The purpose of the work session is to solidify the City's position as it relates to the 2019 State of Florida Legislative Agenda Priorities. The Pasco County Legislative Delegation public meeting will be held on Monday, December 17, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.at the Pasco County School Board District Campus in Land O’Lakes. The public meeting is conducted in order to receive testimony from other municipalities, organizations and the general public and I plan to be in attendance to represent your priorities.

This past year's legislative platform contained a good number of bills that either attempted to minimize the powers of local government or placed traditional sources of revenue for local government at risk. It is likely that many of the issues that did not pass this year will likely be debated during next year's session.

In respect to the City's priorities, I recommend that you consider supporting the 2019 Florida League of Cities Legislative Action Agenda.  They are advocating for the following policy positions:

Finance, Taxation and Personnel

Communication Services Tax Protection

Determine an equitable system of collecting the tax from communication service providers and provide for enhanced reliability of revenue for local government.

Local Business Tax Protection

Protect the general revenues collected from the local business tax as these revenues are relied upon to provide essential municipal services.

Sales Tax Fairness

Change laws to ensure that all retailers are treated the same relating to e-commerce sales from out-of-state retailers.

Land Use and Economic Development

Community Redevelopment Agencies

Protect and improve municipalities’ use of community redevelopment Agencies to effectively carry out community revitalization in accordance with home rule principles.

Annexation

Facilitate the municipal annexation of unincorporated areas while protecting municipal boundaries.

Municipal Administration

Short-Term Rentals

Restore local zoning authority with respect to short-term rental properties

Medical Marijuana

Restore municipal Authority to regulate medical marijuana facilities with in municipal boundaries.

School Resource Officers Funding

Create a dedicated and recurring state revenue stream to offset impacts of providing School Resource Officer's to schools.

Sober Homes

Require businesses classified as "Day or Night Treatment with Community Housing" to comply with statutory requirements for certified recovery residences.

Transportation and Intergovernmental Relations

Transportation Funding

Provide an equitable transportation funding formula between the state, municipalities and counties and provide for increased transportation revenue to support infrastructure projects.

Affordable Housing

Continue to use funds from the Sadowski State and Local Housing Trust Fund to support Florida's affordable housing programs.

Utilities, Natural Resources and Public Works

Water Supply and Water Quality

Address the state's critical water resource and quality deficiencies to mitigate the negative economic impact of these issues

In addition to the issues identified by Florida League of Cities the staff recommends that you consider supporting the following policy positions: 

Community Development

Impact Fees 

Oppose legislation that prohibits local governments from collecting impact fees prior to the issuance of a building permit for the property that is subject to the fee.

Public Works

Regulation of Storm-Generated Debris

Oppose the proposed prohibition on an exclusive contract for the collection, hauling, staging or disposal of storm-generated debris.

Wastewater Treatment Facility

Oppose legislation that would require that a replacement facility be in service for two years prior to the decommissioning of a facility.

Personnel

Ethics Code/Sexual Harassment

Support efforts to amend the state Code of Ethics to prevent sexual misconduct in government settings.

Firefighter Cancer Benefits

Oppose the package of mandated benefits that firefighters with a diagnosis of cancer would receive.

State- Administered Retirement Systems

Monitor the legislation which proposes to establish the contribution rates paid by employers participating in the Florida Retirement System. 

Special Risk Class

Oppose legislation that establishes 911 public safety telecommunicators to the special risk class of Florida Retirement System.

Police

Red Light Cameras

Oppose legislation that preempts the state, municipalities and counties from installing and maintaining red light camera effective July 1, 2021.

Recreation

Land Acquisition Trust Fund

Support legislation that establishes an annual appropriation of $100 million to the Florida Forever Trust Fund from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund.

Funding to support the following projects:

• Pedestrian Walkway over U.S. Highway 19
• Public Library Improvement Project
• U.S. Highway 19 Underpass Project at Pithlachascotee River