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Boa 97 ps.U906 I received one telephone complaint from an individual who wished to rent a single-family home in the City of Vero Beach but was refused by the real estate broker citing to city ordinances which prevent three or more unrelated individuals from living together in a single-family zoning district. This complaint led to dialogue, correspondence, and research with the City Attorney's Office. Our research determined that the county ordinance adopted at the DCA's request was broader than the federal Fair Housing Act or the Florida Fair Housing Act. While the state and federal act prohibit discrimination in housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and handicap, the local ordinance also includes as protected classes those discriminated against based on ancestry, marital status, and age. (You may recall during the adoption hearing concerns were expressed regarding the application of this ordinance to housing for the elderly. As a result code section 309.04.(3)h). exempts from operation of the act any person who wishes to restrict sales, rentals, leases, or occupancies to persons over age 55, to the extent allowed by state or federal law.) The term "ancestry" seems redundant of "national origin." The only court case located which discusses "marital status" was County of Dane v. Norman, a Wisconsin Supreme Court case decided in 1993, which held that unrelated individuals living together was a "conduct" not "status"; i.e., the court said marital status was single or married. The county ordinance did not preclude either singles or marrieds from living in a single-family house. It proscribed the conduct of unrelated individuals living together. Recommendation: Amend Chapter 309, Fair Housing, to delete "ancestry, marital status, and age" as protected classes under the ordinance. The current ordinance over -reaches state and federal fair housing acts and potentially could cause unnecessary disputes with other local governments within the county. ON MOTION by Commissioner Eggert, SECONDED by Commissioner Tippin, the Board unanimously authorized advertising of a public hearing to amend Chapter 309, Fair Housing, to delete "ancestry, marital status, and age" as protected classes under the ordinance, as recommended in the memorandum. INDIAN RIVER LAGOON NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM The Board reviewed a Memorandum of April 17, 1996: To: Board of County Commissioners From: Fran B. Adams, Chairman Date: April 17, 1996 Re: Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program The Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program winds down as we have completed the COMP. The future of the IRLNEP involves 52 April 23, 1996