Facebook.com/PhilChalmersAiathor. m ■ � wow- w.wr�w You owe it to your school and your students to bring this life -changing assembly to your school and your community. Not only will this assembly completely change the thinking of your students, but will assist the teachers, parents, and police officers as they attempt to guide and direct your students. And most importantly, this assembly will help end the bullying problem you are dealing with at your school and in your community. In the end, your school will be a safer place for the students, as well as the teachers and the school administration. t Call Phil Chalmers' office w i,l today at (330) 998-4340, and schedule your school w assembly, before Phil's o'qN roxiw Kryanxeve._T schedule fills up. You can Consequences of Drunk Driving also email Phil at chalmers33@aol.com. Phil is also available for an evening parent meeting, as well as in-service training for your teachers and school administration. Phil can also do numerous assemblies in one day, or piece together multiple days of school assemblies. The recommended age for these assemblies is 7th grade through 12th grade. The content may be a little too much for 6th grade and below. You can also add one of Phil's rappers to the day of assemblies, making it a huge event, and also giving the students a chance to attend an evening concert. Phil looks forward to your phone calls, and is excited about the opportunity to work with your school and administration. On Phil's website are testimonials and past clients, so feel free to contact any of the schools who have hosted a Phil Chalmers assembly in the past. Good Luck in your quest to keep kids safe, and guide them towards a healthy future! z Consequences of Crack Use Consequences of Meth Use nhnT f1 nTii is,Tiff V NEW' KILL Warning Signs, Causes, Triggers, and Prevention WHO SHOULD ATTEND Law enforcement in all areas, School Resource Officers, Prosecutors, DARE Officers, Detectives, Homicide Investigators, Sheriffs, Sheriff's Depu- ties and Police Officers, Police Chiefs, Military Officers, Corrections Officers, School Administra- tors, Principals, Teachers, School Superintendents, Youth Workers, Judges, Proba- tion Officers, and Youth Counselors. COURSE OVERVIEW This course is classroom based using Powerpoint and Videos to review hundreds of juvenile homicides and juvenile mass murders. This course will teach attendees what warning signs to be looking for, and what causes teens to carry out these shocking and senseless murders. Attendees will review crime scene photos, hear from investigators, and discover what went right in these cases, and what went wrong. Phil will also educate the attendees on the history of teen murder, the six types of teen killers, and what makes this new wave of killer tick, which was warned about long ago by the FBI's J. Edgar Hoover. You will not only hear from investi- gators and detectives, but from the killers themselves- why they did what they did, and how they felt about detectives and investigators. Attendees will also get a look at today's youth culture, including the latest teen entertainment and teen trends, like facebook, youtube, and sexting. This course is classroom based, and attendees will receive a workbook to follow along and use to reference and review after the class. COURSE OBJECTIVES 1. Attendees will learn why today's teens are killing at such a young age and in such a violent fashion, and how we can stop them. 2. Attendees will learn what warning signs they should be looking for, and what causes teens to commit homicide. 3. Attendees will get a quick dose of youth culture, from video games to music, movies to television, and the latest teen social media websites 4. Attendees will hear inside details from numerous homicides committed by juveniles, and A. learn details known only to investigators. The goal is to cover numerous cases so attendees can see a pattern and recognize that pattern in their own community or school. Phil.0hi Phil I,NIft1I DAILY SCHEDULE 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: History of Teen Murder and School Shootings 9:15 AM-10:15: Trends and Causes 7-10 of Teen Murder 10:30 AM -11:30 AM: Causes 3-6 of Teen Murder 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM: Lunch 1:00 PM -2:00 PM: Causes 1-3 of Teen Murder, and Youth Culture Update 2:15 PM - 4:00 PM: Warning Signs, Triggers, and Prevention DISCLAIMER The material in this seminar can be graphic, violent, and shocking, and attendees should be prepared to view this content in advance. This material isn't for everyone, but it is Phil's goal to present this important message in a real format, which could be disturbing and troubling for some attendees. THERE WILL BE ABSOLUTELY NO TAPING OR RECORDING OF THIS PRESEW TATION OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING AUDIO, VIDEO. OR STILL PHOTOGRAPHS! philchalmers.com Phil Chalmers Juvenile Homicide Resistance Training P.O. Box 448, Berlin, Ohio 44610 330.998.4340 .Phil chalmers, PO;Box 448;Berlin, Ohio 4461'0 (330)998 4340 RhilGhalmers,;com- Facebook:coin/P.hilC,halmersAuthor..• f This is a partial list of Phil's past clients. There is a more complete list on Phil's website, PhllChalmers.com, r Alabama Probation Officer's Conference, John Miller (205) 914-6339 Alabama School Resource Officers (TAASRO), Steven Whited (256) 996-5922 Alaska DARE Conference, Naomi Sweetman,(907) 245-4582 Charleston Police Department, Charleston, West Virginia, Sgt. Anthony Payne, Training Division, (304) 348-1091 Cincinnati Police Department, Training Division, Lt Christine Briede (513) 357-7558 Concordia, KS Jr/Sr High School, Superintendent Bev Mortimer (785) 243-3518 DARE Conferences, Ohio, Minnesota, Alaska, and National FBI National Academy, Ohio, Florida Conference Florida Homicide Investigators Conference, Orlando, Florida, Lt Paul Andrews, (727) 541-0787 Florida School Resource Officers (FASRO), Tim Enos (941) 894-5167 Grand Rapids School System Security, LarryJohnson (616) 819-2100 Huber Heights Wayne High School, Ohio, David Ford (937) 604-4810 Huntsville, Texas Police Dept, Blake Galle (936) 291-5497 Jourdanton, Texas Police Dept, Chief Eric Kaiser, (830) 769-2241 Kane County Sheriffs Office and Kanab, Utah High School, AlanAlldridge (435) 644-4995 Kansas SRO Conference, Bobby Wilson, (316) 516-2633 Lakeview Schools, Cortland, Ohio, Supt Bob Wilson (330) 637-8741 Maryland Municipal Chiefs of Police Association, Gayle Waters, (410) 957-1600 x101 Minnesota Dept of Corrections, Redwing, MN, Judi Mickelson, (651) 267-3672 Minnesota South Central Investigators Coalition, Marc Chadderdon (507) 931-6800 Mississippi SRO Convention, Don Criswell, (601) 359-1028 Mississippi SRO Convention, MASRO, CaptAllen Gilbert, (662) 871-2350 Missouri Juvenile Justice Association, Lisa DeBroeck, (573) 636-6101 Missouri Highway Patrol, National Homicide Conference, Brenda Lecure, (573) 751-3452 Missouri SRO Conference, Sarah Bodi, (314) 415-7190 Mobile, Alabama Police Department, Major Kara Rose, Training (251) 208-1849 National Association of School Resource Officers National Convention, NASRO New Carrollton, Maryland Police Department, Chief Dave Rice (240) 304-5272 North Carolina School Resource Officers (NCASRO), Novella Frieslander, (910) 431-6240 North Dakota Supreme Court, Probation Officers, Kim Decider, (701) 328-4292, 328-2689 Ohio Police Chief's Association, Columbus, Ohio ' Ohio Police Athletic League (PAL), Cindy, (937) 789-8624 Ohio SRO Conference, Steve Burgess, (513) 317-5585 Orange County Sheriffs Department, Orlando, Florida, Sheriff Demings, Capt Dennis Leonard, (407) 254-7047 Overland, Missouri Police Dept, Sgt Steve Still (314) 428-1221 Palm Beach Community College, Lake Worth, Florida, Criminal Justice Instructor, Jill Reiter, (516) 868-3398 Stark County Prosecutors Office, Stark County, Ohio, Darci Knight, (330) 451-7868 TAASRO, Alabama School Resource Officer's Conference, Steven Whited (256) 996-5922 Texas CPSCS (Criminal Justice Teachers), Kevin Jacobson (817) 253-7089 Texas School -Based Law Enforcement Texas School District Police Chiefs, Alan Bragg (281) 891-6901 Val Verde Sheriffs Dept, Del Rio, Texas, Sheriff Martinez (830) 774-7513 PhWC .".PF This is a partial list of Phil's endorsements and testimonials. There is a more complete list on Phil's website, PhilChalmers.com. KNOWLEDGE OF TEEN VIOLENCE & YOUTH CULTURE "Phil Chalmers has interviewed the killers. He has corresponded with them extensively. He has exhaustively researched their crimes. There is no human being alive who knows more about these teen killers." -Col Dave Grossman, leading police training and Pulitzer prized nominated author "Phil Chalmers has found what I've been searching for the last 27 years of my life, my entire law enforcement career. To go into the mind of a teen killer, you need to look into their hearts, and Phil has done that. Phil raises your awareness of where we have gone wrong in society, and