HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem #35 - Discussion ItemCITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO: The Honorable Mayor and
Members of the City Commission
FROM
Jose Garcia P4
City Manager
34
DATE: February 2, 1998
FILE
SUBJECT:
1998 State and Federal
Legislative Priorities
REFERENCES:
City Commission Meeting
ENCLOSURES: of February 10, 1998
Attached for your review is the 1998 State and Federal Legislative priorities. This issue
is scheduled as a discussion item on the City Commission Agenda of February 10, 1998.
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1998 STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
Welfare Reform Implementation: SUPPORT legislation that increases funding for
the working poor, and that enhances the welfare Management and Information system
(MIS) to track welfare recipients through the workforce. SUPPORT legislation that
extends child care accessibility beyond two years that extends Medicaid benefits
beyond one year. SUPPORT the creation of a transportation program that enhances
job development for WAGES participants.
• Telecommunications: SUPPORT the continued authority of counties and
municipalities to manage and determine compensation for the use of public rights -of -
way. SUPPORT the continued authority of counties and municipalities to impose and
utilize cable an telecommunication franchise fees and tax revenues at their discretion.
Additionally, we must continue to OPPOSE HB 3291, as amended, and any other
legislation that restricts or weakens the local governments authority to manage their
rights -of -way.
• Local Option Gas Taxes: SUPPORT eliminating the State General Revenue Service
Charge (7.3 percent) on local option gas taxes.
• Enterprise Zones: SUPPORT legislation to amend the State Enterprise Zone
Program to allow local governments to modify the boundaries for designated zones to
reflect socio-demographic changes in the City. These changes necessitate a revision
of the current zones to more fully address the areas most in need of commercial
development.
• Miami River Initiatives: MONITOR legislation that includes the recommendations
of the Miami River Study Commission. SUPPORT efforts that maintain the maritime
industry, and promote increased economic development, public safety, environmental
protection, and code enforcement on the Miami River.
Municipal Fire and Police Pension Plans (HB 3075): While this bill does not
affect the City of Miami directly, it could be very costly to other municipalities who
have a Chapter 175 or 185 "local" plan. We should SUPPORT the amendments that
are being proposed by the Florida Public Employer Labor Relations Association at
the committee meeting in February.
HB 123 - Wasserman -Schultz - EMT/Paramedic/Special Risk: OPPOSE this bill
which adds EMT's and paramedics who are not certified firefighters to the Special
Risk Class of the Florida Retirement System. This bill passed the House last year,
but was not heard in the Senate - on House Consent Calendar.
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• CS/HB 149 - Fasano - Correctional Probation Officers/FRS/Special Risk:
OPPOSE this bill which adds correctional probation officers to Special Risk Class of
FRS - no impact on local governments, but bad precedent. In House General
Government Appropriations Committee.
• HB 733 - Hill - Collective Bargaining/Binding Arbitration - OPPOSE - This bill
was introduced, but not referred to committee.
• Public Records Law: AMEND the Public Records Act to specifically exempt
financial statements and disclosures submitted by potential developers in response to
City RFP's from the Public Records Law. Also, the exemption of the home
addresses and telephone numbers of all government disclosure. Presently, only
certain employees are exempt, pursuant to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes.
• State of Florida General Records Schedule: SUPPORT a revision to the General
Records Schedule as it relates to personnel records. The City of Miami, which is not
a member of the Florida Retirement System, is required to retain personnel records
for fifty years after termination of employment. Members of the Florida Retirement
System are required to retain personnel records for twenty-five years after termination
of employment. The retention period for both should be the same and reduced
further, if possible. The General Records Schedule is in accordance with the statutory
provisions of Chapters 119 and 257, Florida Statutes.
• Community Residential Homes (FS 419.001): AMEND the state laws pertaining to
Community Based Residential Facilities (CBRF's) to allow local governments more
flexibility to impose local zoning regulations within residential districts.
• Crime and Drug Prevention:
• SUPPORT passage of the Comprehensive Court Enforcement Program Act
which is designed to satisfy the need for enforcement of court orders through
aggressive follow-up, establishment of reasonable compliance parameters, and
collection of offenders debts, thereby saving tax payers money as well as
increasing respect for the law.
