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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008 03 10 Regular 604 Resolution 2008-18 Florida Forever ProgramCOMMISSION AGENDA ITEM 604 Informational Consent Public Hearings Regular X March 10 2008 //~/ Regular Meeting Mgr. / Dept. Authorization REQUEST: Mayor John F. Bush is asking the City Commission to review and approve the attached Resolution 2008-18 related to supporting the continued funding of the Florida Forever Program or a possible successor program which would support Florida Communities Trust. PURPOSE: Mayor Bush is asking the City Commission to consider approving Resolution 2008-18 which would support Florida Communities Trust through the continued funding of the Florida Forever Program or a possible successor program. CONSIDERATIONS: The attached Resolution is being requested through the Florida League of Mayors, Inc. The Florida Forever Program is scheduled to sunset in 2010. CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA CITY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING -MARCH 10, 2008 REGULAR AGENDA ITEM 604 PAGE 2 OF 2 RECOMMENDATION: The City Commission is being asked to approve Resolution 2008-18 in support of continued funding of the Florida Forever Program or a possible successor program; and requesting that this Resolution be forwarded by Staff to our local Legislative Delegation. ATTACHMENT: A. City of Winter Springs' Resolution 2008-18. COMMISSION ACTION: ATTACHMENT A" RESOLUTION NUMBER 2008-18 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING FLORIDA FOREVER AND A SUCCESSOR PROGRAM; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the Florida Forever program and its predecessor Preservation 2000 program have immeasurably contributed to environmental health, quality of life, recreation, and sustainability in Florida for this and future generations; and WHEREAS, Florida Forever has acquired over one million acres throughout Florida since 2000 and allocates $300 million annually to purchase environmentally sensitive and other lands, and has done so through numerous successful partnerships with cities, counties, state agencies, water managements districts, nonprofit organizations, private landowners, and others in achieving its conservation purposes; and WHEREAS, Florida Forever, through its partnerships with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Water Management Districts, and others, produces benefits that include clean air and water; healthy fisheries and wildlife habitat; improved water supply protection; and protected open spaces including greenway corridors, park lands, forests, and water bodies; and WHEREAS, Florida Forever, through the Florida Communities Trust, has assisted Florida's cities and counties in protecting their cultural and historical resources, meeting the challenges of growth management, directing development away from coastal high hazard areas and floodplains; fostering a healthier lifestyle for Floridians; and providing recreational outdoor experiences in both urban and rural settings; and WHEREAS, Florida Forever has helped to save many of Florida's beaches, rivers, bays, forests, coral reefs and estuaries that provide the foundation for our $3 billion tourism industry that attract more than 70 million visitors each year; and WHEREAS, 50 Florida local governments have enacted land acquisition financing programs in the past decades, and this conservation finance programs serve to leverage Florida Forever funding and increase the impact of State land conservation funding; and WHEREAS, Florida is experiencing rapid population growth, with approximately 1,100 new residents every day; and Floridians demand a high quality of life that includes green space, access to water, pastoral settings and recreational opportunities; and WHEREAS, Florida Forever and other land conservation programs must compete in Florida's market of surging land and housing prices; and WHEREAS, the effectiveness of Florida Forever has diminished because of escalating land prices and the impacts of inflation; and WHEREAS, the funding for the Florida Forever program will sunset in 2010; and WHEREAS, research by the Florida Forever Coalition has found that over $20 billion is currently needed to purchase parks and recreational facilities, wildlife and wilderness areas, and open space for our state's increasing population; and WHEREAS, a 2005 public opinion survey conducted by members of the Florida Forever Coalition found that 78% of Florida's voters approve of the Florida Forever program; and WHEREAS, the benefits of Florida Forever included a Preservation 2000 Grant totaling approximately $675,000.00 in State funding which purchased 4.52 acres of conservation land and 1.44 acres of Cross Seminole Trail land in the City of Winter Springs. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City of Winter Springs City Commission, that we declare its support to the State of Florida Legislature for the creation and funding of a successor program to the Florida Forever program and requests its legislative delegation to advocate for the creation and funding of a successor program to Florida Forever. ADOPTED by the City Commission of the City of Winter Springs, Florida, in a Regular Meeting assembled on the day of March, 2008. ~- iarfir~kS iii/Px~~~ ~/r~.w~ /Fr~~~,irtc~ 1e/ rid f f~n~,/ airy/ ca,~i~a~l~i6 6~~~/Ca G~ ~~2~~,/ JOHN F. BUSH, Mayor ATTEST: ANDREA LORENZO-LUACES, City Clerk Approved as to legal form and sufficiency for the City of Winter Springs, Florida only: ANTHONY A. GARGANESE, City Attorney City of Winter Springs, Florida Resolution Number 2008-18 Page 2 of 2 RESOLUTION NUMBER 2008-18 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING FLORIDA FOREVER AND A SUCCESSOR PROGRAM; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the Florida Forever program and its predecessor Preservation 2000 program have immeasurably contributed to environmental health, quality of life, recreation, and sustainability in Florida for this and future generations; and WHEREAS, Florida Forever has acquired over one million acres throughout Florida since 2000 and allocates $300 million annually to purchase environmentally sensitive and other lands, and has done so through numerous successful partnerships with cities, counties, state agencies, water managements districts, nonprofit organizations, private landowners, and others in achieving its conservation purposes; and WHEREAS, Florida Forever, through its partnerships with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Water Management Districts, and others, produces benefits that include clean air and water; healthy fisheries and wildlife habitat; improved water supply protection; and protected open spaces including greenway corridors, park lands, forests, and water bodies; and WHEREAS, Florida Forever, through the Florida Communities Trust, has assisted Florida's cities and counties in protecting their cultural and historical resources, meeting the challenges of growth management, directing development away from coastal high hazard areas and floodplains; fostering a healthier lifestyle for Floridians; and providing recreational outdoor experiences in both urban and rural settings; and WHEREAS, Florida Forever has helped to save many of Florida's beaches, rivers, bays, forests, coral reefs and estuaries that provide the foundation for our $3 billion tourism industry that attract more than 70 million visitors each year; and WHEREAS, 50 Florida local governments have enacted land acquisition financing programs in the past decades, and this conservation finance programs serve to leverage Florida Forever funding and increase the impact of State land conservation funding; and WHEREAS, Florida is experiencing rapid population growth, with approximately 1,100 new residents every day; and Floridians demand a high quality of life that includes green space, access to water, pastoral settings and recreational opportunities; and WHEREAS, Florida Forever and other land conservation programs must compete in Florida's market of surging land and housing prices; and WHEREAS, the effectiveness of Florida Forever has diminished because of escalating land prices and the impacts of inflation; and WHEREAS, the funding for the Florida Forever program will sunset in 2010; and WHEREAS, research by the Florida Forever Coalition has found that over $20 billion is currently needed to purchase parks and recreational facilities, wildlife and wilderness areas, and open space for our state's increasing population; and WHEREAS, a 2005 public opinion survey conducted by members of the Florida Forever Coalition found that 78% of Florida's voters approve of the Florida Forever program; and WHEREAS, the benefits of Florida Forever included a Preservation 2000 Grant totaling approximately $675,000.00 in State funding which purchased 4.52 acres of conservation land and 1.44 acres of Cross Seminole Trail land in the City of Winter Springs. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City of Winter Springs City Commission, that we declare its support to the State of Florida Legislature for the creation and funding of a successor program to the Florida Forever program and requests its legislative delegation to advocate for the creation and funding of a successor program to Florida Forever. ADOPTED by the City Commission of the City of Winter Springs, Florida, in a Regular Meeting assembled on the 10th day of March, 2008. ~~ u~rl r~1 i~ereof,' ~/t~.uf~ /r~~r~ri~ri~:"a ~~ rr f, ~anf./ ~orc~/ ;. ca~~lecGt/ti~1 ~a,/t~ 6e a~i~c~a! ~ ~ .- Y, _ ~ ~~ JO .BUSH, Mayor ATTEST: r. ~ ~~ A LORENZO-LUACES, City Clerk Approved as to legal form and sufficiency for the City of Winter Springs, Florida only: -~ ANTHONY A. GARGANESE, City Attorney City of Winter Springs, Florida Resolution Number 2008-18 Page 2 of 2