how we can make changes with simple steps." -Lt Joe Schillaci, Miami Police Department, star of "The First 48" television show PHIL'S BOOK & OVD'S "A must read for anyone concerned about the rage and depression of so many lost youths. Fascinating!" -Ann Rule, America's leading crime writer JUVENILE HOMICIDE TRAINING "I just saw your presentation in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It is the BEST training I have EVER been to. Nothing I've seen has been more relevant to my job and the population I work with. I will be researching your website everyday." -Mike, North Dakota Juvenile Probation Officer "There is nothing like the feeling you get when you host a seminar, and the attendees come up and thank you for the seminar, saying it's the best training they have had in twenty years. Thanks for all you do." -Lt Lawrence Waldridge, Elkton Police Department, Maryland "I was in attendance at your training session in Westerville, Ohio. First off, thanks you for the very valuable information. It was one of those trainings that you didn't want to see end." _ -Chief Waltmire, Coldwater Police Department, Ohio "Whether speaking with law enforcement officers, junior high kids, or parents and teachers, Phil Chalmers is on point and hits his target. His seminars are timely and useful to his audience, as are his books and DVD's. My 16-year-old daughter and I viewed his DVD "Shock and Awe" and she immediately wanted to view it with friends. Chalmers is highly recom- mended." -Chief Potthoff, Sterling Police Department, Illinios "I attended a seminar you gave in Tampa, Florida, and it was the best seminar I have ever been to. I was sitting there like a child watching Shrek 41" -Capt Garcia, Osceola Juvenile Detention Center, Florida SCHOOL ASSEMBLY SPEAKING "I have never witnessed a student audience respond so positively to a speaker, nor have I ever received such affirmative parental feedback from a school assembly." -Bob Wilson, Superintendent, Lakeview Schools, Cortland, Ohio "You saved a life today at the talk you did at my school... Mine!" -Kansas Student Phil Chalmers„ PO Box 448„Berlin; Ohio 44610 (330) 998 4340 PhilChalmers:can - Facebook coin/l . ,, ,.Ch almer'sAUthor . _ Training Seminar School Assembly Contract Seminar Location: City: Venure Contact: Seminar Date: Seminar Type: 1 TRUEII.Pl Address: _ State: Venue Phone: Venue Capacity: Seminar Time: AM / PM True Lies School Assembly Why Teens Kill Juvenile Homicide Resistance Training Speaking Fee: Flat fee of $ or ticketed event, and ticket price $ If ticketed event, host agency will receive complimentary tickets Purchaser Information (HostiSponsor/Department) Name/Dept: Address: Phone: Contact Person: Phone#1: Fax: Phone #2: Speaking fee due the day of the presentation, unless otherwise discussed with Phil's office. Please make check payable to Phil Chalmers. Also, please complete this contract and mail to Phil Chalmers as soon as possible to secure your calandar date. You can email the contract to chalmers33@aol.com, or mail to Phil Chalmers, PO Box 448, Berlin, Ohio 44610. No down payment or deposit is required. Thank You n EASY RIDER Phil Chalmers wants to make it easy and painless to work with him and his office, and to make your event a home run. Phil will attempt to bring some equipment with him, but it's in your best interest to provide all of the following equipment, in the event of an equipment malfunction, burned out projector bulb, or whatever else might occur when working with audio and visual equipment. Please provide the following, and call Phil's office with any questions: Projector Screen (The bigger the better, so as large as possible) Sound System (Phil prefers a custom sound system, instead of the hotel sound system with speakers in the ceiling. Phil usually travels with a portable sound system, similar to a Fender Passport. These portable sound systems can be rented from local music stores, or purchased on Ebay. Phil needs to get sound out of his laptop as well) Wireless Microphone (Phil prefers a wireless handheld, similar to a Shure microphone) Video Projector (Phil will attempt to bring his, but a backup is a good idea) Laptop Computer (Phil will bring his own laptop, but a backup is a good idea in the event that Phil's computer would crash) Extension Cord and Power Strip Two Tables for merchandise, like Phil's books, DVD's, and t shirts Two helpers at Phil's table to assist him with March sales Police Officer (If Phil is speaking at a school, doing assemblies, he requires a police officer to be present during the school assembly, from the beginning to the end). FEES Phil Chalmers wants to do his best to work with your budgets, especially in this tight economy we live in. He hopes he can accommodate your financial goals, and will do what he can to meet your budgets and grant packages. Phil's fees cover all of his expenses including travel, hotel, and meals, so there are NO additional fees above the quoted fees below. Phil's homicide training and school assemblies are among the best in the world, and the prices below ari very competitive in the industry. I One day of WHY TEENS KILL Juvenile Homicide Resistance Training ........... $3500 One day of school assemblies (Some schools will split Phil's time during a day of school assemblies, and one school will host Phil in the morning, and another school will host Phil in the afternoon, splitting the fee. Phil can do 3 assemblies during the day). ................................................................... $3500 Additional days of School Assemblies, added to the first paid date.................$2500/Day Add an evening meeting for parent and teacher training .............................. $500 Phll Chalmers; PO Box 448, PhiICh'almerS. om - Fac Ok .\ 't 4y .SHE TRUE LIES 10UR IC CO IH 'f Y1 U U� Um"m , 2013US DOUR FEATURING... h I < 4 v } iay I i i �ti 7 N The True Lies Tour features dynamic as talking about bullyinng,,cgMr . prevention, and grab, your heart as, he shares his pa to destroy, the LIES that are killing this y BOOKS, CDS AND SHIRTS V FOR MORE IFORI i ��� PHIS CH��IER AuthorRf_InsldetheMlnd.ofaTeenKilli �' and Faati rted In Rmnranhb5 Klllan Twit AaE vim mILUIR! b■ oo) THEBIOGRAPHYCHANNEL- L+, j rt i PHIECBAL�iERS.00�9 i `r almers, who will be ae you, shock you, eration. Phil hopes nanner that works. TTHE SHOW IERSA ITEM NO.3 St. Lucie County, Florida 2013 Federal, Legislative Agenda r VAN 5COYOC A S S O C f A 11, H S Prepared by Van Scoyoc Associates for St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky Commissioner Frannie Hutchinson Commissioner Kim Johnson Commissioner Paula A. Lewis Commissioner Tod Mowery Faye W. Outlaw, MPA, County Administrator Questions regarding the information in this book may be directed to: Greg Burns Michael Brillhart Richard Bouchard (202)737-8162 (772)462-6406 (772)462-1710 February 2013 Copyright 2013 Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. VAN SCOT OC A S S O G I .A T E S Water Resources 1) St. Lucie County Feasibility Study and Fort Pierce Beach Project 2) Water Resources Development Act 3) Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan 4) Fort Pierce Inlet Maintenance Dredging; Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund 5) Water Quality -- Numeric Nutrient Criteria and Total Maximum Daily Loads Transportation 6) Transportation Authorization 7) Federal Aviation Administration Local Government Finance 8) Tax -Exempt Bonds 9) Sales -Tax Legislation 10) Transient Occupancy Taxes Economic Development & Social Services 11) Economic Development Administration 12) Community Services Block Grants & the Low Income Home Energy Program 13) Older Americans Act Programs 14) Department of Housing and Urban Development Formula Programs Energy & Sustainability 15) Property Assessed Clean Energy Legislation 16) Offshore Energy Exploration General Government Issues 17) Public Pension Reform Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. 