• SUPPORT the continued funding of the Florida Violent Crime Council, as it
works in partnership with state, county and municipal criminal justice agencies,
to reduce the incidence an severity of violent crime.
• SUPPORT a fair share funding formula for Juvenile Assessment Centers (JAC)
to provide all JAC's an equal amount of initial funding as well as providing
additional funding based on the population of at -risk juveniles in the district and
the number of cases assigned to the JAC.
• SUPPORT legislation requiring pawn brokers governed by Chapter 539, and
second hand dealers, governed by Chapter 538, to have the computer ability to
electronically transfer pawn transactions to law enforcement agencies.
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• SUPPORT legislation to increase the severity of the crime and criminal
penalties for juvenile offenders who possess a firearm or use a firearm in the
commission of a crime.
• SUPPORT the development of a pilot project in Miami -Dade County which
would study and analyze costs, trends and problems associated with firearm
related injuries and fatalities.
• SUPPORT funding for the continued expansion of the Dade County State
Attorney's Office Truancy Intervention Program (TIP).
• SUPPORT legislation to limit handgun purchases to one per month per
individual.
• SUPPORT legislation requiring gun dealers to provide a child safety lock with
each new handgun sold.
• Worker's Compensation (FS 440): Monitor and track existing legislation and any
proposed amendments as to their effect on local governments.
• Exemption (FS 196):
• Amend FS 196.199(4) to clarify responsibility for payment of ad valorem taxes
in municipal leases when the lease is silent. The City currently has a lease with
Grove Key marina, Inc., the Miami Rowing Club and a submerged land lease
with the Coral Reef Yacht Club all of which are silent as to which party, the
landlord or tenant, is responsible for payment of ad valorem taxes. The Law
Department has opined that the City cannot default the tenant for non-payment
and at the same time the City is not obligated to pay. While the County cannot
lien a county property for non-payment of taxes, the amounts will continue to
accrue and remain an obligation. This could hinder any future sale or lease of
the property.
• Investigate if County and Port Authority land can be subject to ad valorem
taxation when leased to a non -governmental entity. Counties are "immune"
from taxation pursuant to the Florida Constitution, but it is unclear whether
their tenants should be afforded the same treatment.
• Park Improvement Projects: Pursue funding for park improvements that are
needed. Many of these park projects have not been awarded grant funds from other
sources because of ineligibility or insufficient funds due to the large number of
competing from other locations. ($7,600,000) (Site improvement of 35 park sites
including daycare, recreation & handicap facilities)
• "Miami Love" Youth At -Risk Project: Pursue continued funding for the "Miami
Love" Youth At -Risk which is an innovative project that brings the public and private
sector (Community Wide Coalitions) together promoting partnership and targeting
450 Youth at Risk (ages 7 to 17) in the City of Miami Parks. City parks serve as
magnets which incorporate schools, community organizations, business, churches,
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education, youth services providers, and juvenile justice professionals which provide
intervention programs for Youth At -Risk. The program provides for supervision,
problem solving through conflict resolution, peer mentoring and empowerment to
maximize youth potential. ($313,900)
• After School Academic Enrichment Program: Pursue continued funding for this
unique homework assistance program offered in four of our park facilities in
partnership with the Dade County Public School System. The program provides free
of charge homework assistance and recreational activities to needy 2"d and Yd grade
students attending elementary school. ($86,120)
• Persons With Disabilities Programs: Pursue continued funding for this program
which provides community based recreation and independent living skills support and
services to over 295 children and adults with multiple disabilities on a year round
basis. Transportation is provided to residents throughout Dade County. Equal leisure
access is the primary goal to achieve an enhanced quality of life for all of Miami's
persons with disabilities. ($82,278)
• Daycare Program: Seek funding assistance to continue operating six child care
centers, all located within city parks, which have been operated by the Department of
Parks and Recreation - Day Care Division since 1973. We are licensed by the State
of Florida's Department of Children Youth and Families to provide service to two
hundred twenty-five preschool aged children, and infants, on a year round basis. The
focus of the program is to provide social, emotional and developmental opportunities
for program participants, whose parent are employed full-time, or who are full-time
students. There is a fee foe the service, which is based upon the income of the
enrollee's parent(s). ($60,000)
• Funding Sought For:
• Human Resources: Enhancement of departmental records management through
technology, such as document imaging.
