MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION, CITY OF HALLANDALE BEACH, FLORIDA, HELD ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2011 AT 12:00 P.M., CITY HALL, ROOM 257, 400 S. FEDERAL HIGHWAY HALLANDALE BEACH, FL 33009

  1. CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Cooper called the meeting to Order at 12:30 P.M.

  1. ROLL CALL

Commissioners Lewy, London and Ross and Vice Mayor Sanders, Mayor Cooper, City Manager Antonio, and Assistant City Attorney Andre Mckenney – Present.

Others Present: Representative Joseph Gibbons, Senator Eleanor Sobel,and Ronald L. Book of Ronald L. Book, P.A., City’s Lobbyist.

  1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
  1. CITY BUSINESS
  1. Discussion of the City's Legislative Action Plan (Staff: City Manager) (See Backup) CAD#008/12

Mayor Cooper provided opening remarks and turned the presentation over to City Manager Antonio.

City Manager Antonio provided background information on the Item and a summary of the priority list of items to be discussed as part of the 2012 Florida Legislative Package.

Senator Eleanor Sobel provided opening remarks and advised which committees she is serving on during the upcoming legislative session. She advised her legislative agenda for the upcoming legislative session and which bills they have submitted for consideration.

Representative Joseph Gibbonsprovided opening remarks and advised which committees he is serving on during the upcoming legislative session. He advised his legislative agenda for the upcoming legislative session and which bills they have submitted for consideration.

The City Commission discussed the City’s Legislative Action Plan and upcoming priorities for the 2012 Florida Legislative Session.

Ronald L. Book, City’s Lobbyist gave a presentation and answered questions posed by the City Commission.

Mayor Cooper opened the floor for public comments.

Seeing no speakers Mayor Cooper closed the floor for public comments.

After discussion by the City Commission, consensus was reached on the following:

  • To continue to oppose all Gaming Legislation that would not ensure parity with the existing pari-mutuel facilities and ensure those facilities are afforded equal opportunity for success as the Indian casinos or any other new gaming facility established pursuant to new legislation.
  • To continue to support legislation related to flood control and mitigation assistance.
  • To continue to support legislation that will preserve municipal autonomy and allow municipalities to have exclusive planning authority and oppose efforts to lessen that authority.
  • To continue to monitor legislation affecting the Police and Fire retirement system, State of Florida Retirement System and other labor and pension issues.
  • To continue to monitor all bills related to Growth Management issues and Building Code regulations.
  • To continue to support Local Government Funding Requestfor the City’s Beach Renourishment project through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection– Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems.Urge Congress to approve legislation providing funding assistance in support of the Port Everglades Sand Bypassing Project and Beach Renourishment Projects.

Summation of topics of interest:

  • Oppose all Gaming Legislation that would not ensure parity with the existing pari-mutuel facilities and ensure those facilities are afforded equal opportunity for success as the Indian casinos or any other new gaming facility established pursuant to new legislation.
  • Support Local Government Funding Requestfor the City’s Beach Renourishment project through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection – Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems. The City of Hallandale Beach Nourishment Project has been included in their Local Government Funding Request in an amount of $3,900,725 ($2,835,626 State & $1,065,099 Local Funding).
  • Support legislation to repeal or to extend the deadlines pertaining to ocean outfall prohibition and to repeal accompanying requirements for utilization of 60% reuse water.
  • Oppose legislation that would eliminate the Business Tax Receipt Requirement for certain or all businesses.
  • Oppose legislation that would restrict city and county authority to set communications services tax rates. During 2011 several legislators expressed an interest in reducing the rate to an amount lower than 5.1%, and stated that they would consider pursuing these proposals during the 2012 Legislative Session.
  • Support all bills related to restricting vexatious litigation.
  • Monitor all Property Tax Legislation. Further property tax reductions would severely limit the City’s ability to provide the current level of programs and services with only a minor savings to the residents. The cost to the residents and businesses is severally outweighed by the detriment that would be experienced.
  • Support Legislation that will preserve municipal autonomy and allow municipalities to have exclusive planning authority and oppose efforts to lessen that authority.
  • Oppose Legislation that will further modify Chapter 163, Florida Statues, relating to the creation and operation of CRAs.
  • Monitor legislation affecting the Police and Fire retirement system, State of Florida Retirement System and other labor and pension issues.
  • Monitor Legislation addressing the investments of the Florida State Investment Pool.
  • Support Legislation that will approve funding assistance for water conservation, water production and reuse in order to address current and future conditions and the concerns of the South Florida Water Management District.
  • Support legislation related to the protection and restoration of the Everglades per City Resolution 2009-10, May 06, 2009.
  • Monitor all legislation related to School and Education funding.
  • Monitor all bills related to Florida Power and Light (FPL) rate issues. FPL rates not only directly affect the residents and businesses but the operations of the City.
  • Monitor all bills related to campaign financing issues.
  • Monitor all bills related to TriRail, Sun Rail and regional transportation.
  • Oppose all bills related to Oil and Gas exploration per City Resolution 2010-21, June 16, 2010.
  • Monitor all bills related to Growth Management issues and Building Code regulations.
  • Monitor all bills related to Condominiums, Foreclosure, and fire suppression/sprinkler issues.
  • Oppose any legislation that will open the “shade” meetings to the public. It is imperative that the Commission have the available attorney client privilege to discuss strategy and provide direction to its legal counsel.
  • Support legislation related to flood control and mitigation assistance.
  • Support legislation that would amend the current shopping carts regulations to provide for City control of its regulation. Abandonment of shopping carts has become an increasing problem within our City. Currently law does not provide the business with any incentive or penalty to collect or fail to collect their shopping carts.
  • Oppose legislation that will restrict the City’s options for solid waste disposal outside the County.
  • Oppose legislation that will further increase the sovereign immunity recovery amounts as set forth in Florida Statutes 768.28.
  • Support Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s continued utilization of qualitative requirements to enforce the Clean Water Act, rather than nutrient numeric criteria.

Federal Issues

  • Urge Congress to continue full funding of Community Development Block Grants.
  • Urge Congress to approve legislation providing funding assistance in support of the Port Everglades Sand Bypassing Project and Beach Renourishment Projects.
  • Oppose Legislation that preempts State and Local laws over collective bargaining for public safety employees.
  • Urge Congress to approve legislation providing funding assistance in support of a regional Advanced Transportation Management System.
  • Urge Congress to approve legislation providing funding assistance to support flood mitigation and prevention.
  • Urge Congress to continue funding for the Energy Conservation and Efficiency Block Grants.
  • Urge Congress to prioritize appropriation of Federal funding for transportation.
  1. COMMISSIONER COMMUNICATIONS - Items not on the Agenda
  1. COMMISSIONER LEWY
  1. COMMISSIONER LONDON
  1. COMMISSIONER ROSS
  1. VICE MAYOR SANDERS
  1. MAYOR COOPER
  1. CITY ATTORNEY COMMUNICATIONS - Items not on the Agenda
  1. CITY MANAGER COMMUNICATIONS - Items not on the Agenda
  1. ADJOURN

The City Commission discussed no other City Business.

There being no further business before the City Commission, Mayor Cooper adjourned the meeting at 1:29 P.M.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

______

Mayor

ATTEST:

______

City Clerk

RECORDING SECRETARY:Sheena D. James, City Clerk

APPROVED BY COMMISSION:December 07, 2011

NOVEMBER 7, 20111