1 101 Constitution Ave., NW I Suite 600 West I Washington, DC 20001 T: 202.638.1950 1 F: 202.638.7714 1 www.vsade.com I Page 1 St. Lucie County VAN y< OYOC 2013 Federal Legislative Agenda A""" "' " St. Lucie County Feasibility Study and Fort Pierce Beach Project Support adequate annual funding for the Corps of Engineers Investigations and Construction accounts, including additional funding specifically for "shore protection" projects not identified in the annual Administration budget. Support the Corps' funding of the St. Lucie County feasibility study in Fiscal Year 2013 and the renourishment of the Fort Pierce, FL Federal shore protection project in future fiscal years. Monitor the search for additional offshore sand by the Corps of Engineers for future southeast Florida nourishment projects. Water Resources Development Act Support passage of a Water Resources Development Act, including: • Provide a $850,000 credit to the County for costs incurred by the County for the General and Limited Reevaluation Reports of the Fort Pierce, FL Federal beach project • Allow for the Fort Pierce, FL General Reevaluation Report to be considered suitable for anew 50-year project authorization, thereby allowing for the future construction of structural alternatives and potential inlet sand bypassing south of the Fort Pierce Federal Inlet in order to help reduce the frequency of future beach nourishment cycles • Legislative language to provide a process for the reauthorization of Federal participation in beach restoration projects that are approaching the end of their 50-year cost sharing period Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan Support the continuing implementation of all facets of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, including: • Continued Federal and State action on the Ten -Mile Creek project in St. Lucie County • The State purchase of the remaining 1300 acres of land needed for the C-24 Reservoir and storm water treatment area so the Corps of Engineers can proceed with construction of the C-23 and C- 24 Reservoirs and storm water treatment areas project, which is part of the original Indian River Lagoon -South project • Full Federal funding for the restoration of the Herbert IIoover Dike • Full Federal funding for the construction of the C-44 Reservoir and associated storm water treatment areas • Full Federal funding and an authorization increase for the completion of the Kissimmee River restoration project Fort Pierce Inlet Maintenance Dredging; Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Support adequate annual funding for the Corps of Engineers Operations & Maintenance account, including additional funding for dredging not identified in the annual Administration budget. Support additional funding specifically provided for "Small, Remote, or Subsistence Navigation" dredging activities. Support legislation which would require the expenditure of funds for O&M activities equal to the level of receipts plus interest credited to the HMTF for that fiscal year. Water Quality -- Numeric Nutrient Criteria and Total Maximum Daily Loads Monitor activities surrounding the proposed "numeric water quality criteria" for lakes, flowing waters, and canals. Transportation Authorization Monitor proposed changes to Federal highway and transit programs. Monitor efforts to enhance Federal transportation revenue streams. Support any and all opportunities to secure funding for St. Lucie County priorities via this legislation or other means. Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. 1 101 Constitution Ave., NW I Suite 600 West I Washington, DC 20001 T: 202.638.1950 1 F: 202.638.7714 1 wwwxsadccom I Page 2 a VAN SC',OTOC A :i F U l' 1 A 11, E K Federal Aviation Administration Support $3.35 billion in annual appropriations for the Airport Improvement Program. Support any St. Lucie County Airport grant proposals through the Airport Improvement Program. Oppose efforts to institute a per flight fee on general aviation aircraft that use controlled airspace. Oppose the elimination of Federal funding to FAA contract towers served exclusively by general aviation. Tax -Exempt Bonds Oppose legislation that would threaten the tax exemption on state and local bonds, including a 28 percent cap on tax-exempt municipal bonds. Sales -Tax Legislation Support legislation that requires companies making catalog and internet sales to collect and remit the associated taxes. Transient Occupancy Taxes Oppose legislation that would exempt Internet travel brokers from paying taxes on the full room rate paid by the consumer, thereby costing St. Lucie County and its political subdivisions the opportunity to collect the appropriate Transient Occupancy Taxes from visitors to the region. Economic Development Administration Support continued funding of the Economic Development Administration. Support St. Lucie County grant applications through the program. Community Services Block Grants & Low Income Home Energy Program Funding Support at least level funding from Fiscal Year 2012 for both the Community Services Block Grant and the Low Income Home Energy Program. Older Americans Act Programs Support at least level funding from Fiscal Year 2012 for Older Americans Act programs that support critical social service programs serving elder persons in St. Lucie County. Department of Housing and Urban Development Formula Programs Support at least level funding from Fiscal Year 2012 for future fiscal years for both the Community Development Block Grants and the HOME Investment Partnerships programs because of their critical role in the County's overall efforts to support those that are least fortunate. Property Assessed Clean Energy Legislation Support legislation that would allow for the creation of PACE -style programs in St. Lucie County and Florida. Offshore Energy Exploration Monitor the potential expansion of offshore energy exploration in Florida's Federal waters. Public Pension Reform Monitor federal legislative proposals related to public pensions, e.g., the Public Employee Pension Transparency Act, which could significantly impact the Florida Retirement System. Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. 1101 Constitution Ave., NW I Suite 600 West I WasMngton, DC 20001 T: 202.638.1950 1 F: 202.638.7714 1 www.vsade.com I Page 3 1� VAN S4COYO(1 A S S 0 1. 11\11, li S FEDERAL ISSUE: St. Lucie County Feasibility Study and Fort Pierce Beach Project BACKGROUND; HOW IT MAY AFFECT ST. LUCIE COUNTY: The Federal government and St. Lucie Comity have long partnered on the Fort Pierce shore protection project and the St. Lucie County shoreline feasibility study, which is evaluating erosion along the southern shoreline of the County. To fund beach nourishment projects and studies that are not often budgeted for by the Administration due to the difficult competition for funds from the Army Corps of Engineers, Congress has adjusted their funding strategy in the age of no -earmarks to add additional funding for what Congress terms "Additional Funding for Ongoing Work." _ Among these amounts, Congress in Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 provided $39.544 million in additional funding to the Corps for "shore protection" construction activity as well as $3 million for "shore protection" investigations (studies). hi FY 2013, similar funds have been proposed by the House and Senate, but Congress has not yet resolved the funding for the Corps of Engineers. These will likely be the funding sources from which the Fort Pierce beach project and the St. Lucie County feasibility study must compete in the future. More recently, the Fort Pierce beach project was impacted by Sandy. The Corps is currently reviewing Project Implementation Reports (PIK) developed by various Corps District offices throughout the country to respond to storm damage impacts from prior storms and emergency events using Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies hauling. One of those reports is regarding the Fort Pierce project, which recommends Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies funding to respond to significant impacts to the project from Sandy. If this PIR is approved and FCCE funding is provided to the project, it could be coupled with regular construction funding to complete a full project sometime later this year. In another development, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Corps of Engineers are conducting a Sediment Assessment and Needs Determination (SAND) Study of the supply of offshore sand resources and the demand for this sand to conduct beach nourishment in southeast Florida. The five coastal counties (St. Lucie through Miami -Dade) are participating in the study to determine the regional supply and demand for beach quality sand for all shore protection projects over the next 50 years. A peer review of the SAND report is being conducted by a private engineering firm. The review memorandum on this document was presented to the stakeholders on February 7, 2013. RECOMMENDED POSITION: Support adequate annual funding for the Corps of Engineers Investigations and Construction accounts, including additional funding specifically for "shore protection" projects not identified in the annual Administration budget. Support the Corps' funding of the St. Lucie County feasibility study in Fiscal Year 2014 and the renourishment of the Fort Pierce, FL Federal shore protection project via Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies and Construction General Raiding. Monitor the search for additional offshore sand by the Corps of Engineers for future southeast Florida nourishment projects. NOTES: Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. 1 101 Constitution Ave., NW I Suite 600 West ]Washington, DC 20001 T: 202.639.1950 1 F: 202.638.7714 1 w w.vsadcxom I Page 4 a VAN ScoToc. .