• Planning and Development Funding for:
• Historic preservation projects including the Tower Theater Rehabilitation,
Verrick Gym (US Coast Guard Naval Air Station) Rehabilitation and City Hall
Restoration.
• The creation of an interpretative center at the Tower Theater focusing on the
Latin immigrant community's contributions to greater Miami.
• Miami Riverwalk extension, infrastructure and environmental improvements.
• Environmental closure of Virginia Key Landfill in the amount of $400,000.
• Asset Management Funding Interests:
• Environmental cleanup funds for City -owned properties.
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• Demolition funds for City -owned properties.
• Asset Management funds for records management of City -owned properties.
• ADA funds for bringing City -owned properties into compliance.
• Funds for preservation of City -owned natural lands.
• Historic preservation funds for Dorsey Library in Overtown.
• Investigate CARL Program funds for appropriate park properties.
• Domestic Violence Unit: SUPPORT continued funding of Domestic Violence
Intervention Program. ($200,000 in third year funding). SUPPORT continued
funding for Victim Advocate Program. ($80,000 in third year funding).
• Technology/Computer Enhancement Funding: Pursue funding to interface
the multiple sources of information affecting our ability to manage the large
number of cases. ($50,000)
• Gang Detail - Bryne Grant Funds:_ Provides funds to local government to
provide safer communities and higher quality of justice. Funds are to be used to
improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, focusing on violent and
serious offenders and drug control activities/programs. The grant has 26 eligible
program areas, ranging from treatment to a variety of drug control, and serious
crime projects in law enforcement or supporting agencies. Only local
government agencies can apply. Grant requires a 25% local match requirement.
Funds must support drug control/criminal justice efforts.
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1998 FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
• Community Development Block Grant: SUPPORT an increase in the Public
Services limit for CDBG program activities, from 15% to 25%. It did not pass this
year, but may be reconsidered for FY `98-99. We need this increase to mitigate the
increased demand for Public Services and Social Programs funding.
• The Davis -Bacon Act: This act imposes federal wages on all federal funded city
projects that cost more than $2,000. SUPPORT increasing said minimum in order to
reduce paperwork and unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Empowerment Zone Designation: SECURE designation and support full funding
of programs.
• Free Trade Area of the Americas Permanent Secretariat: SUPPORT efforts to
locate Permanent Secretariat in Miami -Dade County.
• Revenue Streams: PROTECT all existing streams of revenue to the City of Miami
and enhance federal revenue where possible.
• Telecommunications: PROTECT local government interests in zoning, rights -of -
way, cable television franchises and telecommunications regulation as the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) develops regulations implementing the
Telecommunications Act of 1996 and as Congress takes up technical corrections to
the Act.
• Community Development Block Grant Program: SUPPORT increased program
funding and oppose imposing sanctions on local governments' Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds when a public housing agency within its
jurisdiction falls below specified USHUD standards.
• HOME Investment Partnerships Program: OPPOSE Housing and Urban
Development proposal to create a competitively awarded HOME bonus funding pool
which could become a set -aside within the core HOME program, thereby reducing
grants to local governments.
• Job and Employment Training program consolidation: SUPPORT the
development of an adequately funded, comprehensive and consolidated job training
system that ensures local flexibility and control. Monitor modifications to
distribution formulas for Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) and research the
benefits that would accrue to the City by being designated a Service Delivery Area
(SDA) as defined in the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) P.L. 97-300.
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Refugee and Entrant Assistance: PROTECT $19 million set -aside for counties
experiencing increases in Haitian and Cuban arrivals which traditionally has funded
programs at Jackson Memorial Hospital and Dade County Public Schools.
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