HomeMy WebLinkAboutPrioritiesCITY OF MIAMI
2008 STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
• Modify Florida Statutes Chapter 193 to direct property appraisers to use an
income based approach when calculating the value of low to moderate income
rental properties for the purpose of property tax assessments.
The modification requested will direct property appraisers to either solely or place
greater weight on the income derived from low to moderate income rental
residential units when determining their value for taxable purposes. In this way,
the value is set by actual gains from the property and not speculative market
derivations.
• Scrap the Cap on Sadowski Funds - Preserve the dedicated documentary stamp
fees as a funding source for the State and Local Government Housing Trust Fund
(Sadowski Trust Fund), eliminates the cap placed on fund distribution, and
prohibits any of these trust fund dollars from being diverted to the General
Revenue Fund.
SUPPORT ELECTED PROPERTY APPRAISER
• Elected Property Appraisers Required: Proposes amendment to s. 1, Art. VIII
of State Constitution to require each county to have elected property appraiser as
county officer & eliminate options for choosing property appraiser in any other
manner as provided by county charter or special law approved by vote of electors
of county or abolishing office of property appraiser when all duties of office
prescribed by general law are transferred to another office.
GREEN / ENERGY POLICY
• Green Public Buildings - Support the requirement that state, county, municipal,
and public colleges and university buildings of a certain square footage be
constructed in accordance to USGBC LEED silver standards as a minimum.
Support the state issue financial incentives and grants to support municipalities in
efforts to construct LEED certified buildings and retrofits.
• Energy Efficiency Sales Tax Holiday - Support the creation of a permanent
"Energy Efficient Week" where sales of any new energy efficient product having
a selling price of below $1,500, will be sold tax free and continue to provide the
solar energy systems program for rebates on purchases of solar photovoltaic
systems. Support increasing the cap on the sales tax exemption on materials used
in the distribution of biodiesel and ethanol.
• Sales Tax Refund for Alterna-Fuel Vehicles - Support the creation of a
substantial sales tax refund for energy efficient vehicles that includes hybrid
vehicles, alternative fuel vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, and advanced lean burning
technology vehicles. Support the state issue financial incentives and grants to
support municipal fleet conversion to alterna-fuel vehicles.
• Property Tax Exemption for Renewables - Support an increase in the property
tax exemption for real property where renewable energy source devices are
installed and in operation.
• Renewable Energy Portfolio Requirement - Support the creation of an
aggressive renewable energy portfolio standard that calls for fifty percent (50%)
of all energy generation by Florida public utilities to come from renewable
sources by the year 2017.
• Net Metering - Support the creation of a "net metering program" where an
electric utility buys back energy produced by a customer who uses one or more
renewable energy systems and produces more energy than is used.
• State Energy and Sustainability Entity - Support the creation of a state entity
that consolidates all state energy and sustainability policy functions with the
authority to recommend state alternative and renewable energy policy and manage
incentives for achieving energy policy goals. Support the creation of a state
clearinghouse for the research and development of energy, plan for development
of renewable energy sources, and to gather and index all information related to
energy research in the state.
• "25 x '25" Vision - Support "25 by '25" and "Farm to Fuel," encouraging the
production of renewable energy and fuels by farms and ranches to help meet the
future energy needs of our City, state, and nation.
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• Biodiesel Fuel - Support a requirement that diesel fuel sold in this state contain a
specified minimum volume of biodiesel. Support that all wholesalers of diesel to
marinas must offer biodiesel for sale.
• Green Schools Pilot - Support the establishment of the Green Schools Pilot
Project toward encouraging that all new school construction be USGBC LEED
certified.
• Support the Energy Efficient Motor Vehicle Sales Tax Refund Program to
provide financial incentives for the purchase of an alternative fuel motor vehicle.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE / LAW ENFORCEMENT
• Support enhanced criminal penalties under 10/20/Life for crimes committed
with Assault Weapons.
• Modify Florida Statutes Chapter 419 Community Residential Homes — add
section to ensure that "a community residential home or dwelling unit that
receives residents that have been referred by the Criminal Court system shall
provide 24 hour security at that location in order to protect the health, safety, and
welfare of the other resident and of the surrounding community."
• Allow for the Confiscation of 15 USC 5001 non -compliant Toy Guns - The
creation or definition of a state mechanism will allow for law enforcement
authorities to rid our state of dangerous imitation firearms that have pose a threat
to law enforcement when used by children and teens in play.
The City of Miami is prompted to make this request by our police depaitiiient
which has already encountered several non -compliant imitation firearms for sale
in economically depressed areas of our city leading to several instances where
officer have had to draw weapons in order to protect their lives when faced with
non -compliant toy firearms.
• Support allowing the use of red light cameras for traffic enforcement
• Modify Florida Statutes Section 790.15(1) to make public discharge of a
firearm a felony — change statute as follows "(1) Except as provided in
subsection (2) or subsection (3), any person who knowingly discharges a firearm
in any public place or on the right-of-way of any paved public road, highway, or
street or whosoever knowingly discharges any firearm over the right-of-way of
any paved public road, highway, or street or over any occupied premises is guilty
of a misdemeanor of the first degree felony..."
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• Support HB 175 / SB 266 - Use of Cellular Telephones: Prohibits use of
cellular telephone while operating motor vehicle except when using headset or
hands -free device; provides exemptions; provides penalty; provides for
enforcement only as secondary offense.
• Support HB 193 / SB 504 - Use of an Electronic Wireless Communications
Device While Driving: Prohibits person under 18 years of age from using
electronic wireless communications device while operating motor vehicle, except
under certain circumstances.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
• Support HB 147 / SB 402 - Expedited Permitting Process for Economic
Development Projects: Designates act "Mike McHugh Act"; requires DEP &
water management districts to adopt programs to expedite processing of permits
for certain economic development projects; requires municipalities & counties to
identify certain businesses by commission resolution; provides timeframe for
permit application approval or denial.
• Support full funding for the Entertainment Industry Incentive Fund.
FUNDING REQUESTS
Fairlawn Storm Sewer Improvements Project, Phase III, B-50704: $1.4 Million
Kinloch Storm Sewer Improvements Project, B-50705: $1.2 Million
City of Miami Police Photo Lab Upgrades: $750,000
The City of Miami has two forensic units: Crime Scene Investigation and
Technical Services. Within the Technical Services Unit is the Photo Lab Detail,
responsible for the maintenance, acquisition, and developing of photographic evidence.
Currently, the lab operates in an outdated film/print format. Funds will be used to
upgrade the lab to digital prints. This upgrade will allow for faster turnaround time for
investigators and prosecutors giving them quicker access to crucial photographic
evidence. Digital is also cleaner and better from an environmental perspective given that
much of the waste products derived from traditional film processing are heavy metals.
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