\ s Y 4) v 1 .k ,r it ti FEDERAL ISSUE: Water Resources Development Act BACKGROUND; HOW IT MAY AFFECT ST. LUCIE COUNTY: The Water Resources Development Act authorizes the Corps of Engineers to participate in Federal water resource projects such as the Fort Pierce shore protection project. The legislation also modifies Corps' activities on particular projects and sets guidelines for how the Corps operates. Over the years, the County has taken the lead on advancing Federal studies and initiatives on some of its water resource projects in order to expedite their completion. This includes efforts on the Fort Pierce shore protection project related to slowing the rate of erosion south of the Fort Pierce Inlet and also improving the Federal/local cost share of the project due to the impact of the Federal Inlet. Also, the Federal authorization of the Fort Pierce beach project is set to expire in 2020. One of the goals of the County's language will be to ensure a new 50-year lifespan of the project without having to restart the Federal process of studies and authorizations from scratch. RECOMMENDED POSITION: Support passage of a Water Resources Development Act, including: • Provide a $850,000 credit to the County for costs incurred by the County for the General and Limited Reevaluation Reports of the Fort Pierce, FL Federal beach project • Allow for the Fort Pierce, FL General Reevaluation Report to be considered suitable for a new 50-year project authorization, thereby allowing for the future construction of structural alternatives and potential inlet sand bypassing south of the Fort Pierce Federal Inlet in order to help reduce the frequency of future beach nourishment cycles • Legislative language to provide a process for the reauthorization of Federal participation in beach restoration projects that are approaching the end of their 50-year cost sharing period NOTES: Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. 1 101 Constitution Ave., NW I Suite 600 West I Washington, DC 20001 T:202.638.1950 1 F:202.638.7714 1 www.vsadc.com I Pages vnSroz oc. FEDERAL ISSUE: Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan BACKGROUND• HOW IT MAY AFFECT ST. LUCIE COUNTY: The Federal government and the State of Florida have long partnered on projects to help restore the Everglades, maintain flood protection, and provide a reliable water supply for Floridians. Among the many projects being implemented are several that impact St. Lucie County. One of these is the Ten Mile Creek Water Preserve Area. This project was designed to be an above ground reservoir capable of storing up to 6,000 acre feet of water with an associated stormwater treatment area which was intended to improve the health of the St. Lucie Estuary. Unfortunately, the project has never function as it was designed and has been operating instead passively. Currently, the Justice Department is considering a lawsuit against the contractor for the failure of the project, leaving the Federal govermnent generally unable to discuss the project or its future in much detail. Meanwhile, the South Florida Water Management District has generally been reluctant to agree to cost -share any needed fixes to the project to make it fully functional again. RECOMMENDED POSITION: Supportthe continuing implementation of all facets of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, including: • Continued Federal and State action on the Ten -Mile Creek project in St. Lucie County • The State purchase of the remaining 1300 acres of land needed for the C-24 Reservoir and storm water treatment area so the Corps of Engineers can proceed with construction of the C-23 and C- 24 Reservoirs and storm water treatment areas project, which is part of the original Indian River Lagoon -South project • Full Federal funding for the restoration of the Herbert Hoover Dike • Full Federal funding for the construction of the C-44 Reservoir and associated storm water treatment areas • Full Federal funding and an authorization increase for the completion of the Kissimmee River restoration project NOTES: Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. 1 101 Constitution Ave., NW I Suite 600 West I Washington, DC 20001 T: 202.638.1950 1 F: 202.638.7714 1 www:vsadc.com I Page 6 I_ 'VAN SCOYOC A v S 0 C i A 11, B S FEDERAL ISSUE: Fort Pierce Inlet Maintenance Dredging; Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund BACKGROUND; HOW IT MAY AFFECT ST. LUCIE COUNTY: The Fort Pierce harbor was last dredged by the Corps of Engineers in 1998. The inlet channel and interior turning basin are authorized for a depth of 28 feet, but are currently operating at depths as shallow as 18 and 20 feet, which limits the amount of traffic that can use the harbor. Currently, the harbor cannot handle the traffic that may like to use the facilities for shipping. According to the Indian River Terminal, ships are turned away because of the low access depths. The port now regularly turns away trade by ships that require 22-25 feet of draft. That means the port loses, under current conditions, $2 to 3 million in trade per year due to the lack of maintenance dredging of the channel. Recent proposals to import aggregates that meet new standards for construction materials set by State and Federal agencies cannot be accommodated by the port because the larger vessels needed for efficient transportation of products require up to 25 feet of draft. At least half a dozen prospects have inquired to use Fort Pierce for this purpose. It is estimated that local service businesses lose $300,000 to $450,000, and special transport and commodity providers such as cranes, heavy duty trucks, and the railroad lose as much as $3 to $4.5 million per year in business. The shipping customers also face losses because other ports impose greater costs and less efficiency than the Fort Pierce harbor. To fund dredging projects that are not generally budgeted for by the Administration due to the difficult competition for funds from the Army Corps of Engineers, Congress has adjusted their funding strategy in the age of no -earmarks to add additional funding for what Congress terms "Additional Funding for Ongoing Work." Among these amounts, Congress in Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 provided $30 million in additional funding to the Corps for "Small, Remote, or Subsistence Navigation" operations & maintenance (O&M) activity. This will likely be the funding from which the Fort Pierce Inlet must compete in the future to maintain the channel. It is unclear at this point how much funding may be available for these types of inlets in FY 2013 given the uncertain funding situation that remains. In more recent news, Congress passed a supplemental funding bill to respond to Sandy, including several billion for the U.S. Array Corps of Engineers. Within that funding, Congress provided $821 million for Operations & Maintenance (O&M) activities to dredge Federal navigation channels that were impacted by Sandy. There are no geographic restrictions on this funding. The Fort Pierce Inlet is one of eight inlets on the east coast of Florida that the Corps has identified as having sustained shoaling impacts from Sandy. These eight projects would cost an estimated $35 million to address and all have been approved by the South Atlantic Division in Atlanta and are currently under review by Corps HQ. Based upon the Corps' initial review, there is no identified shortfall with regard to O&M Sandy funds, meaning that some level of funding for the Fort Pierce Inlet is more positive than it has been in some time. On another front, in an effort to alleviate the annual shortage of funding for O&M activities throughout the United States, some have advocated that disbursements from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) be increased dramatically. The Harbor Maintenance Tax, which funds the HMTF, is levied on importers and domestic shippers using coastal or Great Lakes ports and is assessed at a rate of $1.25 per $1,000 in cargo value. When O&M funding is provided for a Corps dredging project, it comes from the HMTF. Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. 