From Ezra Appel HB 703 unfortunately easily passed the 1st SubCommittee despite lots of opposition voiced by Martin County residents by email and environmental and community groups in Tallahassee: Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee. As we read about former Sentator Pruitt and his well-paid lobbying for Big Sugar, the similarities with Rep Patronis representing special interest over Home Rule are striking. Pluses: Representative Larry Lee from the Treasure Coast voted no as did one other member Rep. Clovis Watson out of Gainesville area. Charles Pattison of 1000 Friends of Florida, Florida Association of Counties, League of Cities, Martin County, Sierra Club of Florida, Audubon of Florida and several other groups spoke against critical positions. History: Representative Patronis asserted that his bills over the years are to force communities to sit down and work out compromises with landowners that disagree with the local rules. They can either reach settlement or, Rep Patronis reports, the legislature will tell the local governments what to do -- says the state does things better and good to avoid duplication. You can play a video of the entire March 4, 2014 Sub-Committee meeting yourself by going to the archives at: myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=51789 or \myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Committees/committeesdetail.aspx?SessionId=75&CommitteeId=2729 HB 703 discussion began about 30 minutes in. Under the video is a clock and you can jump forward on the time. ----------------- COUNTY VOTE Al Formans Martin County Defender reports on the county issue well: Commission approves Witham Custom Facility, as well as unenforceable cover-loss agreement On March 4, the County Commission approved by 3-to-2 vote construction of a $1.4 million Custom Facility at Witham Field. Commissioners John Haddox, Anne Scott and Doug Smith voted in favor; Commissioners Sarah Heard and Ed Fielding dissented. Concurrently, the same vote approved an agreement with the Martin County Marine and Aviation Alliance to accept a proposed agreement, with modifications, providing for a mechanism that would provide private funding to cover any potential shortfalls in the operational budget of the proposed Customs Facility [Verbatim executive summary of agenda item]. The Commission also voted by the same 3-to-2 vote against a motion by Sarah Heard to put the issue on the November ballot so residents could decide this contentious issue. As analyzed in DEFENDER No. 371, the Alliance agreement does not provide enforceable provisions to require shortfall reimbursement. As Commissioner Fielding stated: It doesnt pledge anything, and doesnt bind anyone. Furthermore, instead of covering any operating losses, the agreement is limited to $50,000/yr for three years -- which is likely to be inadequate. Original revenue projections were overly optimistic since planes could land at Palm Beach or Fort Pierce without a fee. Similarly boats can avoid Custom Facility fees. We believe that it was irresponsible for the Commission majority to approve the project without first assuring that the agreement would provide a binding reimbursement mechanism, and at a level that is more conscious of the potential burden on taxpayers rather than limiting the exposure of Alliance participants. We say that despite believing, as we have stated previously, that some objections (such as predicting that the Custom Facility would cause scheduled airline service) was overblown. Financial criticism has been fully justified
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 12:02:18 +0000
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