Commission identifies legislative priorities

The Longboat Key Town Commission has identified 16 legislative issues to pursue in the 2011-12 fiscal year.

Longboat Key Mayor Jim Brown listed those issues in letters sent yesterday to the Manatee and Sarasota county legislative delegations and the ManaSota League of Cities, following the formal action the Town Commission took to establish those priorities at its Oct. 3 regular meeting.

Legislative priorities in the 2011-12 fiscal year (not listed in order of priority) are to support:
• An amendment to provide for glitch language allowing local governments to retain certain referenda processes related to land-use planning that were in place as of June 1, 2011;

• State funding for red tide research, mitigation and control;

• State funding for beach renourishment;

• State authorization for revenue sources beyond present sources;

• The establishment of numeric nutrient criteria for Florida water bodies to be retained by the state of Florida, rather than the federal government;

• Reform on the methods of assessing taxes on non-homestead and commercial properties;

• Legislation that provides for the protection of Sarasota Bay seagrasses;

• Reasonable insurance premiums and limit state financial exposure;

• Full funding of the Affordable Housing Program;

• Efforts of Sarasota Bay Watch to establish Sister Keys as an aquatic preserve;

• Legislation to modify the appointment process relating to the composition process to the Firefighters’ and Police Officers’ pension fund boards of trustees to allow local commissions/councils to appoint three board members or to place restrictions or provide additional authority on the election and approval of the fifth (at-large) board member;

• Legislation allowing local governments to use their public websites for legally required advertisements and public notices.

Oppose:
• Legislation allowing for drilling off of Florida’s west coast;

• Unfunded mandates on local governments;

• Legislation that erodes home-rule powers of local governments;

• Preemption of county and municipality authority to regulate the use of fertilizer.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].