1 101 Constitution Ave., NW I Suite 600 West I Washington, DC 20001 T: 202.638.1950 I F: 202.638.7714 I www.vsadc.com I Page 7 I 1%11%NN scOi°Oc A S S 0 V l AT E S At the end of 2012, the I-IMTF was expected to have a balance of more than $7 billion. Interest on collections has been over $100 million alone in recent fiscal years. However, because the HMTF is not a separate, or "off -budget," account within the Federal budget, the "surplus" in the HMTF has in effect already been spent elsewhere on other general government activities. Expenditures by Congress out of the HMTF to pay for routine O&M expenses have remained relatively stagnant for decades. hi essence, Congress has decided to provide less funding for Corps O&M activities than would be provided if there were a legislative mandate to spend all trading provided annually via the HMTF. Over the past 15 years, HMTF expenditures by Congress have consistently been less than the collections and interest into the HMTF. The difference between what is collected and what is spent has fluctuated, from a low of roughly $50 million in Fiscal Year 2002 to a high of roughly $500 million in Fiscal Year 2009. To rectify this situation, some in Congress have called for increasing disbursements from the trust fund. In the 112°i Congress, legislation was introduced in the House and Senate that would require the expenditure of funds for O&M activities equal to the level of receipts plus interest credited to the HMTF for that fiscal year. This type of legislation is ideally suited for inclusion in a Water Resources Development Act. In the 113°i Congress, this legislation has been reintroduced in the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House bill currently has 92 cosponsors, with 8 from Florida, including Representative Patrick Murphy. In the Senate, Senator Nelson has once again signed on as a cosponsor with 31 of his colleagues. Senator Rubio has previously cosponsored this legislation, but has not signed on to the bill to date. RECOMMENDED POSITION: Support adequate annual funding for the Corps of Engineers Operations & Maintenance account, including additional funding for dredging not identified in the annual Administration budget. Support additional funding specifically provided for "Small, Remote, or Subsistence Navigation" dredging activities. Support H.R. 104 and S. 412, both of which would require the expenditure of funds for O&M activities equal to the level of receipts plus interest credited to the HMTF for that fiscal year. NOTES: Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. 1 101 Constitution Ave., NW I Suite 600 West I Washington, DC 20001 T: 202.638.1950 1 F: 202.638.7714 1 w w.vsadccom I Page 8 VAN Sk'OYOc A S S O C I A 11` E h FEDERAL ISSUE: Water Quality —Numeric Nutrient Criteria and Total Maximum Daily Loads BACKGROUND: HOW IT MAY AFFECT ST. LUCIE COUNTY: Pursuant to a January 2009 Clean Water Act determination and a consent decree with Florida Wildlife Federation to settle a 2008 lawsuit, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed numeric nutrient water quality standards for lakes and flowing waters in Florida in January 2010, and established final standards in November 2010. The final standards set numeric limits, or criteria, on the amount of nutrient pollution allowed in Florida's lakes, rivers, streams and springs. This action seeks to improve water quality, protect public health, aquatic life and the long tern recreational uses of Florida's waters which are a critical part of the State, and St. Lucie County's economy. However, these standards also may come at a considerable cost to local governments, utilities, and others. In response, the House passed legislation in the 112"' Congress to amend the Federal Water Pollution Act to grant states the authority to mandate their own water quality standards (including nutrient criteria) instead of the EPA enforcing a Federal standard. While this legislation is supported by Richard Budell, Director of the Office of Agricultural Policy for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Senate did not consider the House -passed legislation in the I I2`h Congress. The EPA agreed to let Florida promulgate its own numeric nutrient criteria, and the State Legislature approved the final rule in February of 2012. On November 30'h, 2012, in the face of a Federal Judge's denial of an EPA request to extend the deadline for approving the State new proposed rules, the EPA approved the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) numeric nutrient criteria rules in their entirety; including the state's rules for inland waters (lakes, springs and flowing waters) and for those coastal waters and estuaries for which the Florida DEP had already set numeric nutrient criteria. The Florida DEP's approved rules are now in compliance with the requirements set in the Clean Water Act. In doing so, however, the EPA also announced that, it was proposing criteria that same day for those coastal waters and estuaries which have yet to be addressed by the Florida DEP (mostly in Northwest Florida) as well as for South Florida canals. The Florida DEP is in the process of addressing these areas, and the EPA stated that they are committed to continuing to work with the State so EPA's Federal proposed criteria do not need to be finalized. RECOMMENDED POSITION: Monitor activities surrounding the proposed "numeric water quality criteria" for coastal waters and estuaries and South Florida Canals currently being developed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. NOTES: Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. 1 101 Constitution Ave., NW I Suite 600 West I Washington, DC 20001 T: 202.638.1950 1 F: 202.638.7714 1 www.vsadc.com I Page 9 } VAN SCOYOC ASSO c 1 ,k ,r Ee S FEDERAL ISSUE: Transportation Authorization BACKGROUND; HOW IT MAY AFFECT ST. LUCIE COUNTY: After several years of short-term authorizations, Congress passed and the President signed the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21 st Century Act (MAP-21) on July 6, 2012. MAP-21 funds Federal surface transportation programs at roughly the levels of the previous authorization ($48 billion) through September 30, 2014, which means that Congress will need to begin to craft the follow-on legislation to MAP-21 well before the end of the 113`h Congress. MAP-21 eliminated, consolidated, or changed many programs, transformed nearly all discretionary transportation grant programs into formula programs, and left much discretion to state Departments of Transportation on how to allocate funding among the remaining programs. One of those changes was the removal of dedicated funding for several programs, including Safe Routes to School, Recreational Trails, and the Transportation Enhancements program. The legislation instead created a new program called Transportation Alternatives (TA). Under this consolidated program, funding for these activities will be reduced by approximately $300 million annually from current levels of funding. Fifty percent of Florida's estimated $49 million TA allocation for FY 2013 will be sub -allocated within the state based on population, and census -designated urbanized areas with populations above 200,000 will be given project selection authority over its portion of these funds. Funding available to St. Lucie County will go through the St. Lucie Transportation Planning Organization. In developing MAP-21, Congress did not address the need for a long-term, sustainable plan to finance our nation's transportation infrastructure. Fuel taxes, which currently provide most of the money for surface transportation, do not provide a solid long-term foundation for generally desired transportation funding growth, even if Congress were to raise them modestly. The choice then becomes finding new sources of income for an expanded program, or alternately, to settle for a smaller program that might look very different than the one currently in place. Less Federal funding via a future transportation reauthorization bill would mean significantly less funding available to FDOT, and ultimately St. Lucie County, to support both surface transportation and transit projects and programs. RECOMMENDED POSITION: Monitor proposed changes to Federal highway and transit programs. Monitor efforts to enhance Federal transportation revenue streams. Support any and all opportunities to secure funding for St. Lucie County priorities via this legislation or other means. NOTES Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. 1 101 Constitution Ave., NW I Suite 600 West I Washington, DC 20001 T: 202.638.1950 1 F: 202.638.7714 1 www.vsadc.com I Page 10 VAN SCOYOC A S S O U r FEDERAL ISSUE: Federal Aviation Administration BACKGROUND,• HOW IT MAY AFFECT ST. LUCIE COUNTY: Congress passed a final reauthorization of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in early February that extends the program though Fiscal Year 2015. Among other things, the legislation authorizes $3.35 billion annually for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). AIP is a Federal grant program that provides funds to public airports to improve safety and efficiency. The program is funded through taxes on airplane tickets and aviation fuel. This funding stream is critical to improvements at the St. Lucie County Airport and is subject to annual appropriations by Congress. In the Fiscal Year 2013 Administration budget, there are also expected to be two proposals that could significantly impact general aviation. These include instituting a "user fee" tax and eliminating the Federal Contract Tower program at general aviation airports. Specifically, a $100 per flight fee on aircraft that use controlled airspace may be proposed, which would hamper aeronautical and other businesses that depend on general aviation yet may not have a customer base onto which to pass the fee. Additionally, the budget may request the elimination of Federal funding to FAA contract towers served exclusively by general aviation. RECOMMENDED POSITION: Support $3.35 billion in annual appropriations for the Airport Improvement Program. Support any St. Lucie County Airport grant proposals through the Airport Improvement Program. Oppose efforts to institute a per flight fee on general aviation aircraft that use controlled airspace. Oppose the elimination of Federal funding to FAA contract towers served exclusively by general aviation. NOTES: Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. 1 101 Constitution Ave., NW I Suite 600 West I Washington, DC 20001 T: 202.638.1950 1 F: 202.638.7714 1 www.vsade.com I Page 11 VAN SCOYOC A N N 6 a I A'1, U, S FEDERAL ISSUE: Tax -Exempt Bonds BACKGROUND: HOW IT MAY AFFECT ST. LUCIE COUNTY: Although municipal bonds have been tax-exempt for almost 100 years, a number of Federal proposals continue to be discussed which target the tax exemption of tax-exempt bonds, particularly as part of the debate to end the sequester or reduce Federal spending. With local governments facing severe budget difficulties, any proposal to limit the tax exemption would put more pressure on local finances by reducing demand for tax-exempt bonds and increase borrowing costs for state and local governments, ultimately leading to higher taxes or reduced services. Specifically: • The Administration has proposed as part of a jobs and deficit reduction plan to limit the benefit of itemized deductions and certain exclusions to 28 percent for higher income taxpayers. • The Administration's plan also includes a new debt reduction trigger which could further limit the exclusion for tax-exempt bond interest income below 28 percent. The new trigger could limit the tax savings from tax-exempt bonds every year, increasing the risk and the cost of all tax-exempt bonds. • The Administration's National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, also called Simpson -Bowles, has recommended a tax reform plan which would end the tax exemption for newly -issued state and local bonds. • The Bipartisan Policy Center has proposed a tax reform plan, also known as Domenici-Rivlin, which would end the tax exemption for all new private -purpose bonds. • Senators Wyden and Coats introduced the Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act which would replace tax-exempt bonds with taxable bonds and a tax credit. • Senator Coburn has proposed a tax reform plan which would repeal the program which authorizes tribes to issue tax-exempt bonds for economic development purposes. • The Congressional Budget Office has released a report on revenue -raising options which includes a proposal to replace the tax exemption of municipal bonds with a direct subsidy for issuers. Estimates have been provided that the difference in the rate of earnings that local governments would need to offer prospective buyers of their taxable bonds would depend on the market, but may be roughly 1.35 percent more for those offerings. On $10 million borrowed, this would likely cost $1,660,000 over a 20 year term, a cost that would be borne by local taxpayers. RECOMMENDED POSITION: Oppose legislation that would threaten the tax exemption on state and local bonds, including a 28 percent cap on tax-exempt municipal bonds. NOTES: Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. 1 101 Constitution Ave., NW I Suite 600 West I Washington, DC 20001 T: 202.638.1950 1 F: 202.638.7714 1 www.vsadc.com I Page 12 VAN Sk!OVOC. FEDERAL ISSUE: Sales -Tax Legislation BACKGROUND; HOW IT MAY AFFECT ST. LUCIE COUNTY: Currently, retailers are only required to collect sales tax in states where they have brick -and -mortar stores. The burden then falls to consumers to report to state tax departments any sales taxes they owe for online purchases. Often, consumers do not report those purchases when completing their tax returns. As aresult local retailers are at a competitive disadvantage because they must collect sales takes while out-of-state retailers, including many large online and catalog retailers, in effect give their customers a discount by collecting no state or local sales taxes. Consumers are left with the confusing yet legal responsibility to report the sales taxes owed on online purchases on their tax returns. The current sales tax system is perceived as being unfair to brick -and -mortar retailers that employ local residents, including local stores as well as national chains like Best Buy or Home Depot. It is also a drain on local goveriunent revenues. In 2012, uncollected sales tax is estimated to cost local governments $23 billion nationwide. To correct this inequity, legislation was introduced in the Senate during the 1121h Congress and was seen as having the best chance of becoming law. The bipartisan legislation was cosponsored by 19 Senators, and for the fast time had the backing of some major online retailers such as Amazon.com. In the House, similar, bipartisan legislation also gained traction with 56 cosponsors. To protect small, online retailers, both pieces of legislation exempted sellers who make less than $500,000 in total remote sales to qualify from the requirement to collect the tax. Local, state, and national business groups, such as the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Associated Industries of Florida, Florida TaxWatch, Florida Retail Federation, and Amazon.com have spoken out in favor of these types of bills. Three Florida Republicans and one Florida Democrat in the House were cosponsors of the legislation. This bill has been reintroduced in the House and Senate in the I I3"' Congress, and already has significant support with 20 cosponsors in the Senate and 35 cosponsors in the House, including Florida Reps. Crenshaw, Deutch, and Diaz-Balatt. Legislation of this type could be also wrapped up into a future spending reduction or tax reform measure in the 113`1' Congress. RECOMMENDED POSITION: Support legislation that requires companies making catalog and internet sales to collect and remit the associated taxes. NOTES: Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. 1 101 Constitution Ave., NW I Suite 600 West [Washington, DC 20001 T: 202.638.1950 1 F: 202.638.7714 1 www.vsadc.com I Page 13 VAN SCOYOc FEDERAL ISSUE: Transient Occupancy Taxes BACKGROUND: HOW IT MAY AFFECT ST. LUCIE COUNTY: In the 111"' Congress, attempts were made by senior Senators to insert language into various pieces of legislation that would have exempted online travel brokers (Expedia, Travelocity, etc.) from remitting the full bed tax rate collected from consumers to the appropriate local government. For instance, if Expedia or a similar purveyor were to pay $60 for a room in St. Lucie County and then sell that room to a consumer for $100, they would be able to, under the proposal, only remit $6 dollars to the local government instead of $10 (using a 10 percent bed tax for illustrative purposes). In late 2009, 17 Florida counties filed an action against a number of online travel companies alleging that the companies have failed to collect and/or pay taxes under the respective tourist development tax ordinances. During 2012, there were several Florida State Circuit Court cases that ruled in favor of the OTCs. Two cited that Florida law is not clear on the issue, while a Circuit Court Judge ruled more directly in July that the OTCs only owe local tourist taxes on the discounted rates they paid for the rooms. In Fiscal Year 2012, St. Lucie County collected $2.6 million in transient occupancy taxes, which is used to support the tourism industry in our region. This level of funding underscores the importance of this revenue source and the need to ensure it is not constrained by detrimental legislation. RECOMMENDED POSITION: Oppose legislation that would exempt Internet travel brokers from paying taxes on the full room rate paid by the consumer, thereby costing St. Lucie County and its political subdivisions the opportunity to collect the appropriate Transient Occupancy Taxes from visitors to the region. NOTES: Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. 1 101 Constitution Ave., NW I Suite 600 West I Washington, DC 20001 T: 202.638.1950 1 F: 202.638.7714 1 www.vsadc.com I Page 14 VAN scOYor A S S O C I A 'I` 11. S FEDERAL ISSUE: Economic Development Administration BACKGROUND: HOW IT MAY AFFECT ST. LUCIE COUNTY: The Economic Development Administration (EDA) is primarily a granting agency that funds economic development projects throughout the country. Successful projects usually leverage roughly 200 new jobs and $24 million in private investment for every $1 million of EDA investment. St. Lucie County has secured these funds in the past for economic development projects. More recently, in December 2010, St. Lucie County submitted a grant application to the EDA to help fund an infrastructure project at the Treasure Coast Research Park. The County requested $1,009,890 in Federal funds and is offering a cash match of $2,596,860. EDA initially approved the grant, but later rescinded the application due to challenges related to securing private sector commitments ofjob creation. The President's Deficit Commission, as well as more recent Congressional proposals, has proposed the elimination of EDA, as its mission is seen as duplicative by some. In June 2012 the Senate failed to pass the "Economic Development Revitalization Act," which would have reauthorized the Economic Development Administration (EDA) through 2015. EDA's authorization expired in September 2008, but funding via the appropriations process has kept it functioning without an authorization. In addition to reauthorizing EDA, the Senate legislation would increase the authorized funding for the program from $300 to $500 million annually. Despite the failure to pass the legislation, the EDA will continue to operate through the annual appropriations process if provided sufficient funding by Congress. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, Congress provided $283 million for the EDA. In FY 2012, after the Administration proposed $324 million, Congress ultimately provided $257 million in funding. The President's budget for FY 2013 proposed $220 million for the EDA. An amendment was accepted on the House of Representatives floor during the debate over the FY 2013 Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill to increase funding for the EDA to match the Administration's proposed funding levels. Meanwhile, the Senate has proposed funding the EDA at $237 million for FY 2013. RECOMMENDED POSITION: Support continued funding of the Economic Development Administration. Support St. Lucie County grant applications through the program. NOTES Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. 1 101 Constitution Ave., NW I Suite 600 West I Washington, DC 20001 T: 202.638.1950 1 F: 202.638.7714 1 www.vsadc.com I Page 15 r T - A. VAN SCOYOC A SS O V 1 A 9' P: S FEDERAL ISSUE: Community Services Block Grants & the Low Income Home Energy Program BACKGROUND; HOW IT MAY AFFECT ST. LUCIE COUNTY: The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program allocates Federal funding to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty in communities. The funds provide for a range of services and activities to assist the needs of low-income individuals including those addressing employment, education, better use of available income, housing, nutrition, emergency services and/or health. In St. Lucie County, the Community Services Division administers CSBG funding, which is the most flexible funding source the County has for addressing self-sufficiency initiatives. The program has income requirements, yet is not an entitlement program, thereby allowing the County to work with clients that are highly motivated to reduce their dependence on public benefits. In Fiscal Year 2010, finding for CSBG was $700 million, from which the County received $166,461, plus an additional $468,878 from additional funding provided via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. In Fiscal Year 2011, Congress provided $678.64 million for the program, from which the County received $157,579. In Fiscal Year 2012, Congress provided the program with the same amount as in 2011. For FY 2013 the Administration proposed a significant finding reduction for CSBG at $350 million. However, both the House and the Senate have again proposed level funding for the program from FY 2012, with $678.64 million for the program. The Low Income Home Energy Program (LII-IEAP) provides heating assistance to low-income households. Also administered in St. Lucie County, LIHEAP is the only lifeline for some of the most impoverished families and seniors in the community. While LIHEAP is often thought of as being a program benefitting northern states, it is equally important in Florida due to the expense of cooling a residence during summer months of excessive heat. br FY 2010, Congress provided $5.1 billion for LIB EAP. St. Lucie County residents should have been eligible for $1.79 million from the program during the year. In FY 2011, Congress provided $4.7 billion for LIHEAP, and in FY 2012, Congress provided the program with $3.48 billion, a significant reduction in fading which meant relatively fewer funds for St. Lucie County's program. For FY 2013 the administration proposed a further reduction to $3.02 billion, while the House and Senate proposed level funding from FY 2012. RECOMMENDED POSITION: Support at least level funding from Fiscal Year 2012 for both the Community Services Block Grant and the Low Income Home Energy Program. NOTES: Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. 1 101 Constitution Ave., NW I Suite 600 West I Washington, DC 20001 T: 202.638.1950 1 F: 202.638.7714 1 www.vsadc.com I Page 16 e VAN SCOVOc ASHO V1 1%11,ES FEDERAL ISSUE: Older Americans Act Programs BACKGROUND: HOW IT MAY AFFECT EL PASO COUNTY: Most Federal programs that exist for the delivery of social and nutritional services for the elderly in St.. Lucie County emanate from the Older Americans Act (OAA). These include supportive services, congregate nutrition services (meals served at group sites such as senior centers, schools, churches, or senior housing complexes), home -delivered nutrition services, family caregiver support, community service employment, and services to support the health, and prevent the abuse, neglect, and exploitation, of older persons. The majority of the funding for OAA grant programs goes to the State and Community Programs on Aging account which provides formula funds to state and local agencies designated to provide direct services to the elderly. For St. Lucie County, most of the funds are provided to the Council on Aging of St. Lucie from the Florida Department of Elderly Affairs. There are separate funding allotments for programs within this account; however, the Federal government does provide some flexibility for spending allocated funds in this account in areas where there is a greater need. These services are available to all persons aged 60 and older, but are targeted to those with the greatest economic or social need, particularly low-income and minority persons and the elderly who live in rural areas. During a time when funding for many Federal domestic programs has been significantly reduced, OAA program funding has been relatively stable. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2012, funding for OAA programs totaled $1.913 billion, which was only 1 percent less than in FY 2011 at $1.932 billion. For FY 2013, the Administration proposed a slight .3 percent cut from FY 2012 at $1.907 billion for OAA programs. For FY 2013 Congress passed a six month passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) through March 27, 2013, which continues funding OAA programs at close to FY 2012 levels. It is likely that Congress will decide to continue the CR for the rest of FY 2013. That said, funding amounts will be significantly impacted if action is not taken to prevent the sequester prior to March 1 st. Though the OAA's authorization expired in FY 2011, Congress has continued to provide funding for these programs through annual appropriations. In the 112th Congress, legislation was introduced to reauthorize the OAA through FY 2017, but it was not passed. It is anticipated that similar legislation will be introduced in the 113th Congress to reauthorize the OAA. RECOMMENDED POSITION: Support at least level funding from Fiscal Year 2012 for Older Americans Act programs that support critical social service programs serving elder persons in St. Lucie County. Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. 1 101 Constitution Ave., NW I Suite 600 West I Washington, DC 20001 T: 202.638.1950 1 F: 202.638.7714 1 www.vsadc.coni I Page 17 _C VAN SCOVOC A SS 1) C 1 A'P R S FEDERAL ISSUE: Department of Housing and Urban Development Formula Programs BACKGROUND: HOW IT MAY AFFECT ST. LUCIE COUNTY: St. Lucie County and its two largest cities receive direct allocations of funding from two Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) formula programs: the HOME hnvestment Partnership (HOME) and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). HOME funds are designed to create affordable housing for low-income households and are awarded annually as formula grants to participating jurisdictions, including St. Lucie County (in partnership with Martin and Indian River comities). HUD establishes HOME Investment Trust Funds for each grantee, providing a line of credit that the jurisdiction may draw upon as needed. The program allows local governments to use HOME funds for grants, direct loans, loan guarantees or other forms of credit enhancement, or rental assistance or security deposits. CDBG is a flexible grant program that provides communities with Federal funding to address a wide range of unique community development needs. The CDBG program provides annual grants on a formula basis to units of local government and states, including the cities of Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie. In Fiscal Year 2012, HOME was reduced by 38 percent, from $1.6 billion in Fiscal Year 2011 to $1 billion in 2012. In Fiscal Year 2011, St. Lucie County and its partners received $627,909 in HOME funding, while in Fiscal Year 2012, the counties received $468,982. Similarly, CDBG funding was cut by nearly 12 percent, fi-om $3.3 billion in Fiscal Year 2011 to $2.948 billion in Fiscal Year 2012. In Fiscal Year 2011, the County's cities received a total of $1,254,845, while in Fiscal Year 2012, they received $1,241,475. The seemingly low reduction in funding masks the fact that Fort Pierce faced a 22 percent reduction, while Port St. Lucie's allocation actually grew by 20 percent. HUD explains that this is due to changing demographics in each community as well as changes to the type of data they use to make their funding decisions. For FY 2013, the Administration proposed FY 2012 funding levels for the CDBG program at $2.95 billion, while both the House and Senate proposed increases to the program from 2012, at $3.34 billion and $3.1 billion respectively. For HOME, the Administration and the Senate also proposed FY 2012 funding levels at $1 billion, while the House has offered an increase to the program to $1.2 billion. Since Fiscal Year 2010, nationwide funding for HOME and CDBG funding has been cut by 48 percent and 25 percent, respectively. RECOMMENDED POSITION: Support at least level funding from Fiscal Year 2012 for future fiscal years for both the Community Development Block Grants and the HOME Investment Partnerships programs because of their critical role in the County's overall efforts to support those that are least fortunate. NOTES: Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. 1 101 Constitution Ave., NW I Suite 600 West I Washington, DC 20001 T: 202.638.1950 1 F: 202.638.7714 1 www.vsadc.com I Page 18 4 n VAN SCOTOC .t v S o C 11%11, wn FEDERAL ISSUE: Property Assessed Clean Energy Legislation BACKGROUND• HOW IT MAY AFFECT ST. LUCIE COUNTY: Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs aim to support energy efficiency and clean energy investments by homeowners, eliminate the upfront cost barriers of those investments, and ensure that current and future homeowners fairly share the costs and benefits of the improvements. PACE is a financing tool that allows a homeowner to receive low -interest financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements, thereby saving that homeowner money on their utility bills. PACE financing is repaid through a voluntary long-term assessment on a homeowner's property taxes over a 15- 20 year time period. If a homeowner sells their property, the repayment obligation, as well as the benefits of the energy improvements, transfers to the next homeowner. In 2010, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac chose to stop underwriting mortgages with PACE assessments. Because they underwrite nearly ninety percent of new mortgages, this has brought very successful PACE programs to a halt. The PACE Assessment Protection Act introduced in the 1121i Congress would restore the right of local governments to establish PACE programs and would require that local governments follow prudent standards to ensure that homeowners can afford any PACE assessments. The legislation also protects Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from potential losses. The legislation has nearly 50 co-sponsors, including both Democrats and Republicans in Florida. In the Senate, Senator Boxer (CA) introduced legislation in the 111`s Congress. Sen. Bennett (CO) sought to take the lead on this issue in the 1121h Congress in the Senate. RECOMMENDED POSITION: Support legislation that would allow for the creation of PACE -style programs in St. Lucie County and Florida. NOTES: Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. 1 101 Constitution Ave., NW I Suite 600 West I Washington, DC 20001 T: 202.638.1950 1 F: 202.638.7714 1 www.vsadc.com I Page 19 I: h „3' VAN SCOYOC. A SSO c I A T wn FEDERAL ISSUE: Offshore Energy Exploration BACKGROUND; HOW IT MAY AFFECT ST. LUCIE COUNTY: Active offshore energy drilling currently occurs in both the western and central Gulf of Mexico. However, nearly the entire eastern Gulf is protected from drilling until 2022 by the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006. Drilling does not yet occur off of the Atlantic coast of Florida. State waters in the Atlantic extend three miles from shore. The federal government controls waters beyond that point. In the 112`" Congress, the House of Representatives voted to dramatically expand offshore oil drilling in an effort to lower gas prices and increase domestic revenue. Specifically, the House passed three pieces of legislation that would reverse all current oil moratoriums, require the Department of Interior to revisit oil projects that were rejected after the Deepwater Horizon spill, and make acreage of the Outer Continental Shelf that is currently unavailable to lease available for drilling, including the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Coast. Similar legislation was introduced in the Senate, but it failed to receive the necessary votes to be considered. Late in 2011, the Administration proposed its OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2012-2017. Within the program, the Administration does not propose to lease any areas in the Atlantic for oil and gas drilling. It does, however, indicate that there is "ongoing seismic analysis to determine resource potential" in the Atlantic. In response to the plan, 180 members of Congress from both political parties sent a letter to the Administration asking that they open up more areas of the OCS to drilling, including areas off the Atlantic coast of Virginia. Four members of the Florida House delegation signed the letter. If this policy is accepted, these drilling leases would be the first granted by the federal government on the Atlantic seaboard since the early 1980's, and could open the door for an expansion of drilling on the Eastern seaboard. Currently, the Administration has only conducted oil and gas leasing auctions for areas in the western Gulf of Mexico, and has scheduled them for the central Gulf in March of 2013. The Administration currently has not indicated that it intends to lease the aforementioned areas on the Atlantic Coast, but this could change with continued pressure from Congress. RECOMMENDED POSITION: Monitor the potential expansion of offshore energy exploration in Florida's Federal waters. NOTES: Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. 1 101 Constitution Ave., NW I Suite 600 West I Washington, DC 20001 T: 202,638.1950 1 F: 202.638.7714 1 www.vsadc.com I Page 20 l_ �'AN SCOTU C t a'P E.ti FEDERAL ISSUE: Public Pension Reform BACKGROUND; HOW IT MAY AFFECT ST. LUCIE COUNTY: The sponsors of the Public Employee Transparency Acts (Rep. Nunes of CA and Sen. Burr of NC), have stated that public pensions are significantly underfunded and are aiming to ensure what, in their opinion, will be more realistic asset projections compared with expected liabilities. Specifically, the legislation would require additional reporting of assets and liabilities and more significantly, require that assets in a public plan such as the Florida Retirement System (FRS) are projected to grow at the rate of Treasury securities instead of more optimistic projections tied to historic stock market indices, thereby greatly increasing plan liabilities. This might require projected growth rates of less than I percent annually instead of growth rates of 7.75 percent, which is what the Florida Retirement System used between 2009 and 2011. The legislation would also disallow any future federal bailout of public pension plans. Ultimately, the legislation would likely make pension plans more expensive to participate in for local governments, yet would also aim to make them more secure. More recently, Sen. Orrin Hatch (UT), the Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, released a report saying that public pension debt "threatens America" and that "defined benefit pension plans are inappropriate for state and local governments." He concluded his report by stating his intention to introduce a legislative solution in the future. It is expected that similar legislation will be reintroduced during the 113t" Congress. RECOMMENDED POSITION: Monitor federal legislative proposals related to public pensions, e.g., the Public Employee Pension Transparency Act, which could significantly impact the Florida Retirement System. NOTES: Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. 1 101 Constitution Ave., NW I Suite 600 West I Washington, DC 20001 T: 202.638.1950 1 F: 202.638.7714 1 www.vsadc.com I Page 21